When two of the expedition's members suffer a fatal accident, Yma technology is used to remove all traces of the accident from Darwin IV's environment. The expedition is designed to have as minimal an impact as possible on the environment of Darwin IV. Very late in the expedition, the explorer encounters lifeforms which use tools (the Eosapiens), giving a very strong indication of being intelligent.Ī conservationist theme is present throughout the book. Unlike the aliens presented in much of popular science fiction, which often seem to be variations of terrestrial lifeforms, Barlowe's creatures are truly alien: None of them possess eyes or true jaws their body structures are often unlike any found on Earth they have unique modes of locomotion, sensing, and eating. He details a bewildering variety of alien lifeforms such as Gyrosprinters, Arrowtongues, Grove-backs, Daggerwrists, Skewers, Emperor Sea Striders and Eosapiens. When an unmanned Yma probe discovers evidence of alien life on another planet, the 'expedition' of the title is sent to investigate.īarlowe writes as a sort of 24th century Audubon, presenting his findings in a collection of paintings, sketches, field notes, and diary entries from his explorations of Darwin IV.

Aided by the benevolent and technologically superior alien race, the Yma, humanity begins to repair their ravaged world while simultaneously learning more about the universe around them. Most of the remaining fauna, save humans, have suffered horrible mutation. In the 24th century the exploitation of the Earth's ecosystem has created an environment so toxic that mass extinctions have wiped out nearly half of its animal population. Voyage to Darwin IV', it is written as though published in the year 2366, five years after Barlowe's participation in a voyage to an alien planet, dubbed Darwin IV in honor of Charles Darwin. Subtitled 'Being an Account in Words and Artwork of the 2358 A.D. Expedition is the title of a science fiction book by artist-author Wayne Douglas Barlowe.

Expedition to darwin iv