N.Z. setting for superwoman

Press, 8 January 1983, Page 14

N.Z. setting for superwoman

Friday. By Robert A Heinlein. New English Library, 1982. 380 pp. ' Friday was genetically designed as a secret courier capable of covering huge distances through hostile country of the world of the future; a beautiful woman with enhanced reflexes, strength greater than any “normal” human, and a capability to kill without hestitation should it be necessary to ensure her safety. She is the ultimate result of present-day test tube baby experiments, a superwoman. However, APs or Artificial Persons, as such laboratory produced people are known, have created another form of racism in the world. Friday and other APs are forced to hide their backgrounds from ordinary humans for fear of discrimination. APs are not regarded as truly human. This is really a story of a young woman's desire to belong to a family or group and her need to feel wanted by others. Technology has advanced, but human nature remains only too recognisable. Friday finally finds her place in society after escaping to a colony on another world. Heinlein has now had 43 books published since his first in 1946 and is justly recognised as one of the great science fiction writers. “Friday” will be of special interest to New Zealanders because a sizeable early part of the novel is set in New Zealand. However, the New Zealanders that Friday associates with are not portrayed in a particularly favourable light, and there is more than a hint that Heinlein believes that this country has a racial problem it is refusing to recognise. The story is up to Heinlein's usual high standard. "Friday" is easy reading, and contains sufficient action and imaginary technology to satisfy most science fiction enthusiasts. If the author has used the publication to launch some stinging barbs against the social behaviour of the human race, it is none the worse for this. — Rod Dew.