Semiosis: A Novel

Sue Burke

Feb 2018 · Semiosis Book 1 · Sold by Tor Books

About this ebook

Human survival hinges on an bizarre alliance in Semiosis, a character driven science fiction novel of first contact by debut author Sue Burke.

2019 Campbell Memorial Award Finalist
2019 Locus Finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel
Locus 2018 Recommended Reading List

New York Public Library—Best of 2018
Forbes—Best Science Fiction Books of 2019-2019
The Verge—Best of 2018
Thrillist—Best Books of 2018
Vulture—10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018
Chicago Review of Books—The 10 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018
Texas Library Association—Lariat List Top Books for 2019


Colonists from Earth wanted the perfect home, but they’ll have to survive on the one they found. They don’t realize another life form watches...and waits...

Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet's sentient species and prove that humans are more than tools.

Other Books by Sue Burke
Semiosis duology
Semiosis
Interference

Immunity Index
Dual Memory

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Ratings and reviews

The story has a very interesting premise. It started very strong but I felt that it ran out of steam in the last quarter and the nature of the story changed. It also made me curious about the topics and I ended up doing additional reading on some of the subject matter. I would say it's a "weightier" story in that the science fiction is really just the setting for a more fundamental story concerning ethics, politics, culture, history, and violence. Although the morality of the story never becomes a burden. Finally if passes another critical test; I am still thinking about the story days after finishing the book,

Actually just bad. The level of idiocy displayed by the characters is 'otherworldly'. The author is trying too hard to say something, and so they forced this unfinished garbledigook out. Great idea, absolutely terrible execution.

This is a great story that is written well. I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in one evening. The author does a great job of showing a realistic colony struggling with their values and ideologies.

About the author

SUE BURKE has worked as a reporter and editor for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and Semiosis is her debut novel. She is a Clarion workshop alumnus and has published over thirty short stories. Burke also worked extensively as a literary translator, and while living in Madrid, Spain, she headed the long-running Madrid Writer’s Critique Group. She now lives in Chicago.