9 out of 10 monkeys believe they are not behind glass

By Elizabeth Moon

Finished this book last night, and man, what a good book. I read another book by Moon last year, called the Speed of Dark, and was extremely entertained by her honesty and emotion in telling the story of an autistic adult coming to terms with himself, his world and his future. (Moon’s son has autism and I think this really makes an impact on her story.) With fond memories of Speed of Dark, I picked up Remnant Population.

It opens with the main character, Ofelia, deciding to stay behind when her colony is decommissioned. The company that held the colonization license for the planet was not satisfied with the results of the 40 year old colony and the license was handed to another company. Ofelia is in her seventies, and just plain tired of having to mind what other people want her to do and what they think of her. She longs for freedom to do what she pleases and when she wants to do it. Her plan is successful… she is left behind with the enough resources to live quite comfortably, she falls into a pleasing routine.

Until the new company’s colonists show up. The decide to plant the colony far to the north due to the better weather. During construction, the entire colony is promptly wiped out by the indigenous life. Indigenous intelligent life. Ofelia is shocked, both by the slaughter, and by the fact that aliens had been living on the planet and no one had known. She knows it is only matter of time until the company comes back and makes things worse or the aliens find her. Her days of solitude are over.

The aliens find her first. And through sheer will and fortitude she becomes one of the greatest scifi heroines that I have ever read.

I must say, the book was awesome. This old woman, whom everyone discounts as feeble and weak, crazy or senile changes the course of humankind. And the book is written in such a way that you don’t quite catch the totality of the events until the very end. There is a little scifi, but not much, so I think this book is very accessible to anyone who just wants a good read.

Highly recommended.