While human colonists of an alien world attempt to terraform it to suit their needs, aliens send "trees" to shape the world to their own requirements. When the humans resist, they're captured and strung into a hive-mind with the trees--some resist and die, others adapt and persist. One woman, Alva, and her husband, Bohai, go through cycles of reunion and separation as they struggle to come to terms with their new existence. This is a love story, but a bittersweet one, all couched in Davitt's exquisite verse.
“A marathon exercise in radical empathy for all sides with a bittersweet ending.” –Lynne Sargent, author of A Refuge of Tales
“The beautiful language and strong points of view . . . don't allow you any easy answers, except to come away maybe more sympathetic to an Other than you were before.” –Amelia Gorman, author of the Elgin-winning Field Guide to the Invasive Species of Minnesota
“Davitt combines the dreadful and the hopeful in a uniquely creative way that at the end equals love and respect and a future together rather than apart. . . .” –Gerri Leen, author of Unwilling: Poems of Horror and Darkness
“. . . asks tough questions about the nature of humanity, the purpose of society and civilization, and the way continuity and change can clash. There are no easy answers here, only fallible people doing their best to find a way to make peace with a truly alien other. Xenoforming is a stunning accomplishment.” –Jennifer Crow, winner of the 2023 Rhysling Award.
“There are gems and portents here, and it is clear each line has been thoughtfully considered. In prose these ideas would already be compelling. In verse, we have a stellar addition to the art." -Bryan Thao Worra, author of American Laodyssey
Genre: Science Fiction
“A marathon exercise in radical empathy for all sides with a bittersweet ending.” –Lynne Sargent, author of A Refuge of Tales
“The beautiful language and strong points of view . . . don't allow you any easy answers, except to come away maybe more sympathetic to an Other than you were before.” –Amelia Gorman, author of the Elgin-winning Field Guide to the Invasive Species of Minnesota
“Davitt combines the dreadful and the hopeful in a uniquely creative way that at the end equals love and respect and a future together rather than apart. . . .” –Gerri Leen, author of Unwilling: Poems of Horror and Darkness
“. . . asks tough questions about the nature of humanity, the purpose of society and civilization, and the way continuity and change can clash. There are no easy answers here, only fallible people doing their best to find a way to make peace with a truly alien other. Xenoforming is a stunning accomplishment.” –Jennifer Crow, winner of the 2023 Rhysling Award.
“There are gems and portents here, and it is clear each line has been thoughtfully considered. In prose these ideas would already be compelling. In verse, we have a stellar addition to the art." -Bryan Thao Worra, author of American Laodyssey
Genre: Science Fiction
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