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High Couch of Silistra #1
High Couch of Silistra
Her sensuality was at the core of her world.
Her quest was in galaxies beyond the civilized stars.
Somewhere deep in the heavens of a terribly distant tomorrow was the one man whose will conquered her own.
Her quest was in galaxies beyond the civilized stars.
Somewhere deep in the heavens of a terribly distant tomorrow was the one man whose will conquered her own.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
42 people are currently reading
1630 people want to read
About the author
Janet E. Morris
108 books385 followersJanet Ellen Morris (born May 25, 1946) is a United States author. She began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 20 novels, many co-authored with David Drake or her husband Chris Morris. She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series Thieves World, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell. Most of her work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written several works of non-fiction.
Morris was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1980.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris founded M2 Tech. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on non-lethal weapon systems and software.
Morris was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences in 1980.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris founded M2 Tech. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on non-lethal weapon systems and software.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 73 reviews
November 5, 2024
A re-read.
I first read this book because my mom checked it out of the library for me. She knew I liked fantasy, and came home with a random selection of paperbacks... this was one of them. I was probably eleven or twelve? My mom was not a fan of 'trashy' books, and I read this with big eyes, hoping that she didn't decide to peek inside... Nope, she never did, and I got all the sequels out of the library later, too. She had absolutely no idea what she'd provided me with.
My five-star rating is taking that early experience into consideration. Is this a great work of literature? No. But it was certainly something that made a lasting impression on me. Going back to read it again, decades later, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it.
I remembered the basic story: Estri, a beautiful woman of the planet Silistra, is the High Couch of Astria - one of the most powerful people on the planet, and also a high-paid prostitute. Due to their difficulty in having children, Silistra has developed an interesting economic system. Promiscuous sexuality is expected, and status and power is centered around the 'wells' - brothels run and controlled by women. However, this is no 'feminist' paradise - a woman becomes a man's property if he manages to impregnate her. Childbearing is one of the most important social responsibilities on Silistra, symbolized by the twisted chain called the chald worn by all upstanding citizens - so it's a desired outcome.
Born into the Well system, Estri has no idea who her father is, but knows that he was an offworlder. When her mother dies, she lays an obligation on her to find her father. The book follows Estri on this quest. And along the way, Estri has a lot of sex. Of various kinds. A lot of it thoroughly non-consensual. With a great many different people.
On re-reading, the sex wasn't quite as graphically explicit as I'd remembered, but it was clear enough, and, really, just as racy as I'd thought it was. Some of the descriptions (especially of the outfits) were amusingly 1970's-tinged. I still found it enormously entertaining. Just keep in mind that this is primarily a sex-fantasy and only secondarily a sci-fi-fantasy. However, it doesn't allow the sex to get in the way of a good story either, or to 'dumb it down.' The mix works for me.
If you like 'Barbarella' - you'll probably like this series.
Many thanks to Perseid Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the newly released eBook. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
I first read this book because my mom checked it out of the library for me. She knew I liked fantasy, and came home with a random selection of paperbacks... this was one of them. I was probably eleven or twelve? My mom was not a fan of 'trashy' books, and I read this with big eyes, hoping that she didn't decide to peek inside... Nope, she never did, and I got all the sequels out of the library later, too. She had absolutely no idea what she'd provided me with.
My five-star rating is taking that early experience into consideration. Is this a great work of literature? No. But it was certainly something that made a lasting impression on me. Going back to read it again, decades later, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it.
I remembered the basic story: Estri, a beautiful woman of the planet Silistra, is the High Couch of Astria - one of the most powerful people on the planet, and also a high-paid prostitute. Due to their difficulty in having children, Silistra has developed an interesting economic system. Promiscuous sexuality is expected, and status and power is centered around the 'wells' - brothels run and controlled by women. However, this is no 'feminist' paradise - a woman becomes a man's property if he manages to impregnate her. Childbearing is one of the most important social responsibilities on Silistra, symbolized by the twisted chain called the chald worn by all upstanding citizens - so it's a desired outcome.
Born into the Well system, Estri has no idea who her father is, but knows that he was an offworlder. When her mother dies, she lays an obligation on her to find her father. The book follows Estri on this quest. And along the way, Estri has a lot of sex. Of various kinds. A lot of it thoroughly non-consensual. With a great many different people.
