Unlike a lot of this author's books, this is straight science fiction and is set in a post-apocalypse future after an alien invasion by things that seem initially to be very like Wells' Martians - complete with tall tripod-like vehicles dubbed 'spiders' by the surviving humans, which wield the same kind of heat ray.

Protagonist Esther is a misfit in the underground community formed by an ex-nuclear bunker and extensions built off it by those who survived in a nameless city by retreating underground. It is now the fourth generation since the alien invasion, and few people venture Above as it is called, but Esther who is bored and rebellious finds a pipe to the surface and does so repeatedly as she becomes a teenager. Eventually, the tan she is acquiring by going outside gives her away, but far from earning punishment, she engages the interest of the community's nominal ruler, Standish. Those around her assume a sexual relationship despite the man's age, and she goes along with the pretence as it deflects the bullying she previous suffered from, but he is actually preparing her to inherit his role, having had no children of his own.

None of the characters, including Esther herself, are likeable or sympathetic - this lack of empathy gives Esther her leadership qualities but does make it difficult to really engage with her. Despite that, the first part of the book held my interest and it was intriguing to imagine that Esther was going to hold onto the leadership and begin her stated mission that, instead of stagnating as they have been for the past couple of generations, they will begin to study the aliens to learn their weaknesses, and find some method of striking back. But instead the whole book skews in a totally different direction when an inflitrator betrays the survivors and they are taken as captives to the nearest alien city.

It then becomes a totally different story in which Esther, though still resisting till the story's end, is really a passive observer of the real action. There is also the questionable sexual aspects whereby she initially establishes her leadership by pretending to be carrying Standish's child and later secures the loyalty of one of the ex-guards from the community by an actual relationship. She also has to endure the attentions of the alien who takes an interest in her, which in the latter case seems very weird given his stated position that humans are not animals but inferiors to his own species in every way. So given these reservations this is for me only a 2-star 'OK' read. ( )

In the future, humans hide in underground sewer tunnels and bunkers from the alien invaders (very similar to those in Wells' 'War of the Worlds') that have taken over the surface of the planet. But rebellious, misfit Esther, one of the fourth generation to live underground, in ignorance of the reasons for the rules, breaks them and goes exploring Above. Her initiative may lead to her becoming the leader of her underground colony - or destroying their only chance for survival.
Not Lee's greatest work, but as a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction, I found this to be a very enjoyable book, with some original twists to a story, that, in many ways, has become familiar ( )

Postapocalyptic Tanith Lee - what's not to love?

I was curious what this book would be like, because Tanith Lee does so much amazing horror and fantasy (and fantasy-horror) books, that I'd wondered how she would write a science fiction book about post-apocalyptic earth.

Apparently, during/shortly after the invasion of Earth by aliens, people went underground to survive. The first half of the book is about one of these colonies, and specifically about a non-sheeple member of the colony.

The second half is about the non-sheeple (plus occasional colonists) and the aliens in their (the aliens') city.

And of course, if you asked Ms. Lee to write "Dick and Jane", I believe even that book would have it's interesting horror and erotic moments, and so does this book. It's not a typical Lee book, but it's definitely hers.

The ending could have been sad to some, but I found it interesting, and I really liked the main character, Esther. ( )

Postapocalyptic Tanith Lee - what's not to love?

I was curious what this book would be like, because Tanith Lee does so much amazing horror and fantasy (and fantasy-horror) books, that I'd wondered how she would write a science fiction book about post-apocalyptic earth.

Apparently, during/shortly after the invasion of Earth by aliens, people went underground to survive. The first half of the book is about one of these colonies, and specifically about a non-sheeple member of the colony.

The second half is about the non-sheeple (plus occasional colonists) and the aliens in their (the aliens') city.

And of course, if you asked Ms. Lee to write "Dick and Jane", I believe even that book would have it's interesting horror and erotic moments, and so does this book. It's not a typical Lee book, but it's definitely hers.

The ending could have been sad to some, but I found it interesting, and I really liked the main character, Esther. ( )

Tanith Lee's writing is always lovely and full of unusual touches, even when, as in this book, there isn't much going on. ( )