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Rating:  - highly recommended
Had this book not been a gift, I would never have thought to pick it up. Science fiction, Jewish mysticism; these are not subjects which immediately draw most people in. I'm eternally grateful I did give this book a chance, however, for it is definately one of the best books I have ever read. Weaving together two parallel stories, (the legend of a "Golem" created to protect the Jews in Prague's Jewish Ghetto in the 1600s, and the contemporary story of the cyborg Yod), Piercy has created a view of the future a la Margaret Atwood. Yet Piercy's view of the future, while almost as threatening as Atwood's in The Handmaid's Tale, contains the ever present spectre of redemption. While the characters in He, She, and It may live in a forebidding time when corporations rule the world, they maintain a level of autonomy over their own lives, and the knowledge and power to someday create a world more suited to freedom than that in which they currently reside. Piercy's book is fascinating on a number of levels. It is simultaneously the story of a mother's love for her child and the lengths she will go to when that relationship is threatened, a strong community and the familial, religious, and communal ties that bind a group of people together, a cautionary tale of corporate domination, a fascinating hypothesis of both the possibilities and dangers of modern technology, and above all, a romance. The elements of Jewish history and mysticism add to the excitement and passion of the book, enabling the parallel Piercy draws between the past and the future to flow naturally, and add to rather than detract from the book's clarity. Nor are the characters sacrificed for a well-developed plot. Piercy spends just as much time creating the characters who enable her story as she does on the story itself. I would recommend this book to a wide audience. It is as enjoyable as any beach read, but without sacrificing readability, will leave the reader with a lot to think about. You will have no trouble understanding the book after one read, but it is the kind of book you can read many times and learn something new each time.
Rating:  - Makes you think, but ends poorly
I'm not usually one to judge a book by its ending. Certainly this one has its share to offer; likeable, interesting characters, a future with some original twists, an excellent feeling for what it is like to live in a community with reasonable comfort but no security. But the conclusion here is really quite a disappointment; not one but two plot developments are essentially cut-and-pasted from the story outline with no development. Piercy has done better.
All in all, worth a read if you like Piercy or enjoy thinking about cyborg theory ala Haraway. Otherwise, try Slow River.
Rating: - Wonderful, Engrossing book
This was one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Piercy mixes traditional Judiasm with science fiction and the end result is a fascinating tale. I highly highly recommend it. A wonderful story of "futuristic feminism."
Rating: - Like myth? Sci-fi? Adventure? And yeah...romance?
Marge Piercy blends the myth of the Golem of Prague with futuristic sci-fi to make a totally entertaining story (whether it's believable or not is not a concern of mine). It's a cliche, but I couldn't put it down. Most of her novels are only a step or 2 above beach-blanket romances, but this one shows depth and research. Her second-best, totally different: "Gone to Soldiers" (WWII). Check that out, too
Rating: - Thoroughly engrossing and believable view of the future.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I enjoy it so much that I feel compelled to share it with others. In fact, I never have a copy of it, because every time I buy one I give it away to yet another friend!
The story is set in a not-too-distant future dystopia, where megacorporations rule the world and small, entrepreneurial communities have to fight to protect their unique cultures, products and people. Today's familiar technologies have evolved to the extent that the "net" is a virtual world as well as a communications medium, and artificial intelligence is everywhere.
Add to this an intriguing and varied cast of characters -- including an all-too-human cyborg -- a dollop of Jewish mysticism and some flashbacks to the Middle Ages, and you have a book that you will not want to put down.
So, take the phone off the hook, send the kids to your mother's, and put your feet up. It's gonna be a great weekend
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