On re-reading, the sex wasn't quite as graphically explicit as I'd remembered, but it was clear enough, and, really, just as racy as I'd thought it was. Some of the descriptions (especially of the outfits) were amusingly 1970's-tinged. I still found it enormously entertaining. Just keep in mind that this is primarily a sex-fantasy and only secondarily a sci-fi-fantasy. However, it doesn't allow the sex to get in the way of a good story either, or to 'dumb it down.' The mix works for me.
If you like 'Barbarella' - you'll probably like this series.
Many thanks to Perseid Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the newly released eBook. As always, my opinions are solely my own.
September 17, 2015
What a remarkable feminist text. The fact that this was originally published in 1977 is absolutely astounding. I found this book to be similar and far superior to the oft praised "The Handmaid's Tale" (published in 1985). In my opinion, "The Handmaid's Tale" is a very masculine interpretation of femininity (which includes absolute sexual domination). "High Couch" on the other hand, explores the idea of female dominance through sexuality.
I can only imagine what it must have been like to read this in 1977. There are some very complex scenes, where the protagonist is essentially raped (these moments are not given in graphic detail, but are merely plot elements). However, these scenes are highly ambiguous, and even the character's interpretations of these moments will have you contemplating them for days. The author, Janet Morris, has created a time capsule which demonstrates the mindset of powerful women back in 1977. The surprise is that the mindset revealed is not so different than the modern one.
I think that only recently has our cultural perspective evolved enough to give this novel its due. Less perceptive readers will probably not even be able to recognize this book as a feminist text even today...much less in 1977. However, I feel that this book is even more important than "The Handmaid's Tale." Perhaps we'll see "High Couch" in college courses in another 50 years or so (that it would eventually displace "Handmaid's" is inevitable in my opinion).
I also caught a bit of the same vibe I experienced when reading "Dune" (originally published in 1968). On an SF level, there is magic here and the world-building is first rate. However, I was far more captivated by a talented female author approaching a dialogue of sexuality within a novel written in the 70s. Very, very interesting work.
The writing too is top notch. I read a lot of books, and usually after a couple pages I find myself skimming while keeping an eye out for the plot points I know are coming. Not the case here, this is a novel that makes you put off all other tasks so you can concentrate fully on every word. Give it a look, and prepare to have your mind blown!
I can only imagine what it must have been like to read this in 1977. There are some very complex scenes, where the protagonist is essentially raped (these moments are not given in graphic detail, but are merely plot elements). However, these scenes are highly ambiguous, and even the character's interpretations of these moments will have you contemplating them for days. The author, Janet Morris, has created a time capsule which demonstrates the mindset of powerful women back in 1977. The surprise is that the mindset revealed is not so different than the modern one.
I think that only recently has our cultural perspective evolved enough to give this novel its due. Less perceptive readers will probably not even be able to recognize this book as a feminist text even today...much less in 1977. However, I feel that this book is even more important than "The Handmaid's Tale." Perhaps we'll see "High Couch" in college courses in another 50 years or so (that it would eventually displace "Handmaid's" is inevitable in my opinion).
I also caught a bit of the same vibe I experienced when reading "Dune" (originally published in 1968). On an SF level, there is magic here and the world-building is first rate. However, I was far more captivated by a talented female author approaching a dialogue of sexuality within a novel written in the 70s. Very, very interesting work.
The writing too is top notch. I read a lot of books, and usually after a couple pages I find myself skimming while keeping an eye out for the plot points I know are coming. Not the case here, this is a novel that makes you put off all other tasks so you can concentrate fully on every word. Give it a look, and prepare to have your mind blown!
September 17, 2015
To truly appreciate the epic scale that encompasses The High Couch of Silistra, you need to understand the complexity and profundity of thought Janet Morris incorporated into the historical foundation that forms Silistran society.
I’ll summarize what you need to know here:
Thousands of years before our story takes place, Silistra faced catastrophe, a catastrophe so severe that all life would have been wiped out were it not for the prudence and tenacity of a special group of people, the Day Keepers and the forereaders.
