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Sime/Gen #1
House of Zeor
Berkley Books, 1985. Reprints this 1974 book. This is the author's first "Sime/Gen" novel.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
16 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
68 books93 followersJacqueline Lichtenberg is creator of the Sime~Gen Universe, primary author of Star Trek Lives!, founder of the Star Trek Welcommittee, creator of the term Intimate Adventure, winner of the Galaxy Award for Spirituality in Science Fiction and one of the first Romantic Times Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel. Her work is now in e-book form, audio-dramatization and on XM Satellite Radio. She has been sf/f reviewer for The Monthly Aspectarian since 1993.
Reprints and new titles coming from Wildside Press, 2011.
Co-blogs at: http://www.aliendjinnromances.blogspo...
Find currently available titles and free chapters at
http://www.jacquelinelichtenberg.com
With Professor Jean Lorrah, she teaches sf/f writing online via Tarot and Astrology.
Reprints and new titles coming from Wildside Press, 2011.
Co-blogs at: http://www.aliendjinnromances.blogspo...
Find currently available titles and free chapters at
http://www.jacquelinelichtenberg.com
With Professor Jean Lorrah, she teaches sf/f writing online via Tarot and Astrology.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
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October 25, 2015I 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.
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.
November 3, 2019
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.
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.
April 21, 2010
In the far future a mutation develops and humankind is split into Simes and Gens. Simes "change over" at adolescence into vampire-like creatures that must suction off energy from Gens every month. Ordinarily, this causes the death of the Gen. But then "Channels" are discovered who could safely take energy from Gens and give that energy to Simes. But there are still "Sime" territories where Gens are kept like cattle, and "Gen" territories where a developing Sime would be shot on sight. Enter Hugh, a Gen that must pose as a "companion" to a Channel in order to find his kidnapped love, Aisha. Not my favorite of the Sime/Gen books--that would probably be Ambrov Keon--but definitely a good read in a series that's a favorite of mine. Both Lichtenberg and Lorrah who write books in this series are good storytellers and create characters to care about. And since this was the first book in the series to be published (even if not the first chronologically) it makes a good entry into the series.
August 3, 2009
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 liked it quite a lot. I've always wondered whether there was any influence here from Zenna Henderson's "The People."
September 25, 2009
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.
April 1, 2013
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.
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.
June 22, 2008
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.
January 24, 2019
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".
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".
April 28, 2024
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 we 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. 😊
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 we 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. 😊
May 1, 2009
I wish that there were more books. I'm going to try to find out if there are and get them. REALLY GRAT SERIES!!!
June 23, 2022
I got two more books of this which I found and bought in a thrift store. I don't know if I have the will to continue the rest.
3 stars.
December 22, 2023
I have the Playboy Paperbacks edition which has a scantily dressed woman with plenty of bosom showing through her ripped dress, which leaves expectations of a cheap romance novel.
Instead I found it reminded me a bit of Dune.
By which I mean that for a fair while everything was above my head - so much detail going into things I didn't understand. Felt like I had jumped in midway through a series or even midway through a book.
Took a while to get into it and then found I liked it enough to read some more of the series.
Instead I found it reminded me a bit of Dune.
By which I mean that for a fair while everything was above my head - so much detail going into things I didn't understand. Felt like I had jumped in midway through a series or even midway through a book.
Took a while to get into it and then found I liked it enough to read some more of the series.
June 25, 2022
This one was... odd.
I really enjoyed it, and would gladly read more by this author, but I was very confused through most of it. There is so much jargon in it that I had to work out through context only, so I wound up just letting a lot of it go by me. (Still not entirely sure what 'Entran' 'Nazhder' or a 'Junct') actually means.
Still, the characters were well written, and the story drew me in.
I really enjoyed it, and would gladly read more by this author, but I was very confused through most of it. There is so much jargon in it that I had to work out through context only, so I wound up just letting a lot of it go by me. (Still not entirely sure what 'Entran' 'Nazhder' or a 'Junct') actually means.
Still, the characters were well written, and the story drew me in.
sony-or-android
April 25, 2021she wrote a good Quora piece (about archetype vs cliche...) and to make a special effort to appreciate her writing (of star trek novels & others)
June 28, 2024
They’re like vampires but with tentacles instead of fangs. A genetic mutation causes some humans to transform, during puberty, into monsters that need to suck the life force out of normal humans in order to stay alive.
