OASIS ONE

In this second installment of an SF series, a scientist tries to reunite with friends while a pandemic and an imminent war threaten the world.

The FossilFlu virus has devastated Earth, now split into the Sanctuary of Europe, the Sanctuary of Americas, and the Sanctuary of Asia. In Europe, virologist Dr. Mercy Perching has helped keep safe an avian-human hybrid with a genetic immunity to the virus. The Americas’ ruthless leader, the Prime, wants the hybrid for her country, even if it means going to war with Europe. Mercy plans a trip to Asia, where some of her friends—rebels against the Prime—are currently taking refuge. With her traveling companion, government agent Basil Goodman, she plans to bring her cohorts back to Europe. But following a sudden attack during their journey, the two awaken separately in Oasis One. In this apparent lab, Mercy learns from android Sindy that she and Basil are in quarantine. It seems they’ve reached Asia, which has battled FossilFlu with a genetic modification. In addition, Oasis One’s “Keepers,” to avoid humanity’s potential extinction, have Incubation Synths, like Sindy, for human propagation. But Mercy and Basil look to escape, as the gene therapy, if ineffective, could result in their deaths. Weisbeck’s wonderfully detailed sequel tackles SF staples readers know by heart, including Sindy’s questioning what it means to be human. But the characters and relationships are remarkable, especially Mercy and Basil; his feelings run deeper, as she’s in love with someone else. The Prime is another standout character: This formidable villain is frighteningly omnipotent. The prose is evocative, particularly when describing the environment: “Fiddleheads of lady fern unrolled, spongy toadstools mushroomed into blue gilled umbrellas, and odorous prickly pine needles and buttercup wildflowers filled the air with an otherworldly aura.” The author smartly concentrates on only a few characters in this short installment and leaves plenty of avenues to explore in the next volume.

A sharp, illuminating dystopian tale.