(The Day Keepers are guardians of Silistra’s history – past, present and future – whilst the forereaders are those who have received training in the understanding and management of future probabilities as they affect the unfolding development of Silistra’s eternal destiny)
They, it was who, having predicted the coming calamity, ushered a select number of Silistran’s into one of seven specially prepared hides (deep underground life-support complexes) sixty years before disaster fell, where refugees would be able to wait for the wounds inflicted upon their world to heal. After millennia had passed, thousands of survivors and their progeny emerged to reestablish their civilization under a set of precepts known as the “chaldra.”
Simply put, the chaldra is a form of self-rule, deeply influenced by the circumstances of Silistran society’s enforced isolation and the consequences of their reduced birthrate thereafter, and the eternal outworking of their eternal destiny. The chaldra edicts and guides the standards, morality and governance of Silistra in all situations and is divided into two broad spectrums.
High-chaldra – those tasks and responsibilities undertaken to strengthen the spiritual/inner consciousness of the individual and/or society as a whole, in relation to the metaphysical outworking of their eternal future, and;
Low-chaldra – that pertaining to the survival and betterment of the mundane individual and the acquiring of life skills relating to material import only.
It is essential you understand these tenets affect all of the main laws, duties and labors of Silistran life – even their approach to sexual practices and preferences, relationships and family matters. Yes, all are determined by chaldric. Indeed, an individual’s dedication to their society’s wellbeing is represented by the chald, a belt of chains soldered about a person’s waist, each colored link of which denotes their various accomplishments.
With the foundation thus revealed, we can better appreciate the setting. More than twenty-five and a half thousand years have passed since Silistran refugees emerged from their hides. The emergent population naturally settled in those areas close to the hides. Such locations became known as “Wells” – places where some of the highest ranking and most respected members of their civilization made their home.
Our story takes place, as told from the perspective of Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi. Estri is “High Couch” a position known formally as “Well-Keepress” of the capital city of Astria. She is celebrated for her beauty, her lineage and the fact that as High Couch of the most celebrated house of pleasure in all the civilized stars, she commands a great price.
Although highly sexualized, Well-Keepresses are by no means looked upon as prostitutes. Far from it, for their role and entire modus of operating is intimately bound to the social and moral development of Silistran culture as a whole. Don’t forget, because of the horrors inflicted upon them in the past, Silistran’s still struggle with infertility and shockingly low birthrates. To compensate, not only have Silistran scientists developed a serum that restores youthful vigor and extends life far beyond its normal span, but the couch system was devised whereby the very best genetic traits could be harnessed to ensure future generations would benefit.
And the Well-Keepresses would know exactly how to accomplish this through whom they choose to couch, for they are among the strongest forereaders in existence, and are able to manipulate the very texture of time to select the ultimate outcome.
In comparison to others, Estri is young. On her three hundredth birthday, she receives a silver cube containing a holographic message from her mother who died when Estri was born. In it is a video of Estri’s actual conception revealing her father to be none other than a mysterious godlike barbarian from an unknown mystical race. Such a legacy bodes well for all Silistra, and her long-dead mother counsels Estri to reach out to the stars in an effort to find her father and his people in order to claim the full might of her heritage.
Moved by her mother’s impassioned plea, Estri accepts the “chaldra of the mother” and sets out on a remarkable pilgrimage. While I won’t reveal the details of that quest here, be advised, Estri endures trial and tribulation, pitfall and peril aplenty...and it is here that we come to the crux of this remarkable tale, for Janet Morris has skillfully highlighted a profound truth within the pages you will read: That, like it or not, the differences between the masculinity of men and the feminine wiles of women are very real. Poles apart, many feel such differences will always prove a barrier to true understanding.
But in an evocatively subtle way, the abuse, turmoil and heartrending loss Estri and her travelling companions face underscore philosophical karma at work...that sometimes, tenacity and strength of character are of higher value than strength of arm, and that it’s only by facing such hardships with determination and courage that a person – no matter what their gender or sexual orientation – can truly grow into the individual they were meant to be.
Let me say in conclusion that I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
A science fiction and fantasy aficionado, I cut my teeth on the likes of Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury and Heinlein. I went on to develop a taste for Tolkien, Le Guin, May, Donaldson and Feist.
Just a glance at this list should hint at the refinement of my reading tastes. But, such is the way of things that, as I grew up and adult life invariably got in the way; I ended up missing a true literary gem the first time it was presented to the world.
Well, better late than never.
