I realized after starting this that I had in fact tried it once before, years ago. That time I quit only a few pages in, because I found the main character's temper and lack of self-control ridiculously implausible in the context of the position he held and the plot that was being set up.

The second time through I read farther. My opinion of the protagonist didn't change, but I did appreciate that Lichtenberg had some interesting and original ideas that she was using to frame some social commentary. I still quit before the halfway mark so I can't say definitely that these ideas didn't seem that well thought through, but that was my impression. Her prose and character building aren't interesting enough to make me want to struggle on. And my initial complaint still holds -- it is ridiculous that this guy has succeeded in an important and dangerous government mediation position and is being entrusted with this risky and essential undercover rescue mission. He is contintually blowing his cover because he gets mad and yells at people in public, and makes stupid naive decisions that he has to be rescued from.

My feeling, and I don't mean to sound patronizing here, is that this book could have been a lot better if the author had read some more philosophy and also some espionage classics before writing it. science-fiction unfinished19 s CharlesAuthor 41 books271

A pretty good book. Definitely somewhat more psychological and sociological SF rather than adventure SF. Again, I don't often read this sort of book but it was well written and I d it quite a lot. I've always wondered whether there was any influence here from Zenna Henderson's "The People." science-fiction3 s Derek1,288 8

There is psychological and philosophical depth here, between the predator/prey angle and the ramifications of the societies produced and an analysis of Zelerod's Doom, but I never warmed to the story. The writing had a sort of unappealing yaoi fanfiction quality, and while the premise seemed to promise adventure and action, it was much more slow-burning and prone to societal commentary.3 s Chris234 9

I found this in a free box at a local book store. The story blurb on the dust jacket was incomprehensible, but it was sci-fi and had an interesting cover, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It is a muddled mixture of near-erotica, thriller, and sci-fi, centered on the conflicts between Gens (normal looking humans) who generate a life-sustaining energy called selyn) and Simes (humans with tentacles on their forearms) who prey on the Gens to absorb the life-sustaining selyn, killing the Gens in the process.

The author may be dismayed by my use of "erotica" as a descriptor because she takes great pains to explain that the exchange of selyn (whether forced or consensual) is not sexual in nature. However, I could go so far to say this is thinly veiled male homoerotica. Why? Let me count the ways: (1) All the Simes presented in this novel are men, (2) the tentacles that absorb selyn emerge from sheathes in their forearms, (3) willing Gens who partake in the process (once again all men) are called Companions, (4) the exchange of selyn is maximized through kissing, (5) there is a bunch of man-on-man kissing, (6) a main plot line is the constant primal need that needs to be fed through this physical contact, (7) the greater the need that a Sime experiences the more bestial he is, and (8) the main tension in the storyline is the growing intimacy between the main (male) Gen and (male) Sime characters and whether or not there will be a consummation of this growing relationship. There is even an integral scene where the main character (a dude, of course) sketches an image of two hard-muscled chiseled male Simes with tentacles intertwined, who are posing for the cover of a fashion catalog.

Perhaps there are female Simes and companions in later books in the series, but for this volume lets call a spade a spade.2 s Sarah354

Ich glaube, Das Haus Zeor könnte aus "Gute Bücher mit schrecklichem Cover" ohne Schwierigkeiten Platz 1 belegen.
Nicht nur, dass das Cover schrecklich ist und so plump auf 'Sex Sells' setzt, dass es wie ein billiger Groschenroman wirkt, es hat auch nur ganz entfernt irgendwas mit dem Buch zu tun.

Das Buch spielt in weit entfernter Zukunft, die Menschheit hat sich in zwei Rassen aufgespalten - die Simes und die Gens. Gens produzieren Selyn, ein Stoff, den die Simes zum überleben brauchen und ihn deshalb von den Gens nehmen, was für diese nicht unbedingt ungefährlich ist, häufig sterben sie sogar dabei.
Hugh Valleroy, ein Gen, will die Simes unterwandern, um seine Freundin zu befreien. Dazu tritt er dem Sime-Hauhalt Zeor bei.

"Das Haus Zeor" ist der erste Band einer Reihe, soweit ich weiß. Es hat mir wirklich gut gefallen, den Rest der Reihe habe ich dann aber irgendwie nicht mehr gelesen.1 rivka904

Somehow, I thought I had read this a long time ago. But apparently I never had. As the first Sime-Gen book (not to mention our first introduction to Hugh and Klyd), it holds a special place in my heart. But it is very clearly a first novel.gr-author sime-gen1 Rhiannon28

I wish that there were more books. I'm going to try to find out if there are and get them. REALLY GRAT SERIES!!!1 Ken88

First novel in the Sime~Gen universe

There was a mutation in mankind, one that split the population into Simes or Gens. Gens generate Selyn, a life giving force. Simes simulate selyn, they need it to live. Simes became predators, hunting down Gens and sucking their life out of them. Then another mutation appeared, or was always there, and a channel was born.

Channels can take selyn from Gens safely, without killing, and then transfer it to Simes. There was no longer the need to kill. Thus the Householdings were born. The first being run by the Farris's. This story takes place after the householdings have formed the Tecton, a loose conflagration of householdings. It's a time when changes are taking place on both sides of the border. And it's the time of Zelorad's doom, the mathematical proof that Simes will kill all the available Gens, dooming mankind.

The story centers on a Gen who's girlfriend was abducted by Simes raiding across the border. It's the story of his search, and his education of householdings and the current Sime government. It's a great story, and a welcome beginning to this universe. I first read this novel as a College student in the seventies. I knew right away it was something new, something unique. Over the years I've read all the novels in this universe. And now I'm rereading them as ebooks.

As a long time reader of SF I highly recommend these novels. But, don't read in publishing order, read them according to their place in history, beginning with "First Channel".

Have fun, and don't forget "Live long and prosper". Maureen274 5

This is my second reading of the book, the first as a teenager, it’s been decades since then. Believe it or not, the book stands up to today’s standards. There are a couple of things I might nitpick, but that’s all they’d be.

Lichtenberg sets up a low fantasy world that is ours, but has diverted from the path we’re on now. Humans, through some occurrence, have developed into two species that can, through interaction, coexist peacefully. But you know how well we do that, as a species. Both species live in perpetual fear of each other.

One man has a vision and a method that can keep his Simes from killing Gens. But change is hard and even his own people think him a pervert. This is the story of a Gen who struggles not to think of perversions and fear when he thinks of Simes. He has a compelling reason, but getting there will require he commit fully to the other man’s vision.

So, I’d say that’s pretty terrific world building and plot. The characters are just as interesting if, arguably, a bit simplistic. One agonizes over how to accomplish something the entire book, while someone me meet in the dying chapters is able to do very much the same, complicated thing within paragraphs. We don’t live in her head though. The calm, nature leader is the Head of Ambrov Zeor, and he’s worth reading multiple times. He’s in more than one book, so I think I’ll just pop into the next book and see how he’s getting on.

Very much looking forward to it.
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