Green Eyes in the Amazon    by P. J. Fischer Order:  USA  Can Minted Prose, 2009 (2009) Paperback Read an Excerpt    Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto As I see it, there are two main types of science fiction – those that involve space travel and other out-of-this-world-ness and those firmly rooted in science. P. J. Fischer writes the latter. However, a science fiction novel can become too entrenched in the science and easily lose a reader, as evidenced in Green Eyes in the Amazon, sequel to Julia and the Dream Maker. When Steven Sumpter's living toy rabbit computer program has to be shut down, due to breaking artificial intelligence laws, Julia (the intelligence Steven's program managed to create) takes up residence in his girlfriend Eli. Steven is sent to jail; Eli and Steven's dad Dennis run off to the wilderness hoping to keep Eli's baby safe; and their business partner Bennie is hired by Professor Bernard, who uses his assistant Shelly to probe Bennie for information. A group of religious fanatics is out to destroy anything Steven's computer created and has no problem killing Shelly when she saves Bennie. At the same time, the military needs Steven's help to stop their computer from destroying itself. In return, they offer Steven and his friends protection in the Dead Zone in the middle of the Amazon. However, Eli's state may be more fragile than they understand, as she is bringing a totally new form of life into the world. The science seems to be the main focus in Green Eyes in the Amazon instead of the characters, which leads to more telling than showing in Fischer's writing. This really distances the reader and makes for slow going. Unexplained head-hopping, as well as long passages of time within a single paragraph, also hinder the reader. P. J. Fischer's idea for Green Eyes in the Amazon is a very interesting one, and would have come across better if the human element had won out over the science. As it is, only those with a strong interest in biology, technology, and evolution will appreciate this book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews