Regenesis by Julia Ecklar

~ The Quick Take ~

A blend of heavy science and human emotion produces four novellas that range from delightfully creepy to despondently thought-provoking. A love of science—even applied to fictional worlds—and an interest in animals is a must for Regenesis to land. A softness for humans so jaded and cynical that they scorn the company of other humans also helps. Not all the novellas are created equal, but it’s worth sticking through to the end. I wish there were more.

~ The Review ~

As far as misleading cover art goes, Regenesis takes the cake. Actually, the back copy also does a tremendously bad job of accurately conveying what to expect. I expected the evacuation of animals from earth.

That’s not what I got.

Rahel Tovin works for Noah’s Ark, an intergalactic ecological corporation focused on animal conservation. As a Proctor, she helps with anything from seeding appropriate animals on new planets to helping diagnose why existing animals are struggling. She’s a hardcore scientist with a long view: what happens today matters as much as what will happen in 5,000 years. She’s obstinate and pathologically prefers animals—or solitude—to humans. Over four loosely connected novellas, we watch her try to do right by animals while giving pretty much every sentient being the finger—both figuratively and literally.

I expected Regenesis to be faintly depressing and mildly hopeful, and I got that. I also got “delightfully creepy,” “startling,” and at one point I laughed so loud my husband came upstairs to see what I thought was so funny. The tone might have been all over the place, but at no point did it feel out of place. Everything felt natural to Rahel’s experience—her job just happens to be the sort where no two days are the same.

I do have two warnings. As per The Quick Take, Regenesis does have a heavy dash of science in it. Aside from some implausible gadgets, it’s not made-up science that might as well be magic—real ecological phenomenon are explained on a backdrop of fictitious worlds. I loved it because understanding these fictional worlds also meant a greater understanding of our world. But while you don’t have to understand every bit of science to “get” the novella, Regenesis doesn’t go easy on you. If you can’t imagine enjoying a scenario where fictional scientists compare fictional DNA and discuss its importance in an ecological setting—this maaay not be a good book for you.

The second warning is about Rahel’s misanthropy. She’s not, like, a literal villain, but she’s not shy about how much she’d rather everyone leave her alone. As a fellow misanthrope, I had no problem with this, but even I side-eyed some of her harsher and more unnecessary comebacks. Still, her character grows throughout the four novellas, and I thrilled to see her challenge her preconceived notions and look on humanity on a grand scheme like how she does with non-sentient animals.

This surprising depth makes Regenesis more than the sum of its parts, even though each novella was almost entirely stand-alone. By the last page—lamentably only page 269—I felt everything come together. It seemed like the perfect foundation to lay a series, an epic world-spanning plot, the story of Rahel’s humanity, how she grew so jaded and how she could learn to appreciate humans as the animals they are.

Instead, the book ends, and with it Rahel and her universe. I want more, damn it, but I can’t hold that against Regenesis or Julia Ecklar.

Amusing aside: C.J. Cherryh provided a blurb for the cover of this book, then many years later wrote her own book titled Regenesis.

Public Ratings: 3.3/5 Average | 33 Ratings

Cover art by Daniel Craig: