Evolution's Shore

In several equatorial regions of the earth, an alien plant has been growing. The ???Chaga,??? as it is called, came from outer space and destroys anything manmade that comes near it. Scientists are worried about what it might do to humans. They have not been able to kill it and it is advancing slowly but steadily each day, changing the landscape and covering villages and cities as it progresses. Not only are people???s lives being disrupted as they have to flee their homes and become refugees, but they???re also worried about what the Chaga is doing here in the first place. Is it benign? Is there an intelligence behind it? Is it a precursor to an alien invasion? Nobody knows.

The mystery of the Chaga and its effect on humanity have inspired Gaby McAslin, a feisty red-headed green-eyed Irish woman, to become a journalist so she can go to Nairobi and try to figure out what the Chaga is doing as it... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/evolutions-shore/

I don't know if I've ever read a book more beautifully written, science fiction or not. McDonald makes liberal use of metaphors in this book, it's almost necessary considering the subject matter. He manages to convey a sense of awe and wonder while simultaneously apologizing for it's inadequacy. You walk away with a sense of how wondrous and different the Chaga is, wishing to be able to see it for yourself.

Gaby McAslan resonates for me as the main character. She is much of what I wish I were and I get lost in her life as she chases (or rather is chased by) the encroaching alien life form spreading across the African continent. She is ambitious and sometimes almost single mindedly driven...but there's a human side to her too, with vulnerabilities not unlike the rest of us. The Chaga has been her purpose for her entire career and simultaneously stimulates her and terrifies her. Hard to blame her actually.

I was sad to reach the end of this book.

Oh, and it's very quotable. I had to have a notebook close by while reading. I often needed to write down a quote for future reference/blatant plaigerism.