SEMIOSIS

Narrators Daniel Thomas May and Caitlin Davies breathe life into the large cast of Burke's debut science fiction. Humanity spreads to the stars and colonizes a planet named Pax, with each generation facing new challenges, including sentient plants and an alien civilization. The story's abrupt leaps forward in time can be jarring, but May and Davies both excel at utilizing accents, inflections, and personality traits to quickly build characterizations. The unusual cadence and inflections used for the aliens work to captivating effect. This unique sci-fi adventure spans years, with the colony evolving in unexpected ways as humanity grapples with its place in the cosmos. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]