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Through the Heart
Richard Grant
P.K. Dick 1993

Ecology vs. humanity, the struggle between personal benefit and environmental consequences. A modern, up-dated, and less depressing version of A Canticle for Leibowitz. Suspenseful but sometimes maddeningly stingy with information. Everyone holds their cards so close to the chest - it stokes up curiosity but can make the story hard to understand.

And the conclusion didn't quite tie up all the loose ends. Unanswered questions engage the reader and encourage more participation; but, this strategy loses effectiveness when there aren't enough pieces to put the puzzle together. On the other hand though, as Kem says on the last page, "That's another damned story."

Interesting discussion about our attraction toward immortality - one approach based on the imagery of the vampire and the other on the transmutation principle of alchemy. Throughout the story, characters act out both principles plus a more healthy alternative.

The ending had me wondering for several days what the author was trying to say. When I finally felt I understood, the message came through with cheerful inspiration.

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