Can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb? After seventy years on Tofarn, the human colonists and the native Tofa still know very little about each other. Misunderstanding breed conflict, and the conflicts are escalating. Scientist Mara Cadell's radical proposal: that host mothers of either species carry fraternal twins, human and Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Mara lost her own twin, Levi, in utero, but she has secretly kept him alive in her mind as companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds in obtaining governmental backing for her project ? but both the human and Tofa establishments have their own agendas. Mara must shepherd the Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny Levi could not foresee. Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or something else entirely?

"Now and then I read a really good book, and this is one of the best . . . Escaping from an over-crowded Earth, humans search for somewhere to live. . . They settle on Tofarn, which seems to fit all of their requirements ? even the indigenous aliens appear happy to accept them. Trouble inevitably flares between the native Tofa and the human newcomers, mostly because of mutual ignorance. What is needed is a means of bringing the two communities closer . . . What follows is the story of a scientific attempt to produce that perfect solution; the setbacks and the successes, the joys and the unforeseen disasters. A happy ending? A hopeful one, definitely! I would love a sequel to this beautifully written, captivating novel. More please!" -- Ellen Ghyll, http://ellenghyll.blogspot.com

"An original and beautifully written SciFi story . . . The Tofa are interesting and well worked out aliens . . . In a way this story reminded me of Capek's 'War with the Newts', not surprising as both stories shine a light on how humans treat each other and where we go wrong. But where Capek's view is a grim one, Wyle still leaves some hope that we as a species might one day see the light. All in all a beautiful, thought provoking tale. I will keep an eye out for Wyle's next book." -- Carien Ubink, Pearls Cast Before a McPig



Can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb? After seventy years on Tofarn, the human colonists and the native Tofa still know very little about each other. Misunderstanding breed conflict, and the conflicts are escalating. Scientist Mara Cadell's radical proposal: that host mothers of either species carry fraternal twins, human and Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species. Mara lost her own twin, Levi, in utero, but she has secretly kept him alive in her mind as companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds in obtaining governmental backing for her project ? but both the human and Tofa establishments have their own agendas. Mara must shepherd the Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny Levi could not foresee. Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or something else entirely?

"Now and then I read a really good book, and this is one of the best . . . Escaping from an over-crowded Earth, humans search for somewhere to live. . . They settle on Tofarn, which seems to fit all of their requirements ? even the indigenous aliens appear happy to accept them. Trouble inevitably flares between the native Tofa and the human newcomers, mostly because of mutual ignorance. What is needed is a means of bringing the two communities closer . . . What follows is the story of a scientific attempt to produce that perfect solution; the setbacks and the successes, the joys and the unforeseen disasters. A happy ending? A hopeful one, definitely! I would love a sequel to this beautifully written, captivating novel. More please!" -- Ellen Ghyll, http://ellenghyll.blogspot.com

"An original and beautifully written SciFi story . . . The Tofa are interesting and well worked out aliens . . . In a way this story reminded me of Capek's 'War with the Newts', not surprising as both stories shine a light on how humans treat each other and where we go wrong. But where Capek's view is a grim one, Wyle still leaves some hope that we as a species might one day see the light. All in all a beautiful, thought provoking tale. I will keep an eye out for Wyle's next book." -- Carien Ubink, Pearls Cast Before a McPig

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.