Review by ropie (2007-01-06)
I couldn't help thinking of Gene Wolfe's 'Fifth Head of Cerberus' whilst reading 'Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang'. Both the novels are about cloning (to a greater or lesser degree) and share some qualities such as beautifully written prose and wonderful, elegiac characters.

Whereas Wolfe's book is something of a puzzle though, Wilhelm's is a fairly straightforward examination of an isolated society that begins as the human race elsewhere comes to an end. As the story unfolds the group, consisting of some naturally born and some cloned people, begins to realise that the path to repopulating the planet will involve sacrifices and unavoidable biological and sociological truths.

That's not to say that this is just a simple story of circumstance though as below the surface is an extremely well-researched and very convincing template for what may happen in just such a situation. It is not hard to feel sympathy for the characters, most of whom graciously accept their fates as the society progresses and re-develops. Add to this the sensitive use of symbolism and dream-like quality that pervades most of the story and you have a uniquely readable book.

9/10