Who Would Like This Book:
This book has a truly fascinating premise: time-traveling cyborgs rescuing lost plants (and sometimes people) from the past, all working for a mysterious and profit-driven organization. It's a unique blend of science fiction, historical fiction, and romance, with witty writing and thoughtful insights into the nature of humanity and power. The historical details, especially those of 16th-century England and Spain, are vivid and immersive. If you enjoy Connie Willis, novels with a mix of heart and satire, or stories that focus as much on character growth as on big ideas, you'll be hooked. Fans of clever alt-history and ethical quandaries will find plenty to chew on.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found themselves disappointed by the amount of focus on romance and the main character’s personal journey, rather than on high-concept science fiction or action-packed time travel escapades. If you’re looking for hard sci-fi, deep dives into the technology of time travel, or a fast-paced adventure, this may not be your cup of tea. People who don't enjoy romance intertwined with their sci-fi, or who are easily put off by a protagonist with teenage angst, might also find the story less engaging. Also, if you’re expecting non-stop plot twists or a super tight, action-driven narrative, you may get bored during the book’s more introspective or relationship-centered parts.
About:
In the book 'In the Garden of Iden' by Kage Baker, the story follows Mendoza, a young girl rescued from the brutal Spanish Inquisition and transformed into an immortal cyborg by a time-traveling organization known as Dr. Zeus. Tasked with saving rare plants from extinction in Tudor England, Mendoza navigates the complexities of the mortal world, encountering love, intrigue, and challenges to her preconceived notions about herself and The Company. The narrative blends elements of science fiction, historical fiction, and romance, offering a unique perspective on immortality, time travel, and human nature.
The writing style of the book combines vivid historical detail with thought-provoking commentary on society and the human condition. Through the eyes of Mendoza, the reader experiences a blend of teenage verve, immortal wisdom, and emotional depth, as she grapples with her dual identity as a botanist for The Company and a young woman caught in a web of love and loyalty during a tumultuous period in English history.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers include content related to the Spanish Inquisition, violence, religious persecution, and themes of loss.
Has Romance?
Yes, the story contains a significant romantic element as the main character Mendoza falls in love with Nicholas, a mortal man.
From The Publisher:
This is the first novel in what has become one of the most popular series in contemporary SF, now back in print from Tor. In the 24th century, the Company preserves works of art and extinct forms of life (for profit of course). It recruits orphans from the past, renders them all but immortal, and trains them to serve the Company, Dr. Zeus. One of these is Mendoza the botanist. She is sent to Elizabethan England to collect samples from the garden of Sir Walter Iden.
But while there, she meets Nicholas Harpole, with whom she falls in love. And that love sounds great bells of change that will echo down the centuries, and through the succeeding novels of The Company.
Ratings (6)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (22):
Read It (7) | |
Want To Read (7) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (7) |
What can you read after
In the Garden of Iden?
About the Author:
KAGE BAKER has been an artist, actor, and director at the Living History Centre and has taught Elizabethan English as a Second Language. Born in 1952 in Hollywood, she lives in Pismo Beach, California, the Clam Capital of the World.
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