Just a cat’s world
Close future. The European Union has grown into a great political and military force. Britain did not make Brexit, and Poland is not just a province. It is here, among others, that the most modern science is developing. Switzerland may remain the world center of physics, but biotechnology is us. On the other side of the force is the Caliphate, a fundamentalist state, in an eternal crusade against the infidels.
Genetically improved soldiers are the hope of the European military and intelligence. Everything is fine when the difference is only visible on the battlefield. Only people with feline genes turn out to be a scare: perfect spies, cute kids who only somehow smell others too often. And somehow they stick together too much, like a pack of strangers instead of normal people … You know, if they were smelling like that at home, there wouldn’t be a problem. But they flaunt it outside, even at work!
At this point, I would like to point out that this whole geopolitical background was invented by Anna Nieznaja some 10 years ago. It was then that the idea for GMO Black Cats was born and short stories and introductions to the book began to be written. And that it sounds disturbing at present? The author apologizes publicly at the meetings for her lopsidedness … But we all know that it is not her fault, especially since our country is far from being a leading European science center.
Errors and Distortions
The main character of the Valley , Sanja Popović, belongs to the first generation of Cats. This is a step towards interspecific hybrids, super spies who can literally see the threat. The kids were raised in model families of meritorious military men, and from time to time they were bred in special institutions to prepare them for the mission. Sanja knows languages, fights great and uses weapons. And only social relations with other people somehow fail her. It’s easier with Cats, you don’t have to talk so much … If only the Kittens could be together again.
Meanwhile, they are rather censored, premature “retirement” and sidelined. Or they have been dead for a long time, because not every operation succeeds – after some actions in the field, mourning and a longing family remain. There are many allusions to Sanja’s past and her friends in the novel. If you’re curious about what exactly happened, try looking for the Conditioning Error , a collection of stories where the Stranger (she claims) learned to write about Cats.
In The Valley of Awesomeness, a mixture of social incoherence, political intrigue and prejudice against the Cats forces Sanja to run away from her former work colleagues, hide and benefit from the goodness of strangers who turn out to be international criminals. You will see a gallery of colorful characters, professionals not devoid of human characteristics (they call weaknesses). There will be chases, shootings, even a daring helicopter hijacking. She will be the main character trying to remain herself, with her own moral compass, in all this tight balance of power.
In the Valley of Weirdness you will also meet other Cats, non-normative people trying to make a life for themselves, maybe even do something good for others. Maybe they are trying to redeem the original sin of a child from a test tube, who is eagerly persuaded by their surroundings? Or are they just cool people?
An action novel, a GMO Bond, full of questions about life and… well, being good and good. In what you do, but above all for others. Do you already understand why I can say mainly “that’s great”? The alternative would be only a long, nighttime conversation with looking for quotes and out loud imitating the coolest outbursts.
