Darwinia by
Robert Charles Wilson
pbk out June 99
(Millenium)
at £5.99
The line beneath the title on the cover of DARWINIA reads: "A novel of a very different twentieth century." While this is most certainly the case, DARWINIA is not exactly an alternate history story; at
least, not of the type one has come to expect from that thriving sub-genre. Indeed, it is difficult to explain precisely what kind of story DARWINIA is without giving away more information than is healthy to know, for DARWINIA is a lively, engaging and entertaining book, albeit one which, because of its slightly odd nature, does not entirely satisfy.
The premise behind DARWINIA is that one night in 1912, the world as we know it changes dramatically. The vast bulk of Europe, and all
who live there, simply vanishes, to be replaced by a mysterious new chunk of alien landscape which is dubbed Darwinia. This inexplicable event has profound political, religious and moral implications for
the rest of the world. A scientific expedition is dispatched to explore Darwinia, including Wilson's point of view character, a photographer named Guilford Law. Law and some of the others are
troubled by strange dreams about a great European war that never happened in their history, but which is all too recognizable from our own. As the expedition uncovers the ruins of a bizarre, abandoned
city deep within the continent, disaster strikes and Law begins to comprehend the immensity of the secret behind the formation of Darwinia. He learns that he is not just a man lost in a strange land, but a pawn in a vast struggle beyond his understanding.
In a sense, DARWINIA is a bold attempt to tell an Edgar Rice Burroughs' style lost continent story in a modern, intelligent and
logical way. And as a thoughtful twist of a tale of adventure and romance, it succeeds admirably. Wilson writes dimensional, believable characters and skilfully evokes the menaces and wonder of
a new world in the old. Less successful, however, is the explanation for how Darwinia came to be. Wilson makes the choice to explain the essence of the mystery quite early on in the book. This decision
not only takes away from the drama of discovery by the characters, but changes the very nature of the story in a way which will annoy some readers (like this one). The "cosmic war" scenario which dominates the latter chapters is not uninteresting, but it is also
not terribly convincing. I applaud Wilson's boldness, but the ultimate effect is not all it could have been. With these cavils noted, DARWINIA is still a worthy effort and a good read.
(
Jay Russell
- one of the greatest talents the horror industry has produced for some time… (Black Tears))
Darwinia by
Robert Charles Wilson