May your soil always bear Jarbon.

Ray Jay Perreault is a classic style writer of science fiction, his work building on character and ideas, challenging thought. This seemingly simple story is, in fact, a challenging tale of change, coexistence and love for others. In order to establish the original way of life on Varo, a planet seemingly circling a sun alone in a distant galaxy, considerable time is spent world building, establishing the society and politics, agriculture and daily life. The inhabitants are a peaceful people, living in harmony with each other and their sacred soil, to which they will one day return, and which provides everything they need for life. Without personal ambition to rule over others, leaders emerge naturally chosen as needed, but, although respected, they are not higher in the social system, there is no divide between rich and poor and all are fed and housed and comfortable. Life is good.

Then into this world comes a different, invading culture, threatening everything held dear. To survive they must face this new intrusion. To survive, they have to change. After the book's leisurely beginning, the pace increases as the people try to save their place on the planet that has been their home and comfort back into the depths of time. Narration by Ed Waldorph is well executed, with a clear reading of the text, good intonation and interpretation of the text and some definition of individual character voices.

With a very brief introductory comment by the author, this is a book well worth reading. I have read and enjoyed many of the author's earlier works, such as SIMPOC, and the other associated Virus stories. This one is different but continues to explores the nature of humanity - even amongst aliens.

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