Polymorph

by Scott Westerfeld

Book Overview

A woman gifted with the ability to change her race and gender is shocked to discover a fellow polymorph in the New York City of the future, and even more astonished to learn of his plan for global domination.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451456602
• ISBN13: 9780451456601
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 0.32 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Polymorph: Science Fiction Materpiece

Imagine that you could change your shape into anything that you wanted, whenever you wanted. But, as far as you know, you are the only one who can. This is how Polymorph, the Sci-fi thriller by Scott Westerfeld, starts. Lee is a shape-shifter (polymorph) in post-industrial Manhattan, who uses her gifts to live without work, surf clubs, and pick up lovers for one night stands. She sheds names, faces and sexes like the clothing in her elaborate collection. All of that changes when she meets Bonito. Bonito is also a polymorph, but he uses his gifts to manipulate money and power. Together with her true love, Freddie, she must stop Bonito from taking control of Earth's information technology, and thus the earth itself. This book is very well written. I especially enjoyed Westerfeld's descriptions of when Lee changes shapes, because he describes the changes so vividly that I can picture them in my mind. I also like to think about what in their body would make a person able to do that, because I am a very scientifically minded person, and it fascinates me to think of what happens to the body's tissues and cells to allow the drastic changes, like when she changes genders, to take place. The theme of this book is that you should never give up trying. This the theme because in the book, Lee thinks that she is the lone polymorph on the face of the planet, but she never stops looking for others like her. She also never stops looking for someone that she really loves, because although she has had more lovers than stars in the sky, none of them really mattered to her. When another polymorph and the love of her life show up, she never gives up trying to track down the polymorph and make the man she loves accept her for who she is. This book was one of the best sci-fi books that I have ever read. Of Mr. Westerfeld's books that I have read, this is by far my favorite. In this book, he has found equilibrium between plot and action, description and dialogue that adds together to make the book one that I literally could not put down. This book is probably not suitable for those who do not like or are not ready for sexual descriptions and content, because it gets fairly descriptive a number of times. Other than that, this is a five-star book that definitely is worth the read.

Very thought provoking

A great book that makes you think about gender and identity. The plot was a bit weak in parts, but the characters were extremely interesting. Highly recommended.

Fantastic, graphic, and full of imagery

The author uses fantastic imagery to provide the reader with a world of graphic, descriptive sexualtiy and gender-bender chameleon talents of the main character. The plot appeals to many diverse interests, ie. cyber-punks, shape-changer fans, and fans that wish they could also cross all ethnic/gender/cultural lines.

Fabulous.

What an amazing read! POLYMORPH is definitely one of the slickest, sexiest books I've read in a long time. There's a lot more here than you'd expect from your typical cybernovel -- Lee is a fascinating, complex, richly-drawn character, and Manhattan's downtown scene is so fully sketched that it almost qualifies for character status itself. Westerfeld is constantly questioning identity and community, and he plays with the reader's preconceptions of sex and sexuality and gender in very real (and disturbing) ways. Plus, it's a great story -- with some of the hottest sex scenes in recent memory. I had a *wonderful* weekend with this book, and recommend it without qualification. Put me down for his next one.

What defines self?

POLYMORPH provides a thrilling, thought-provoking narrative on the nature of self, a most welcome adjunct to the current debate on the ethics of cloning humans. The fear of human cloning stems from the belief that DNA is all--"Genes are us". However, Westerfeld's polymorphs, through their ability to change both physique and physiology, emphasize the contribution of environment, especially culture, to identity. And what happens if you can be copied and replaced? Two polymorphs, two hackers, a software mogul (the man Bill Gates would like to be), and his glorious girlfriend battle it out in the clubs, streets, artworld and corporate offices of a futuristic but quite feasible New York. Westerfeld's New York is wired--caffeine, adrenaline, amphetamines and morphine flow through the characters. It's also computer wired--identities can be created, lost and found in cyberspace, which the hackers manipulate much as the polymorphs manipulate their physical form. Westerfeld's racing, racy prose will keep you turning the pages eager for more. There's a twisted car chase that must be one of the scariest literary car events since Ballard's CRASH. And, POLYMORPH gets to the crotch of the issue of gender--both men and women will find some amazing strategies to improve their sex lives! If you're looking for brains, brawn, and beauty - POLYMORPH has it all!