Kage Baker died tragically of uterine cancer in 2010. She’s best known for her science fiction series about The Company, a time-traveling business from the future. I decided to read the first book in The Company series, In the Garden of Iden published in 1997. A child in Spain in the 16th Century is saved from torture by the Inquisition by a member of The Company. The child, who doesn’t know her name is given one: Mendoza. The Company trains Mendoza as a botanist and makes her immortal with their advanced medical technology. Then Mendoza and a team of Company agents are sent back to Renaissance England to recover what will become extinct plants. This is Kage Baker’s first novel so she makes several mistakes. The novel is too chatty: too much talk and not enough action. The love affair between Mendoza and a mortal is…well..boring. For a 300+ page novel, not much happens. Kage Baker would go on to write much better books and stories. But In the Garden of Iden is a clunker. GRADE: C
I read her first collection of Company short stories- don’t have the name handy – and found it interesting but uneven. Mendoza was not my favorite of her continuing characters. She was a little too cold.
Jeff, I have the same reaction to Mendoza. But the Company series does get a lot better.
Didn’t care much for her Company books. I thought Anvil of the World her best book.
Steve, I have a copy of ANVIL OF THE WORLD on my stack of Read Real Soon books. I may have to move it up based on your recommendation.
I didn’t dislike this as much as you, but her Company series isn’t my favorite. My favorite of her books is The Bird of the River. I’d hoped she would write another in that setting – I think she had planned to – but she passed away before she could.
Actually Bird of the River is the third in the Anvil of the World series.
Steve, I have HOUSE OF THE STAG, too. I plan to read that series in order.
Right, I know that, Steve, I was hoping she would write ANOTHER in that setting, following The Bird of the River.
Rick, I have a copy of THE BIRD OF THE RIVER and plan to read it for FFB soon.
Sad to hear of her death but glad she is being talked about still!
Patti, Kage Baker had a promising writing career ahead of her but it was cut short tragically.