Thanks to our favorite science fiction franchises we most frequently imagine alien intelligence to be humanoid, or at least an animal capable of communicating in some way. What humans find on the planet they call Pax is such a different life form that neither side truly understands what they are dealing with, and how they will both forever be altered by the relationship. To the colonists who fled a dying Earth with the idealistic intention to adapt themselves to their new environment, rather than the opposite, their new home looks like paradise. Pax has a breathable atmosphere, plenty of water, only slightly higher gravity than Earth norm, and abundant flora and fauna. Too late one of the colonists realizes that to the "plants" on this new world humans will only be tolerated based on what they can offer, and that they need to choose their new allies carefully if they wish to survive. Semiosis is a long tale of how each generation changes as they adapt to Pax and their evolving relationship with the photosynthesizing sentience known as Stevland.

From the beginning, the colony was beset with disaster. Because they were mostly self financed and intended to create a low tech society in harmony with nature, they brought little with them and no weapons. The loss of essential tech and a third of the settlers in the landing meant they were entirely dependent on what Pax could offer. Still they were determined to make it work, until their botanist Octavio came to some disturbing conclusions. Suddenly native fruit they could eat became poisonous and their propagation of native plants tended to die. He realized that different plants were altering themselves to either be more nutritious or poisonous depending on whether or not the humans might be beneficial to themselves or another plant they competed with. His suggestion to emulate an animal species in the area by "fertilizing" the plant and not trying to kill them, as well as defending its territory was successful. It also led to toilet facilities becoming known as "gift centers". Unfortunately, the other settlers gave little thought to the ramifications of the situation as long as they survived, so Octavio's warnings about what this meant for human life on Pax were ignored.

Octavio's story line initiates an interesting mechanic where each generation is represented by a single PoV character, even if the previous character is still alive. Each new PoV character deals with a different problem for the colony, while also demonstrating how society is changing. Their relationship with a photosynthesizing sentience that they first call the rainbow bamboo, but eventually know as Stevland, also evolves. The second generation deals with their powerlessness against the "Parents" where the humans are living a hard hand to mouth lifestyle. The Parents put emphasis on fertility because too many of the new generation are sterile. They denied their children much of Earth's knowledge because they thought ideas such as religion and politics led to violence and war. When an abandoned alien city and the rainbow bamboo are found the new generation wants to move to what appears to be an easier lifestyle. Octavio again warns these new leaders that it might be easier to survive among the rainbow bamboo but at what cost? 

Generation three grows to adulthood in the city built by the aliens called the Glassmakers. Humans are fascinated by what the Glassmakers left behind because like us they weren't native to Pax and we have no idea why they vanished. This third generation is actually the most interesting to me because their society has greatly changed due to the sterility that affects many of the men as well as the first time we see Stevland's PoV. As it analyzed their biological material Stevland was easily able to make its fruit more nutritious, and slightly addictive, for these animals to encourage them to settle in the city. Now the irrigation has been repaired and Stevland is thriving and ready to make decisions about its new servants. Are these animals as intelligent as the ones who built the city? It is up to Higgins, gen three's PoV to figure out if this is a form of communication and how to respond to this plant the human's have grown to rely upon.

Going forward the generational stories remain interesting as they all deal with different situations and the realization by some that Stevland doesn't see itself as their friend or ally, but as its servants. They deal with a serial killer, how to govern a larger population, and the return of the mysterious Glassmakers, who aren't at all what people imagined. Stevland is also adapting to the changing human society. It can create specialized fruits that contain antibiotics or alter human brains. It questions whether expansion would be helpful or lead to the territorial fights that once left Stevland as the last of it's kind. Most of all it tries to maintain control of the humans so they don't leave like the Glassmakers did. Stevland claims they left suddenly without explanation even though they could communicate easily. But Stevland has secrets and although it doesn't lie, it also hides the true extent of what it can do. Down the generations many come to the same realization that Octavio did. Stevland makes their lives easier, but exactly what price will humanity pay for its help?

Semiosis is a fascinating exploration of the different forms sentient and sapient life might take. Although there are many concepts that will be familiar to those with a background in biology, the story has more to do with sociology than science and is light on scientific terminology. This certainly isn't a short book, but the short stories within the overall novel still allow for a deep look at how the colony and Stevland change over time without requiring multiple books. Each PoV character, including Stevland, is well developed and interesting on their own. Some of the ideas in this book are very surprising, while others will make perfect sense depending on each reader's own experience and opinions. For instance, I thought these colonists were complete idiots. The idea of living in harmony with a planet's ecology makes sense to any environmentally aware person, but to travel on a one way trip without redundancies and only two botanists when you hope to metabolize alien lifeforms? Really??? On the other hand as a woman I can absolutely see the advantages in gen three's ideas about marriage and fertility while acknowledging that they made decisions about another person's life without consulting them.

Semiosis seems to be a book people either loved or hated. Many like me were really getting into a PoV's storyline when it moved to the next person. On the other hand, there would have been no way to squish such a long timeline in a single book if it didn't move on quickly. Biologists seem to like it, go figure. Most interestingly, those who downrated the story often said it's a well written book, just not for them. Some people didn't like some of the social ideas the humans go with in the book. Almost everyone agrees that "plant" sentience is an underutilized concept in sci-fi books overall. The performance of narrators Caitlyn Davies and Daniel Thomas May were rated at 4.5 stars on Audible. I'm assuming there are two narrators because some PoV's are male, some female, and Stevland is generally considered "he" as well.