Why I Love Airport Bookstores, Rob Ziegler’s “Seed”

I have found an incredible number of fun books in airport bookstores over the years. Why airport bookstores? Because those are usually the only place where I get undistracted time to just examine the shelves, pulling down book after book in search of something new. And earlier this week, when my layover in San Francisco was extended by an hour, I stumbled across what is turning out to be a fantastic read, Seed*.

Written by Rob Ziegler (website, Twitter), what first attracted me to the novel was the beautiful cover by Cody Tilson. Great design, and once flipping the book over a quick scan of the back cover text had me in line buying the book.

It’s the dawn of the 22nd century, and the world has fallen apart. The United States has become a nation of migrants — starving masses of nomads who seek out a living in encampments outside government seed-distribution warehouses. In this new world, there is a new power. Satori is more than just a corporation; she is an intelligent, living city that grew out of the ruins of Denver. Satori bioengineers both the climate resistant seed that feeds a hungry nation and her own post-human genetic Designers, Advocates, and Laborers. What remains of the United States government now exists solely to distribute Satori seed; a defeated American military doles out bar-coded, single-use Satori seed to the nation’s starving citizens.

And then, as I was shoving my new purchase in my backpack, I discovered the Paolo Bacigalupi quote on the cover. If the author of The Windup Girl* was endorsing the book then I knew I’d found something fun.

And now, five chapters in, I am certain I was right. This is shaping up to be a blast.