From: noone@nowhere.com   
      
   2023 Clarke Award Finalist winner: Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman.   
      
   The environment is failing and a lucrative new industry to protect   
   species extinction has devolved into preserving remnants of extinct   
   species (dna and much more) in Biobanks or perhaps a pretence to   
   minimise guilt or profit. The Venomous Lumpsucker is an intelligent fish   
   being sought by the protagonists, a 'green' species intelligence   
   evaluator (who was studying the fish before it and its habitat was   
   destroyed) and a company man from the extinction industry company that   
   destroyed the reefs prematurely. Finding another source of the Venomous   
   Lumpsucker becomes even more important when the Biobank contents are   
   destroyed for reasons not yet known.   
   Humurous in a very wry way. An example of his humour is the title which   
   appeared ridiculous at first but is explained in an extremely serious   
   and intelligent manner. Much of the scientific argument is too detailed   
   for my interest, but I can understand it whilst reading. For   
   those with a scientific background and interest, it would be more   
   rewarding with less access to the dictionary needed. The other aspect,   
   the satire of the right-wing (unfettered) capitalism, was also   
   excessively detailed though fascinating in its thoroughness. However   
   there were occasions when this thoroughness resulted in large dumps of   
   reasoning and information.   
   An enjoyable three star read. I would not expect it to win an award.   
   I really enjoyed his vast vocabulary, his writing, his knowledge and   
   imagination.  Plot and characters not so much.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)