COLLINS, Helen

(1935 -)

   US biologist and writer whose first novel, Mutagenesis (1993), packs a wide range of material into its moderate compass. The frame premise-an expedition from ecologically-devastated Earth rediscovers an old colony planet, where some original plant species still survive-soon expands into a quest-saga in PLANETARY ROMANCE style as the female protagonist, accompanied by some escaped unusually independent native women (see FEMINISM), has various adventures in search of the mysterious "doctors" who have manipulated the genetic stock of the colonists, apparently for eugenic reasons. The cast is full, and includes an interesting presentation of the "geneslave" concept (the term comes from Elizabeth HAND's Winterlong sequence); and the plot embodies a number of Twice-Told fairy tales. HC's future work is eagerly awaited.

   JC