Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang

By: Kate Wilhelm

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

When the first warm breeze of Doomsday came wafting over the Shenandoah Valley, the Sumners were ready. Using their enormous wealth, the family had forged an isolated post-holocaust citadel. Their descendants would have everything they needed to raise food and do the scientific research necessary for survival. But the family was soon plagued by sterility, and the creation of clones offered the only answer. And then that final pocket of human civilization lost the very human spirit it was meant to preserve as man and mannequin turned on one another.

Sweeping, dramatic, rich with humanity and rigorous in its science, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang is widely regarded as a high point of both humanistic and hard science fiction. It won science fiction's Hugo Award and Locus Award on its first publication and is as compelling today as it was then.

©1976 Kate Wilhelm (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award winner, Best Novel, 1977

"The best novel about cloning written to date." (Locus)
"One of the best treatments of cloning in SF." (New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction)
"Kate Wilhelm's cautionary message comes through loud and clear." (New York Times)

What a great storyline!!!

I really enjoyed this book- the character development as well As the foundation was solidly built. Kate Wilhelm cut through the introduction quickly and seamlessly and pulls the reader into the heart of the storyline. This was an original and strange twist to a common theme.
The narrator was also fantastic and her rich tone and methods of inflection really help to surround the reader with the richness of the story.

Not my cup of tea!

I didn't enjoy it. It was long and drawn-out. I only rated it as a 3 because the narrator was good. I couldn't finish it because it seemed like torture.

Read this on a whim and loved it

I read this on a whim and knew absolutely nothing about it going in. I kind of loved it. It explores some of the vital aspects of being human - creativity, perseverance and problem solving. The three main characters all have interesting arcs at various stages of the collapse, and rebirths of the human race. The younger characters at times acted beyond their years, but not so much that I was entirely put off - in the face of growing up in the aftermath of an apocalypse a lot can be yada yada’d. Overall great book.

Walk down memory lane.

This is a very unique and intriguing book. It reminds me of the importance of freedom and free will.

I really enjoyed this story.

A wondrous perspective of the tenacity of both life and ourselves. The end of the world comes and goes while a small group of people are bred, newer generations bring changes of perspective, and relearn how to thrive, grow and love again. Too many post apocalyptic stories address only conflict and suffering. This one is much better.

interesting and spooky story

This is an interesting and spooky story about what could be. It is strange to hear the voice of Barbara Hollaway but as another character.

Solidly good story, seems relevant today

This is a post apocalyptic story about a people trying to survive. It seems as of they're trying to be a utopian society complete with clones. And then breeders - women taken as teens to give birth to many babies. They don't get to raise them and they don't get to choose whether to be breeders or not. Definitely some shades of Margaret Atwood in there. Individualism is a no-no here and all is for the community. There is one boy who is the only one like him and he is commandeered to help teach others to survive in the wilderness because they want to go to bow defunct cities to rummage for supplies. How do you live as an individual in a society that squashes individualism?

The book was published in 1977 and won a Hugo Award. While not all of it has aged well, the story, characters, and narration all get 4 stars from me.

Amazing tale relevant to today

I adored this story! The Author truly understood a post pandemic survival and what it would take to live on in a world destroyed. Incredible characters and plot.

Great Reminder

This was a fantastic reminder of the importance of creativity, individuality, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. The start is a bit rough, but it's setting the foundation for the rest of the story. Although the mood is heavier and it seems bleak through much of the story (it is a dystopia), it isn't hopeless.

Well written, compelling story

I loved this story. It is unlike any I have read. The story was compelling and the characters well written. Its a very good read.