In High Couch of Silistra, you’ll find the pomp and space opera scope associated with the likes of Dune. You’ll find a vocabulary reminiscent of Stephen Donaldson at his best. And you’ll discover a flair for worldbuilding few can match.
My bookshelf reeks of quality, and soon, there’ll be another series proudly filling the little space I have left.
Bravo Janet Morris, a true fantasy classic that sets the bar at a height few will ever reach.
I’ll summarize what you need to know here:
Thousands of years before our story takes place, Silistra faced catastrophe, a catastrophe so severe that all life would have been wiped out were it not for the prudence and tenacity of a special group of people, the Day Keepers and the forereaders.
(The Day Keepers are guardians of Silistra’s history – past, present and future – whilst the forereaders are those who have received training in the understanding and management of future probabilities as they affect the unfolding development of Silistra’s eternal destiny)
They, it was who, having predicted the coming calamity, ushered a select number of Silistran’s into one of seven specially prepared hides (deep underground life-support complexes) sixty years before disaster fell, where refugees would be able to wait for the wounds inflicted upon their world to heal. After millennia had passed, thousands of survivors and their progeny emerged to reestablish their civilization under a set of precepts known as the “chaldra.”
Simply put, the chaldra is a form of self-rule, deeply influenced by the circumstances of Silistran society’s enforced isolation and the consequences of their reduced birthrate thereafter, and the eternal outworking of their eternal destiny. The chaldra edicts and guides the standards, morality and governance of Silistra in all situations and is divided into two broad spectrums.
High-chaldra – those tasks and responsibilities undertaken to strengthen the spiritual/inner consciousness of the individual and/or society as a whole, in relation to the metaphysical outworking of their eternal future, and;
Low-chaldra – that pertaining to the survival and betterment of the mundane individual and the acquiring of life skills relating to material import only.
It is essential you understand these tenets affect all of the main laws, duties and labors of Silistran life – even their approach to sexual practices and preferences, relationships and family matters. Yes, all are determined by chaldric. Indeed, an individual’s dedication to their society’s wellbeing is represented by the chald, a belt of chains soldered about a person’s waist, each colored link of which denotes their various accomplishments.
With the foundation thus revealed, we can better appreciate the setting. More than twenty-five and a half thousand years have passed since Silistran refugees emerged from their hides. The emergent population naturally settled in those areas close to the hides. Such locations became known as “Wells” – places where some of the highest ranking and most respected members of their civilization made their home.
Our story takes place, as told from the perspective of Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi. Estri is “High Couch” a position known formally as “Well-Keepress” of the capital city of Astria. She is celebrated for her beauty, her lineage and the fact that as High Couch of the most celebrated house of pleasure in all the civilized stars, she commands a great price.
Although highly sexualized, Well-Keepresses are by no means looked upon as prostitutes. Far from it, for their role and entire modus of operating is intimately bound to the social and moral development of Silistran culture as a whole. Don’t forget, because of the horrors inflicted upon them in the past, Silistran’s still struggle with infertility and shockingly low birthrates. To compensate, not only have Silistran scientists developed a serum that restores youthful vigor and extends life far beyond its normal span, but the couch system was devised whereby the very best genetic traits could be harnessed to ensure future generations would benefit.
And the Well-Keepresses would know exactly how to accomplish this through whom they choose to couch, for they are among the strongest forereaders in existence, and are able to manipulate the very texture of time to select the ultimate outcome.
In comparison to others, Estri is young. On her three hundredth birthday, she receives a silver cube containing a holographic message from her mother who died when Estri was born. In it is a video of Estri’s actual conception revealing her father to be none other than a mysterious godlike barbarian from an unknown mystical race. Such a legacy bodes well for all Silistra, and her long-dead mother counsels Estri to reach out to the stars in an effort to find her father and his people in order to claim the full might of her heritage.
Moved by her mother’s impassioned plea, Estri accepts the “chaldra of the mother” and sets out on a remarkable pilgrimage. While I won’t reveal the details of that quest here, be advised, Estri endures trial and tribulation, pitfall and peril aplenty...and it is here that we come to the crux of this remarkable tale, for Janet Morris has skillfully highlighted a profound truth within the pages you will read: That, like it or not, the differences between the masculinity of men and the feminine wiles of women are very real. Poles apart, many feel such differences will always prove a barrier to true understanding.
