Dark Eden - Chris Beckett

On the alien, sunless planet they call Eden, the 532 members of the Family shelter beneath the light and warmth of the Forest’s lantern trees. Beyond the Forest lie the mountains of the Snowy Dark and a cold so bitter and a night so profound that no man has ever crossed it. 

The Oldest among the Family recount legends of a world where light came from the sky, where men and women made boats that could cross the stars. These ships brought us here, the Oldest say—and the Family must only wait for the travelers to return. 

But young John Redlantern will break the laws of Eden, shatter the Family and change history. He will abandon the old ways, venture into the Dark…and discover the truth about their world.

Already remarkably acclaimed in the UK, Dark Eden is science fiction as literature; part parable, part powerful coming-of-age story, set in a truly original alien world of dark, sinister beauty--rendered in prose that is at once strikingly simple and stunningly inventive.

My thoughts:

I liked liked this book (yes the repetition is there for a reason and shows how their language changed.)

The book was good, creepy and made me think about, well everything. It was not even 200 years ago since a man and a woman got stranded on an alien planet. Now there are 500 people there, yes you figure it out. To start the human race again you need lots of incest and it shows as some people have what they call batfaces, and clawfeet. The law later does say that you should not "slip" with close relatives. But to get it started, they did. And it's not like anyone knows who their dad is either since everyone do it with everyone.

I liked how the society was formed and how it was rooted in fear, they HAD to stay where they were so earth would find them. Even though food was scarce now. But tradition was everything and no one really thought of new things anymore.

But like with all things rooted in tradition someone will have an idea and that is John. Was he a god hero? Not really, sure he thought of things but at the same time he was a man (another thing I liked here later how it show female vs male power.) But he was interesting and his was not the only POV. There were other with their strengths and thoughts.

A truly alien world, a new world being built and I could not put it down. This is a series so I checked book 2 at once which takes place long after. And the end was an end, but not really so I am very curious to see how these people survive.

Conclusion:

Totally cool sci.fi.

Cover

Really pretty up close

Paperback, 448 pages
Published April 1st 2014 by Broadway Books (first published January 1st 2012)
Dark Eden #1
Science-fiction
For review