Ammonite

360 pages

English language

Published Nov. 15, 1993 by Del Rey.

ISBN:
978-0-345-37891-0
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Change or die. These are the only options available on 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 lost touch with the rest of humanity, a company arrives to exploit Jeep—and its forces find themselves fighting for their lives. Terrified of spreading the virus, the company abandons its employees, leaving them afraid and isolated from the natives. In the face of this crisis, 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 realizes that not only has she found a home on Jeep, but that she alone carries the seeds of its destruction. . . .

Ammonite is an unforgettable novel that questions the very meanings of gender and humanity. As readers share in …

6 editions

Review of 'Ammonite' on 'Storygraph'

Ammonite starts slow and thoughtful, exploring interesting and surprising ideas about its science fiction universe. And then it builds to an engaging plot-driven story that’s hard to put down.

I almost wish I had read Griffith’s explanation of what she was trying to do first (in my edition this was an afterword) because I think it would have made me more attuned to some really compelling aspects of the book more quickly. But this is not to say it doesn’t succeed. It absolutely does.

I loved the world, the people, and then fictional science here. It was original, fascinating, and really fun to read. And I especially loved the complex and diverse cast of female characters. 

Review of 'Ammonite' on 'Goodreads'

I enjoyed the main story of Marghe learning to assimilate into the hybrid human/alien (and all female) society of Jeep, and it reminded me in some respects of The Left Hand of Darkness, but other story elements such as the military encampment felt unbalanced and the 'big bad' Company with its rapacious designs on Jeep remained tropish and stereotypical particularly as we never saw its point of view.

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