Book Information
Title: Borne
Author: Jeff VanderMeer
ISBN: 978-0-374-10410-8
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Speculative Fiction
Published: 2017
Detailed Summary
Setting the Scene: A World of Ruins and Biotech
In Borne, Jeff VanderMeer crafts a hauntingly surreal world in the aftermath of ecological collapse and genetic experimentation gone awry. The novel is set in a desolate, unnamed city where nature has merged with biotech in disturbing ways. Here, biotech experiments have spilled into everyday life, creating creatures that range from bizarre to monstrous. Most notable among them is Mord, a giant, bioengineered bear who dominates the city’s landscape and terrorizes its few human inhabitants.
Rachel, the novel’s protagonist, is a scavenger trying to survive amidst this chaos. She navigates this harsh world, sifting through the remnants of a society overrun by “The Company,” a shadowy organization responsible for the biotech horrors. Her life is built on the fragments of the past, living in an abandoned building with her partner, Wick, a former Company employee who now creates his own biotech creatures in a bid to survive.
Plot Overview
1. Finding Borne
One day, while scavenging, Rachel stumbles upon a strange creature tangled in Mord’s fur. She names this creature Borne, not yet knowing whether it is animal, plant, or machine. Borne is small, colorful, and seemingly harmless, yet his origin and nature remain a mystery. Despite Wick’s warnings, Rachel decides to bring Borne home, setting off a chain of events that will drastically alter their lives.
Quote: “At first I thought he was a plant. I should have known that nothing that came from Mord could be so simple.”
Borne quickly reveals himself to be more than an ordinary creature. He has the ability to learn and mimic human behavior, displaying childlike curiosity and wonder as he grows and develops at a rapid pace. Rachel becomes attached to Borne, even though she is unsure of his intentions and capabilities.
2. Wick’s Skepticism and the Nature of Trust
Wick is suspicious of Borne, viewing him as a threat due to his unknown biotech origins. He warns Rachel that Borne could be a weapon or a spy created by The Company. This tension between Rachel and Wick introduces one of the novel’s central themes: the conflict between trust and survival. As Borne grows in intelligence and size, Rachel’s attachment to him strengthens, creating a rift with Wick, who resents Rachel’s willingness to care for what he sees as an unpredictable risk.
Quote: “Wick told me once that hope was dangerous, that it had to be rationed. But I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t help hoping Borne would stay good.”
Character Relationships and Themes
1. Rachel and Borne: Motherhood and Identity
Rachel takes on a maternal role with Borne, nurturing him as if he were her child. Their relationship is both tender and complicated; Borne is constantly evolving, asking questions about his identity, morality, and purpose. Rachel’s growing affection for Borne raises ethical questions about creation, responsibility, and the capacity for artificial beings to possess humanity.
Borne, who starts off with childlike innocence, begins to question his own existence and place in the world. His identity struggle mirrors Rachel’s own feelings of disconnection and loss, as she, too, has been shaped and scarred by the world The Company left behind.
Quote: “Am I a person?” Borne asked me. I didn’t know what to tell him, and that frightened me.”
2. Rachel and Wick: Distrust and Dependence
The relationship between Rachel and Wick deteriorates as Borne grows more complex. Wick, who has experience with Company-created biotech, sees Borne as a threat that could jeopardize their fragile existence. He warns Rachel repeatedly that her emotional attachment to Borne blinds her to the risks, reflecting the harsh survival mentality required in this world.
However, despite his skepticism, Wick himself engages in morally ambiguous acts, such as creating biotech creatures that can act as weapons. This duality complicates his relationship with Rachel, as she begins to see the hypocrisy in his caution.
Quote: “Wick didn’t understand Borne. But maybe that was because he didn’t understand himself, either.”
The World of Biotech and The Company
The ruined city is dominated by remnants of The Company, a shadowy organization whose experiments led to the ecological collapse and monstrosities like Mord. The Company’s influence is everywhere: in the poisonous river, in biotech creatures like Borne, and in the altered landscapes filled with lurking dangers. Rachel and Wick must navigate this world cautiously, avoiding Mord’s wrath while scavenging for resources left behind.
This post-apocalyptic setting serves as a backdrop for VanderMeer’s exploration of ethics in biotechnology and the consequences of unchecked scientific experimentation. Through Rachel’s interactions with Borne, the novel raises questions about what it means to play god, create life, and abandon it.
Borne’s Evolution and Growing Power
As Borne matures, he begins to display abilities that hint at a darker side. He grows rapidly, absorbing objects, and even creatures, to expand his form. His powers become alarming, and he displays moments of uncontrollable aggression and power, casting doubt on whether he can remain the innocent, childlike being Rachel hopes for.
Quote: “He was changing, becoming something I didn’t recognize. I wanted to believe in him, but I didn’t know if I could.”
Borne’s evolution raises questions of autonomy, as he becomes more aware of his own power and independence. Rachel realizes that she cannot fully control him, nor can she anticipate how he will respond to threats or moral dilemmas. The line between protector and potential destroyer becomes increasingly blurred, forcing Rachel to confront the ethical ramifications of her actions.
The Climax: Borne’s True Nature and Rachel’s Choice
As the story reaches its climax, Borne’s true nature is revealed. He was, in fact, created by The Company as a weapon, designed to adapt, learn, and grow. This discovery devastates Rachel, who had invested in Borne emotionally as a surrogate family member. The revelation forces Rachel to choose between her attachment to Borne and her survival.
In a climactic battle, Rachel, Borne, and Wick face Mord, and Borne’s abilities are put to the ultimate test. Borne’s strength is immense, but he ultimately shows signs of compassion and restraint, choosing to save Rachel at great personal cost. This moment redeems Borne, showing that he has transcended his origin as a Company weapon and grown into something greater.
Quote: “Borne wasn’t just a creature. He was more than what they’d made him, and that was his choice, not theirs.”
Conclusion: Reflection on Humanity and Creation
In the aftermath, Rachel reflects on Borne’s existence and what he represented. Despite his origins, Borne developed compassion, showing that even creations intended for destruction can find their own moral compass. Rachel realizes that Borne’s journey is also her own: both of them are creatures shaped by a ruined world, searching for purpose, belonging, and identity.
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer is a profound meditation on humanity, ethics, and resilience. It suggests that even in a world corrupted by misuse of technology and biotechnology, there is potential for growth, redemption, and compassion. Rachel’s journey with Borne reflects the struggle to hold onto hope and moral integrity in a world bent on survival at any cost.
Final Thoughts: Borne is a deeply moving exploration of identity, ethics, and survival in a dystopian world shaped by the remnants of biotech hubris. VanderMeer’s novel is a blend of science fiction and speculative fiction that invites readers to ponder the boundaries of life and humanity, leaving a lasting impression on questions of creation and the ethics of scientific exploration.