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Resplendent (Destiny's Children book 4) by Stephen Baxter
01/03/2007 . Source: Paul Skevington 
pub: Gollancz. 549 page enlarged paperback. Price: £12.99 (UK only). ISBN: 0-575-07896-0. Buy Resplendent in the USA - or Buy Resplendent in the UK  check out website: www.orionbooks.co.uk www.orionbooks.co.uk
'Resplendent' is the fourth book in a series that has already proven itself to be an excellent addition to the canon of SF. The first three books used differing methods to explore the central question of the nature of mankind's fate. In 'Coalescent', Baxter examined differing social constructs and their potential effect on the evolution of humanity as a species. 'Exultant' took us further into the future to a vision of war, desolation and the perils of attempting to stifle evolutionary development.
It also showed us the true horror of an economy and culture entirely based around war and expansion. Finally, 'Transcendent' illustrated a vision of a near future ecological crisis and contrasted it with a desperate attempt by humanity in the distant future to jump-start the creation of a new form of being, one hugely more powerful but alien to anything we would recognise as human. Each entry broadened the scope of the books, creating a believable timeline for the universe and it inhabitants, a realistic history of everything.
This book is a collection of short fiction, all of which finds its home within this awe-inspiring timeframe. The stories cleverly weave in and out of the events of the previous three works, enriching the themes and ideas already presented and deepening the sense of scale and wonder that makes the books so special.
The stories were originally published in a variety of ways, but the addition of new linking text serves to create the illusion that these pieces were always meant to be together in this book and in this order. It helps that the text is written from the perspective of Luru Parz, a virtually immortal human woman who has an integral part to play in many of the stories, as well as in the events of 'Exultant'.
The book is divided into six parts, covering several key periods: the occupation of Earth by a hostile alien force; the first major war with a truly effective opponent; the unification of mankind; humanities war with the Xeelee and it's final defeat at their hands. A timeline at the back of the book fits the stories within the frame of the 'Destiny's Children' books and the events of Baxter's previous 'Xeelee Sequence'. To give you a sense of the project's grandeur, the final event listed is the extinction of all baryonic life. It's not a book to read if you're feeling a bit down.
The stories themselves are virtually infallible. Baxter has the big ideas but he also has the ability to write sympathetic characters and make you care about them. For example, the story 'In The Un-Black' concerns an observation post whose human occupants have been left to their own devices for such a long time that they have evolved into beings much more suited to their living conditions. The story starts with La-ba saving the life of Ca-si by not allowing him to be killed by another inhabitant of the post. This act is unusual because it is 'un-doctrine'.
In their world of limited space, casual murder is a part of everyday life. We follow La-ba as her relationship with Ca-si grows stronger. It is only interrupted by the unfortunate arrival of humans from outside the post who have no sympathy for these unusual people. To them, La-ba and Ca-si are little more than spare parts in a very large machine.
'Between Worlds' is another example of Baxter playing with the typical structure and cold nature of hard SF. The story centres on the transformation of human beings into different forms of life to enable them to survive in different environments. Although the theories behind this possibility are thoroughly discussed, the true heart of the story lies in the figure of the mother who is unwilling to let her child go without being able to say goodbye to her.
The desperate atmosphere of the final story 'The Siege Of Earth' is haunting in its finality. We are to be present at the end of everything. Again, it is the story of a fated young boy that appeals far more than the science and the moving imagery of the abandoned virtual children fuels a tale that will see the end of Luru Parz's machinations climax in an entirely unexpected result.
By far my favourite in the collection is the BSFA award-winning 'Mayflower II'. The story concerns a generation starship sent out to avoid a genocidal offensive launched from Earth on its unruly colonies. They set themselves a destination that it will take them millennia to reach. In order to ensure that the ship arrives safely, some of the crew are administered with alien technology that will allow them to extend their life-spans indefinitely.
The decision to make this alteration does not come without a price: the lives of friends and loved-ones slip by in seeming moments. As time passes, a gradual seeping away of identity and self-awareness begin to make everything meaningless. All that our protagonist Rusel has left is his constant vigil, watching over and subtly influencing the slowly evolving population of the Mayflower II. It's a fascinating and poignant piece that certainly deserved its award.
Reading 'Resplendent' was a wonderful experience. That's what makes this book and all of its predecessors, truly classic SF with a sense of wonder and Baxter as enough wonder for everyone.
Paul Skevington
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