The novel Usurpation is the third in the Semiosis trilogy. The first book, Semiosis, takes place on a distant planet called Pax where the dominant species is an intelligent plant, rainbow bamboo. Stevland is the reigning bamboo. At the end of the second book, Interference, Stevland has sent his seeds to Earth, where the rainbow bamboo are flourishing, but no one knows they’re intelligent.
Then, at the end of Interference, Stevland sends a message to the bamboo on Earth: “…I must share a secret about humans. They are ours to protect and dominate.”
A bamboo named Levanter asks, “Tell us how.”
Stevland’s response finally arrives in Usurpation: “…Compassion will give you courage. Love will be ferocious.”
That’s all I can say without spoilers. In fact, I’ve probably spoiled enough already.
Usurpation will be released on October 29. I’ll be celebrating at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, at Volumes Bookcafé, 1373 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Chicago, with Alex Kingsley, whose first novel, Empress of Dust, has just been released. You’re invited!It’s the day before Halloween, so you’re encouraged to cosplay.
You can see me at a Speculative Literature Foundation event read the opening of Chapter 3 of Usurpation in this 3-minute video. (All the novels in the trilogy are available as audiobooks, narrated by Caitlin Davies and Daniel Thomas May, who do a much better job than me.)
You can read a few reviews of Usurpation at NetGalley, and a recent review of Semiosis at Space Cat Press. Semiosis was named one of the 75 best science fiction books of all time by Esquire Magazine.
If you want an autographed copy of my next novel and you can’t come to the launch party, you can order it through Volumes Books here.
Sue Burke 
Excited for this! I pass two different species of bamboo on my daily ramble and think of Stevland often : )
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Here’s something you might find exciting to know. Plants can “see” — sense changes in the light — well enough to sense if you’re standing next to them and even what color shirt you’re wearing. So go up close and say hi some day. They’ll know you’re there and they’ll notice that you mean them no harm.
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That sounds familiar! I think I came across the idea via a Coursera class I took some years ago called Understanding Plants. The lecturer, Dr. Chamovitz, noted that plants can also sense and respond to low frequency sound, which was how he dealt with a question about whether talking to your plants is a good idea : ) I will definitely say hullo to the bamboo on my next walk.
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Hi Sue
Is there going to be an audio book version of Usurpation? The narrations of Semiosis and Interference were terrific. And what about Dual Memory?
Regards, Meredith
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Both of them have audio book versions.
Dual Memory is on sale, in fact.
https://www.audible.com/pd/Dual-Memory-Audiobook/B0BRD9VVXV
You can also find Usurpation there, too.
https://www.audible.com/pd/Usurpation-Audiobook/B0D8JT7TWY
Thank you for asking, and I hope this helps.
Sue
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Thanks so much for letting me know that there are audio versions. I couldn’t find either on Apple Books. I’m listening to Immunity Index at the moment. I wish there were hundreds more of your books to listen to! Sadly, I’m going to run out at some point.Meredith
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Unfortunately, Usurpation isn’t available on the Australian Audible website. If it was, I’d sign up. The message on Apple Books is ‘This audio book is no longer available on Apple Books.’ Sigh…
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I’m sorry to hear that. Those decisions are made by publishers, and I don’t get a say, or even notice. I’m also sorry because the narrators worked hard and did an excellent job.
Thank you for letting me know. I’m busy writing more, at least.
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