Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang

"What if...?" That simple phrase is the essential basis of speculative fiction. In Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, Kate Wilhelm posits the question, "What if humanity were nearly wiped out and the only apparent chance of survival for the species is cloning?". Without wasting too much time on the mechanics of decline, within a few chapters our view is reduced to a single surviving community comprised mostly of scientists that are developing a cloning process as a substitute for widespread infertility in humans. But can the fruit of their labors still be considered as human?

The tone of the story is pastoral rather than couched in hard science. Avoiding the tedium of explaining how and why things work the way they do, Wilhelm instead chooses to focus on the social ramifications and on the character development - which is very strong. Reminiscent of writers like Simak and Brackett, Wilhelm's prose is both direct and lyrical. Her characters have very real motivations and it's not difficult to empathize with them as they work through their issues.

Fully deserving the nominations and awards it received, this book was a great read for me. I recommend it to anyone - fan of SF or not. It's one of those books that is more about the fiction than the science - and that's a good thing.