Usurpation

Burke expands on the themes of her Semiosis Duology that began with Semiosis (2018) and continued with Interference (2019) in this thoughtful and philosophical novel. Twenty-ninth-century Earth is in turmoil, with normally obedient robots defying their programming, open rebellion by insurrectionists, and a strange disease afflicting plants and humans alike. Cultlike groups and factions concern themselves with their own survival and interests to the detriment of the planet. A sentient bamboo species, Levanter and its brethren, sent from the planet Pax, has grown into an immense, worldwide network, and various groups and humans attempt to save the Earth and its inhabitants from extinction. Beginning with several points of view detailing strange happenings across the world, the story converges with Levanter and the rainbow bamboo assessing their place on Earth: do they serve humanity, or does humanity serve them? This thought-provoking and richly detailed novel will appeal to fans of ecofiction as well as readers who enjoy a dialogue-driven story that explores the possibilities of evolved sentience beyond humanity.