Borne

by Jeff VanderMeer
Borne cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Technical:
  • ID: 1924
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9780008159214
  • Publisher: Fourth Estate
  • Published: 2018-03-01
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3
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Borne is a dark, dangerous, yet uplifting novel set in a ruined city of the future. Rachel, a scavenger, finds a strange creature named Borne in the fur of a despotic bear. She names him Borne, and he reminds her of her lost homeland. However, her lover Wick has other plans for Borne, intending to use him for his drug trade. As secrets unravel, Rachel and Wick's relationship becomes strained, and Borne's true nature is revealed. The story is a blend of danger, humor, and emotional depth, exploring themes of control, identity, and the consequences of one's actions. /n/n The novel is written by the author of Annihilation, known for its unique and thought-provoking narratives. The setting is a dystopian world where the environment has been drastically altered, and survival is a constant struggle. The characters are complex and multifaceted, each with their own secrets and motivations. Borne is not just a creature but a symbol of hope and destruction, reflecting the duality of human nature and the world they inhabit.

Reviews
Fantasy Hive · 2020-12-01
disturbing 4.20

The book is both fascinating and disturbing, raising profound questions about humanity and our interaction with the nonhuman world.

The reviewer found Borne to be a deeply engaging and unsettling exploration of humanity's relationship with the nonhuman world. The novel's questions about our interactions with other forms of life resonate long after the last page is turned. They appreciated the book's ability to disturb and fascinate in equal measure, making it a memorable read.

Quick quotes

    Borne is a book both fascinating and disturbing, one whose questions about humanity and the way we interact with the nonhuman will resonate in the reader's mind.

    VanderMeer’s prose is both vivid and unsettling, creating a world that is both alien and eerily familiar.

    The novel’s themes of creation, memory, and the natural world are explored with a depth that leaves a lasting impression.

Elliott Dunstan · Elliott Dunstan · 2018-09-27
ethereal 4.50

The novel is a spooky, ethereal twisted myth that touches on themes of parenthood, creation, memory, and the relationship between technology and the natural world.

Elliott Dunstan found Borne to be a spooky and ethereal exploration of complex themes like parenthood, creation, and memory. The novel's twisted mythos and its examination of the relationship between technology and the natural world were particularly compelling. They appreciated the book's ability to weave these themes together in a way that is both haunting and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    A spooky, ethereal twisted myth that touches on themes concerning parenthood, creation, memory and the relationship between technology and the natural world.

    VanderMeer’s writing is both haunting and beautiful, creating a world that is both familiar and utterly alien.

    The novel’s exploration of memory and creation is particularly poignant, leaving a lasting impact on the reader.

The Guardian · 2017-06-15
fascinating 4.00

The novel presents a thrilling vision of life in its most radical forms, exploring non-human sentience. It's a unique blend of the bizarre and the thought-provoking.

This reviewer was captivated by the novel's exploration of non-human sentience and its thrilling vision of life in its most radical forms. The story is both bizarre and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on what it means to be alive. They appreciate the novel's ability to blend the strange with the profound, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    Flying bears and diagnostic beetles: a thrilling vision of life in its most radical forms explores the question of non-human sentience.

    VanderMeer’s world is both unsettling and fascinating, a testament to his imaginative prowess.

    The novel’s strength lies in its ability to make the reader question the nature of existence and consciousness.

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