Elin Gregory

Last week I was singing the praises of a romping sexy tongue in cheek historical series – the Magpie Lord by K J Charles – this week I am whizzing far into the future to talk about science fiction.

This week’s recommendation was plugged by Lisa Henry as being a good read. Thanks Lisa!

The Silvers by Jill Smith is set in two worlds. One is an ethereal realm on a far planet where life is incredibly simple and calm until a research team of scientists arrive. The other is Earth, not so different from our own but with space travel and higher forms of technology.

The action initially involves the friction between the passionate scientists and the Silvers, natives of the planet, who feel no anger or fear, who do not fight, who make themselves one with their environment, who feel no desire or envy. Obviously they can’t be human so they can be abused, beaten and experimented upon with a clear conscience, one might think. But the captain of the team, B, begins to have doubts as he notices their capacity for joy and curiosity. Part of the tension in the book is the gulf between the scientists who are objective about their experiments, as required by their sponsors, and those who begin to experience grave doubts about the ethics of what they are doing.

Due to a tragedy the action moves back to Earth where the silver Imms has to learn about fast food, animal sanctuaries and that people can do bad things with the best of motives.

Now, I’ll admit that I haven’t quite finished the book yet – I’m about 2 thirds of the way through, but I’m absolutely hooked and terribly worried that the two protagonists will never be able to have any kind of happy ending. However that doesn’t mean that there won’t be a rivetting and satisfying conclusion to the story. I’m trusting Jill Smith on this one.

PS Jill Smith also writes critically acclaimed BDSM M/M erotica with Lisa Henry so if you like that you may have to make the adjustment to the fact that there’s no explicit on page sex in this. I’m not feeling the lack, but that’s just me.