The Godwhale

Rorqual Maru was a cyborg - part organic whale, part mechanised ship - and part god. She was a harvester - a vast plankton rake, now without a crop, abandoned by earth society when the seas died. So she selected an island for her grave, hoping to keep her carcass visible for salvage. Although her long ear heard nothing, she believed that man still lived in his hive. If he should ever return to the sea, she wanted to serve. She longed for the thrill of a human's bare feet touching the skin of her deck. She missed the hearty hails, the sweat and the laughter. She needed mankind. But all humans were long gone ... or were they?

“Bass demonstrated a thorough command of biological extrapolation and a sustained delight in the creation of a witty, acronym-choked language-- THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION”

Bass demonstrated a thorough command of biological extrapolation and a sustained delight in the creation of a witty, acronym-choked language--THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION

Thomas Joseph Bassler was an American science fiction writer and doctor, principally known for his 'Hive' stories. The first of these, published in Galazy Science Fiction and IF, were combined into the novel Half Past Human, which was nominated for the NEBULA AWARD in 1972. Loose sequel, The Godwhale, was also nominated three years later. His work explored the theme of overpopulation and was notable for its strong command of biological extrapolation. He died in 2011.

Change or die. These are the only options available on the planet Jeep. Centuries earlier, a deadly virus shattered the original colony, killing the men and forever altering the few surviving women. Now, generations after the colony has lost touch with the rest of humanity, anthropologist Marghe Taishan arrives to test a new vaccine. As she risks death to uncover the women's biological secret, she finds that she, too, is changing - and realises that not only has she found a home on Jeep, but that she alone carries the seeds of its destruction . . . 'A marvellous blend of high adventure and mind-boggling social speculation' Kim Stanley Robinson 'A powerful story of connection, allegiance, and obligation' Vonda N. McIntyre Nicola Griffith (1960-) Nicola Griffith was born in Yorkshire and currently lives in Seattle. An alumnus of the Michigan State University Clarion science fiction writing workshop, she has won the Nebula, James Tiptree, Jr and World Fantasy Awards.

Rorqual Maru was a cyborg - part organic whale, part mechanised ship - and part god. She was a harvester - a vast plankton rake, now without a crop, abandoned by earth society when the seas died. So she selected an island for her grave, hoping to keep her carcass visible for salvage. Although her long ear heard nothing, she believed that man still lived in his hive. If he should ever return to the sea, she wanted to serve. She longed for the thrill of a human's bare feet touching the skin of her deck. She missed the hearty hails, the sweat and the laughter. She needed mankind. But all humans were long gone ... or were they?

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