Amabit Sapiens

Novelette by Craig DeLancey

The story is how Lyta Sumaran is abducted and tortured in South America, interspersed with her memories of growing up being groomed for a mysterious something by her father. The science is oil-eating bacteria. Bacteria are underrepresented in SF stories, are very well done here, and are slightly ahead of brown paper packages in any list of my favorite things. The ethical conundrum is about short-term versus long-term risks and exactly how far one should go in compromising the short-term for the possibility of greater long-term good. Best of all, none of these aspects of the story are delivered via lecturing. An exciting, thoughtful, valuable piece of fiction, I'll remember this one for some time. 4.5 out of 5.