Lifeform Three

'I have not read speculative fiction of this calibre since Ray Bradbury was in his prime. And though not as High Gothic, Morris's work also reminds me of Mervyn Peake, himself a creator of unforgettable words and worlds' - Miss Chinaski

'For many die-hard science fiction readers, the one factor defining the genre is the question of what makes us human. The old masters of the art--Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein, and Bradbury--regularly answered that question using robots, trans-humans, and even Martians. My favorite novels tend to fall into that category, and I've added new writers to my list, which now includes Gibson and Bacigalupi. This is my first experience with Ms. Morris' fiction. I'm glad to say that she has produced a wonderful, intimate fable using her non-human representatives, the bods, as a mirror to see what we may have sacrificed, what we have become, and to what dreams we still have a chance to attain as human beings.' - S Garriott

'A hybrid of strong storytelling, fable and dream' - John Whitbourn, Victor Gollancz award winner

'Such a book defies classification by genre. The story is a fable, a dystopian fiction, an introspective mystery. Think of the brilliantly maddening film Memento, set in a Blade Runner universe. Think of Doris Lessing on a blind date with Franz Kafka. Think of any author you care to name who pursues an idiosyncratic vision with single-minded purpose.' - A Trask

'Eloquently written. Story line engrossing. I am tempted to compare Roz Morris's style to Margaret Atwood's. But I'm not sure that will do it justice. Though this book has a similar "feel" to Atwood's science fiction novels, because of its literary nature, the comparison is still weak, because Morris is a writer in a class of her own.' - Jessica Bell

'Basically. I loved it.' - Peter Snell, bookseller, Leatherhead, Surrey

'There's a dreamlike quality to the simple delivery, which allows both plot and theme to bubble to the surface at the same steady pace as Paftoo's awakening. I was reminded of several other scifi stories (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Blade Runner, Moon) but never felt it was unduly influenced by any of them. I'd recommend it.' - Stuart Wakefield

'Evocative, haunting, exhilerating, heartbreaking... these are not usually words I expect to write about a sci-fi novel but, oh my goodness, Lifeform 3 is so beautifully written, it's so unexpectedly moving, insightful, moving and ultimately uplifting, despite the dark picture it paints of mankind's future.' - Kavey

'I'd wanted to read this for a long time and I wasn't disappointed. If anything, the book was better than I expected. It had all the things I like in a novel about androids in a future dystopia but it also had two things I don't usually find in such books - a British setting, and a gentle narrative. No violence or killing despite plenty of suspense - a big relief to me. It's a book I will probably read again, and will certainly keep on my shelves.' - Amika

'Reminded me of novels like Brave New World and some of George Orwell's writing - Morris imagines a future which implies more than a little criticism of the world we live in now. However, concerns that the book would turn into heavy-handed preaching proved entirely unfounded. The setting forms the background to a pacy and well-told story which, by the end, left me with a great fondness for the central character.' - Dr Dominic Camus

'The style of writing put me in mind a little of Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, but this has a more contemporary feel and is very relevant to our modern world.' - Jilly Hilton

'Marvellous. The writing is lovely, the world is strange and well-constructed, and the characters are deeply moving. I am extremely picky about the books I finish, and I found I couldn't stop thinking about this one.' Kij Johnson, Hugo & Nebula award winner