Gens are captured and auctioned off by Simes, who suck their blood, I mean, their “selyn”. Channels are able to provide the Simes with selyn without anyone having to die, but this is seen as perverted. The House of Zeor is a householding, one of the places where Simes and Gens can live together in peace because of the channels transferring the selyn. Klyd is one of those channels, and he’s kinda the boss at Zeor.
Hugh is a Gen. He is on a mission to find Aisha, but he’s mostly just drawing pictures and hanging out with Simes while they tell him how talented he is. Every so often he says “I should really find Aisha”, but they’re all busy doing things that don’t seem that important. He has a crush on her, but he never told her. Sometimes he feels guilty for not trying harder to find her, other times he seems to question whether or not he even cares.
Klyd is secretly helping Hugh look for Aisha, even though he’s so busy and important. He leaves with Hugh to go to an auction, looking for her. Klyd is leaving behind his very pregnant wife, Yenava, who needs him to be there when she gives birth. If he isn’t there to give the newborn baby selyn, she will die. The trip isn’t supposed to take too long, only a few days. However, Klyd decides they should stay at another householding for a few days before heading back, and Hugh draws more pictures.
They don’t find Aisha until they are captured and put in a cage next to hers. By this time, Hugh had almost forgotten all about her. Their captors tell them that Yenava and their son both died because Klyd was not there. Klyd’s grandfather also died trying to save them. They escape with Aisha. Once they are safe, Hugh abruptly professes his love and asks her to marry him. It’s a strange engagement. In the end, Klyd has sacrificed much more than Hugh has to save Aisha. Hugh goes off to collect his reward for saving her and plans to start his own householding.
There’s a gaping void where the tentacle sex should be.
Gens are captured and auctioned off by Simes, who suck their blood, I mean, their “selyn”. Channels are able to provide the Simes with selyn without anyone having to die, but this is seen as perverted. The House of Zeor is a householding, one of the places where Simes and Gens can live together in peace because of the channels transferring the selyn. Klyd is one of those channels, and he’s kinda the boss at Zeor.
Hugh is a Gen. He is on a mission to find Aisha, but he’s mostly just drawing pictures and hanging out with Simes while they tell him how talented he is. Every so often he says “I should really find Aisha”, but they’re all busy doing things that don’t seem that important. He has a crush on her, but he never told her. Sometimes he feels guilty for not trying harder to find her, other times he seems to question whether or not he even cares.
Klyd is secretly helping Hugh look for Aisha, even though he’s so busy and important. He leaves with Hugh to go to an auction, looking for her. Klyd is leaving behind his very pregnant wife, Yenava, who needs him to be there when she gives birth. If he isn’t there to give the newborn baby selyn, she will die. The trip isn’t supposed to take too long, only a few days. However, Klyd decides they should stay at another householding for a few days before heading back, and Hugh draws more pictures.
They don’t find Aisha until they are captured and put in a cage next to hers. By this time, Hugh had almost forgotten all about her. Their captors tell them that Yenava and their son both died because Klyd was not there. Klyd’s grandfather also died trying to save them. They escape with Aisha. Once they are safe, Hugh abruptly professes his love and asks her to marry him. It’s a strange engagement. In the end, Klyd has sacrificed much more than Hugh has to save Aisha. Hugh goes off to collect his reward for saving her and plans to start his own householding.
There’s a gaping void where the tentacle sex should be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2013
Very interesting start to this classic series. It takes some patience to pick up the terminology and references, but all that pays off in a very good way in the last third of the book, where Lichtenberg was really able to start addressing deeper themes and ideas. It really picked up around that point, and this is also a book that really explores the evolution of a friendship and mutual respect between two men from very different cultures who end up truly committed and invested in each other. I ended the book feeling ready to open the next one immediately!
December 5, 2013
A classic. Although the two lead characters were a bit annoying, it's the start of such a marvelous series. And the incredible imagination it took to come up with this whole premise, and make it believable!
August 28, 2016
Fun
Like a lot of people, I read the first few Zeor books years ago and then lost track of the series. I am delighted to find these again, and more delighted to find myself still intrigued by the Zeor universe.
Like a lot of people, I read the first few Zeor books years ago and then lost track of the series. I am delighted to find these again, and more delighted to find myself still intrigued by the Zeor universe.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews