Sylvie Bérard

I had heard and read many positive things about this novel, 'Terre des autres', by the Canadian author Sylvie Bérard. It's a stand-alone book, not part of a series, so no pressure trying to find sequels or prequels. As books by the Canadian publisher Alire are hard to obtain in Belgium (let's not forget custom duties or an importer who increased the French price (as France probably serves as basis for importing books in Belgium) for books sold in Belgium. Hence my having bought my copy in France at the country's largest SFFF-festival, Les Imaginales.

'Terre des autres' is not one big story, it's a collection of short stories added with a few informational texts on the community or other aspects. While this is an interesting setup, also to find out more about how the colonisation by humans came about, how it evolved, how the relationship with the natives occurred, how they acted on it all, etc. etc., it never was like that.

Several, if not most, of the stories focus on how humans treated the reptilian natives - the natives are of the reptilian kind - and vice versa. In other words: cruel, bestial, aggressive, with no empathy whatsoever. Except for maybe that one exception.

The stories are also not really clarifying, they just describe - in flashes - the treatments. In flashes, as you don't really get much background descriptions, as it's quite impossible to feel any sympathy for any of the characters, events also happen in bursts (like an on-off switch) without proper unfolding, ...

In other words: 'Terre des autres' is a not a novel with a fully developed story-line. Humans came to this planet they called Mars II. The reptilian natives thought the humans would stay only shortly and then continue their spatial quest for a different home, but alas, humans found Mars II interesting enough to stay, and because some circumstances (The long stay provided for an expansion of the original crew, hence not enough place on board of the spaceships, hence having to properly colonise Mars II.) obliged humans to interrupt or even cancel the rest of the quest. Something the natives didn't like, of course. So they retaliated. A little too hard even.

And so, one thing leads to another, each developing plans to stay put, to claim their right of property, and what-have-you. As push comes to shove... An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. So, despite a positive start, it all escalated quite rapidly: no real room (any more) for peace, reconciliation, finding an agreement to live together and complement each other, ...

No, wait, there is room for peace, to find a way to live together, as there's a Village created by both sides. At least, members of both sides who see no future in waging war and oppressing the other. Especially on the side of the darztl (reptilian natives) this is apparent. The last story was excellent proof of that, showed a positive turnaround compared to the previous ones. It also contained more explanation on how the darztl and humans got into conflict, clashed, ending up in torturing each other at the most. One little girl would play a key, yet manipulative role, as she would be led to the Village where she would be allowed to live in total freedom. No punishment, no torturing, the right to privacy, one's own bedroom, and more. Yet, she would on a few occasions break that trust, also because of her past in the mines and how she was treated by her master(s).

"Manipulative", because the "hunter" who found her would continue to forgive her, to allow the girl to mentally adapt to her new situation, despite her mischief, theft and behaviour to gain her hunter's trust again. Or did I misinterprete the particular passages?

Anyway, there's a deus ex machine that explains why the Village was a haven of peace. (It seems there has been an experiment: switching minds, i.e. a human mind transferred into a reptilian body and vice versa, so that the humans would be better adapted to the hot/dry climate, and so manipulate the natives; but it also shows that not all reptiles torturing humans were proper reptiles, as man is a wolf to man) But again, like before, a lot is told, not shown.

It's a classic SF-tale of colonisation and how man treats "the other", but unfortunately the development of this event and how it all evolved leaves to be desired, in my humble opinion. I started this book with a positive mindset, but over halfway, I had a hard time ploughing through each part. So much even that I really can't recommend the book. Theme-wise and looking at the blurb, it is an interesting story. But it just isn't fully worked out, a lot of building/context/... is missing. It felt like a collection of cut-out scenes from what could have been a full-blown novel. Maybe a new book that fills the gaps will see the light of day, but no news of it thus far.

The setting/context reminded me of at least these two works and authors, which, to me, were much better worked out:

* 'Les Derniers Hommes' by Pierre Bordage (my review), who has more stories about how humans treat each other or other species.
* 'L'Infernale Comédie' (orig.: Galactic Comedy), a trilogy (based on the colonisation of three African countries, each volume stand-alone) by the late Mike Resnick. (my review of the French edition, partial, as I've yet to read the third volume, when I'm writing this review here)… (altro)