In Interference, Sue Burke reunites readers with the sentient bamboo Stevland, the Glassmakers, and the humans of Pax. Taking place a couple hundred years after the events of the first novel, subsequent generations of these species have found a way to successfully work with each other in a civilized society. However, when a new group of people from Earth arrive on Pax, cultural and political complications ensue and the established colony must find a way to welcome the new group of strange “aliens” who may never be able to return to Earth. Additionally, further exploration reveals another sentient plant that does not come in peace. 

Anyone who isn’t familiar with the first book can read the book review for Semiosis.

Burke’s sequel dives deeper into what life is currently like on Earth, with its limited resources, many conflicts, and advanced technology system . We are introduced to Karola, who turns out to be a descendant of someone who was (or was not, possibly) responsible for a massive genocide that happened years and years go. All descendants are tortured and killed as punishment for their ancestor’s actions – all of which is live-streamed and available for public viewing. Strangely enough, none of Karola’s colleagues or neighbors conclude that she is a descendant, but rather she discovers it through her own research, allowing her to join the mission to Earth undetected.

I wish Burke would have given readers more time with this aspect, and with Karola. Readers discover that she can manipulate the communication feeds that are integrated into people’s brains, and she uses this to her advantage in many situations throughout the novel. At times I wasn’t sure if a particular character’s experience was real or a result of Karola’s tampering. Karola could easily have a stand-alone book exploring her abilities and how she navigates life, both on dystopian Earth and on Pax after her and the other Earth-humans arrive. 

Earth has lost contact with Pax, and Karola joins the scientific mission to find out what happened and further explore the planet and its inhabitants. The Pax-humans welcome their Earth counterparts, who are understandably surprised and confused by their surroundings: the physical appearance of the Pax colonists, the insect-like cohabitants, strange ecosystems, rituals, and so on. While some of the new arrivals slowly yet enthusiastically adapt to life on Pax, other group members are uncomfortable and at times uncooperative, which leads to resentment of colonists and Glassmakers alike. But the Earth-humans share their technology with Stevland, which progresses the plot and character development in various ways. 

Even so, they discover that the Earth-humans are not necessarily the biggest threat. A small group of Pax-humans and Glassmakers discovers a coral species that is also intelligent and malevolent towards other inhabitants of Pax. In addition to having to learn how to cooperate with one another, humans and Glassmakers now face a new threat to their well-being and survival. 

What I enjoyed most about Interference was the insight into the Glassmakers. We finally get a chapter from the point of view of one of the Queens, and it does not disappoint. Readers will enjoy life on Pax from this new perspective – from how they view their daughters to working with Pax-humans. And while Stevland’s point of view dominates about a third of the book (I had trouble getting through this very long chapter), this character is the most detailed and fleshed out among them all. 

Sue Burke does a fantastic job making the new and complex dynamics of the different species all very believable – language barriers, culture shock, etc. However, I wish she would have delved into other story lines a bit further in Interference. For example, a group of humans and Glassmakers discover a new region on Pax – Laurentia – along with a new group of Glassmakers. While this encounter does not go well, Burke could easily turn this series into a trilogy by diving deeper into other parts of Pax and what might be found there. 

We also get insight into Stevland’s frustration of being immobile, which I appreciated since it is entirely unique to it’s experience and the genre of science fiction in general. Stevland requests that the humans spread his seeds in new territories so that he may explore them accordingly; we also get a glimpse of the consequences of planting his seeds on Earth as well, in the Epilogue. This is another interesting story line that could be further explored in a third installment. 

Readers who enjoyed the way the story was told in the first book might be disappointed once they make progress with Interference. Whereas the first book was told through the points of view of characters from each generation, the second installment does not follow the same format. Much the story takes place within the same couple of months, with the exception of the beginning and ending. Seeing as the first book established the new world and explored what happens when humans try to colonize a new territory, and how subsequent generations play out, it makes sense that the second book wouldn’t necessarily follow suit.

Burke is an extraordinary science fiction writer who introduces readers to a well thought out, fascinating world with her detailed descriptions of plant biology and idea of mutualism. However, Interference had the potential to be so much better if some of the story lines were more fleshed out, instead of coming off as a “side quest” for the main characters, or a dangling carrot for us readers to pine over. While this series is meant to be a duology, I hope Burke reconsiders, or at least releases short stories to allow readers to return to her captivating world.