[.ca] Remnant Population (ISBN 034546219X)

From Amazon.com:
In a far-flung capitalistic empire among the stars, generations of colonization without a single contact with an intelligent, non-human species have reduced the colonial process to a franchise system. Amid the abuses of the system which inevitably follow, an old woman decides not to leave when her failed colony is evacuated, thinking the freedom to live alone and die in peace is worth any risk. In this entertaining but suspenseful first-contact novel, Elizabeth Moon's apt depiction of the interaction between old and young plays counterpoint to the interaction between human and alien.

Unusual Topic but Insightful:
"Remnant Population" is a beautiful story about an "old woman" whose path of discovery is set in a SF context. At 70, Ofelia is considered to be too old to be of any use to the Colony which had settled on the planet some 40 years earlier, but have now been told to move on. Ofelia knows this, and does not look forward to the move in cryopreservation, which is likely to kill her. As an elderly woman, she is no longer appreciated by her fellow colony, rather - she is a liability. But Ofelia has her own plans. If she can only convince the colony to leave her behind ... all she wants to do is tend to her garden and be left in peace. No one to tell her what to do. No one to tell her what to wear. No one to chide her. She decides to hide herself when the colony moves out. She knows that they won't look long for an old woman ... and she's right. Soon, Ofelia learns to set herself free. As the only one remaining on the planet, she can do whatever she wants. There is enough infrastructure left behind by the colony that she can survive for years. So she plants everyones gardens and finally gets to walk around barefoot and hatless. But then, something unusual happens. One day, as she is at the center, monitoring for storms and writing "real" stories behind the notes on people who dies in the colony, she hears an interchange of humans attempting to land on the planet --- and something goes horribly wrong. Against all Ofelia's expectations and knowledge, the humans are attacked by aliens. Shortly after, strange things start to happen where she is. Doors left open that she was sure she'd closed. Or maybe she was just a crazy old woman after all? The story of this 70 year old helps to remind us all that older people have lives and thoughts and feelings and are capable of things that younger ones are. Too often, our society disregards and disrespects those with experience who have the potential to live so much more. Life doesn't end at 70. Ofelia learns, in spite of herself, that she is capable of much more than she ever dreamed of. Her new self is the first to among humans to have alien contact. At 70, she has all the skills necessary to deal with this strange encounter and build good relationships with the aliens. Their society respects elders ... Slightly unusual for a SF topic, but nonetheless full of insight. Moon reminds us all that we should respect those who have the most experience.

Unhurried tale about the freedom and peace of solitude.:
This unhurried tale about the freedom and peace of solitude and success in later life is presented as science fiction, but I believe people at any stage of life can relate. Ofelia is an old woman who decides to stay behind on a colony planet she has called home for half her life when the sponsoring company decides to move the colonists to another world. She is ready for a few years of freedom at the end of her long life. The freedom to wear what she wants, eat what she wants, rise and rest when she wants. She spends a few seasons and about a hundred pages alone. Then she encounters native intelligent life i.e. aliens and Ofelia gets acquainted with them and watches them learn at a marvelous rate that belies her initial impression of their childlike intelligence. Off world powers become aware of the intelligent life and send a group of specialists to study them. This book was slow moving, but the writing was lovely. For some reason, I really like descriptions of weather and gardening and Moon provides plenty of both along with rather simple arts and crafts of bead painting and clothes making that I rather enjoyed. The story of rising to success and finding oneself highly valued, respected and useful is not new. But I have never read a book where the main character is old and Ofelia offered a refreshing perspective. I enjoyed this book. Recommended.

Strong Female Latina Character:
Not only was this an increadible novel of self-discovery, finding inner-strength and value of solitude, but it featured a strong, independent Latina woman as the main character. Ofelia was also a Senior Citizen who clearly was not as worthless as everyone thought, but had tremendous value as a human being and as an Elder. We should teach this book in schools to illustrate that all women, elderly especially, have great wisdom and value and ought not to be tossed aside!

Fun!:
I liked this book fully as much as anything else I've read by Elizabeth Moon. Her characters are believeable and well constructed, and her plots don't stretch the bounds of credulity. I wish more Sci-Fi authors were like her; this isn't a dark techno future and you won't feel hopeless or filthy after reading it.

A Most Unusual Book:
Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon is an unusual book in quite a few ways. To start with, the protagonist, Ofelia, is over 70 years old, and a grandmother. She's not as spry as she was, and not taken seriously by her family or community. Just a "crazy old lady". I can think of very few SF books where the protagonist is that old, unless of course they have some life-extension technology. Ofelia's people do not seriously consider the wants and concerns of an old person. Perhaps our culture doesn't either, if you judge by their (lack of) prominence in fiction. Ofelia lives in a struggling colony on a far-away planet. She's put her whole life into the colony -- the gardens, the family and friends she has buried there, the labor of a long life. Now the corporate owners of the world and the colony have decided it is "not viable" and they are shipping their employees off to start over on another world. Ofelia decides she won't leave. The colonists and the corporate masters leave, not too concerned about one missing old lady. Ofelia is alone. Alone means un-fettered by the needs and demands of other people. Un-concerned about what the neighbors will think of what she wears or does. Free to do sensible things which she is very capable of, and also free to make her own artwork and to sit in the sun and dream. This is the first and perhaps largest joy of the book. It is a personal growth story about someone whose life we might have assumed to be nearly over. Left to go wild, Ofelia blossoms. She is practical and careful, but at the same time her child self is finally set free. Of course all is not well in paradise for long. Ofelia will be presented with plenty of challenges. She was un-educated and under-valued by her society, but it turns out that a lifetime of experience at "women's work" has given her skills that she needs but barely has names for - diplomacy, conspiracy, management, teaching, practical use of social dynamics, to name a few. Through it all we enjoy Ofelia's sharp wit about the strange goings-on around her. This is also a First Contact story. The aliens (natives actually) are quite interesting, with a very different culture and social structure than what we are used to. They do have some surprises in store for the humans. I always like well-done aliens and alien - human interactions, and this is the second joy of this book. Remnant Population is also unusual in that there is very little violence. Elizabeth Moon has written quite a lot of military SF and swords-&-sorcery, but this book is free of those familiar combat scenes. Instead we have the joy of seeing inept corporations and short-sighted military baffled and outwitted by an old lady who understands how people work, how to resist, and how to find common ground. Anyway, this is the best book I've read this year, and goes on my "favorites" shelf, to lend to friends and read and re-read. It's available in paperback now, copyright 1996. You should find and read this one now, before it vanishes from the publishing scene and becomes an unobtainable legend. (This review first appeared in TANSTAAFL, the 'zine of the Stilyagi Air Corps science fiction club.)