No, not the first book of the Bible. This Genesis comes from the mind of Kiwi sci-fi author Bernard Beckett.
It’s a quick tale that I read in pretty much one sitting. The premise is that we are watching in as the main character, Anaximander, is taking the equivalent of her board entrance exam for admission to the Academy. So we get to hear not only her presentation on one of her people’s greatest historical figures, but we are also made privy to her internal conflicts, worries, and pride regarding said presentation.
Doesn’t that sound like fun reading?
I’m probably not doing it proper justice, but I can’t really say much about this one. It has a bit of a twist to it, which I’d rather not give away. It’s a bit of a cliched twist for the science fiction world, but Beckett handles it well enough to keep it fresh and entertaining. Plus, like I already said, this was an incredibly fast read, so you don’t feel like you’ve wasted any time in reading it.
Whether or not you feel as though you’ve gained anything from it once you are finished is more than likely dependent upon how much science fiction you’ve read previously. If not a lot, then this might be new for you. And if you’re an old hand at devouring sci-fi stories, this still might be an enjoyable diversion.
Final score: 2.5/5. Nice, middle-of-the-road storytelling, and a pleasant diversion for a rainy day.