But in an evocatively subtle way, the abuse, turmoil and heartrending loss Estri and her travelling companions face underscore philosophical karma at work...that sometimes, tenacity and strength of character are of higher value than strength of arm, and that it’s only by facing such hardships with determination and courage that a person – no matter what their gender or sexual orientation – can truly grow into the individual they were meant to be.
Let me say in conclusion that I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
A science fiction and fantasy aficionado, I cut my teeth on the likes of Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury and Heinlein. I went on to develop a taste for Tolkien, Le Guin, May, Donaldson and Feist.
Just a glance at this list should hint at the refinement of my reading tastes. But, such is the way of things that, as I grew up and adult life invariably got in the way; I ended up missing a true literary gem the first time it was presented to the world.
Well, better late than never.
In High Couch of Silistra, you’ll find the pomp and space opera scope associated with the likes of Dune. You’ll find a vocabulary reminiscent of Stephen Donaldson at his best. And you’ll discover a flair for worldbuilding few can match.
My bookshelf reeks of quality, and soon, there’ll be another series proudly filling the little space I have left.
Bravo Janet Morris, a true fantasy classic that sets the bar at a height few will ever reach.
October 4, 2015
This is a novel that changed the game for women characters in science fiction, and the women who write science fiction. A daring novel for its time that still retains that same sort of power, it is a complex and highly intelligent read about one women's quest in the far future to find her father and her own identity, to find her destiny and make a difference in her world, to be a catalyst for change. Herein Janet Morris deals with issues of women's equality to men, their sexuality, the power of it, and how, in the simplest of terms, beauty, brains and sex can make a combination as potent as any nuclear blast. If memory serves, I think this novel was first promoted as a new breed of Sword and Planet, and later it was labeled Sword and Romance. What it is at its core is speculative fiction, futurist fiction that takes a serious, hard look at the universe surrounding it, and the main character of Estri and her place in it. She is an aristocrat who becomes and outcast, then a slave, then a ruler. Like all of Morris' books, there is a lot to think about in High Couch of Silistra -- questions of philosophy, sociology, sexuality, and governmental rule. Action and adventure? There is plenty of that. But this book was also carefully devised and structured, well plotted and deeply thought out. This is not a book for kids or for readers looking for a simple, pulp-action space adventure. The issues are real, the characters are real, and you will either find yourself agreeing with the politics and point of view; themes and questions will provoke careful consideration in the reader, and the story will make you think. Is the sexual content explicit or not? I don't think so, but you be the judge of that. I think Morris has handled the violence and sexuality was just the right touch, as she always manages to do. This book was ahead of its time upon its first publication, and while we have caught up to certain aspects of this novel, society still has a long way to go, and much of what passes for science fiction these days is still lagging far behind this novel. In my opinion, it has not aged at all and holds up even better than I had expected, a fitting tribute to a writer who books never grow old or outdated.
December 5, 2015
So where to start? As one would expect from Janet Morris there is a lot more to this story than a simple science fiction tale. Firstly the protagonist is a woman, and a strong one at that. Estri is not your screaming maiden waiting to be rescued. She’s a feisty woman, who knows her worth, knows her skills, and her failings and above all she knows herself.
Estri is more than a woman of pleasure – for on her world this is no shameful profession. As Well Keepress she is much sought after, and highly skilled, but she is also teacher, student, lover, friend, fighter, diplomat, businesswoman, a slave, mistress and so much more.
Silistra is a world of contrasts – its people long-lived, its terrain in places inhospitable and its morals unusual. Fertility is everything in a world where the people rarely breed successfully. Duty, or Chaldra is everything – be that duty to oneself, one’s people, or the world in general.. A world misunderstood by the others, but attractive for many reasons, not least its Well Women must stand for its uniqueness and protect its beliefs. In many ways Estri is Silistra – wise, with hidden dangers, intriguing, alluring, complex and misunderstood.
Duty, power, sex, the complexities of relationships between men and women, and how they can change, fate, courage, loyalty, betrayal, personal journeys, fear, and adventure fill every chapter. The sex is not overdone, considering the context and although there is violence that too speaks of the power play which is core.
The world building, as with Morris’s other novels, is rich, complex and totally believable. For the duration of the tale Silistra is real. The characters, too, are a mix of good and bad, but no way clear cut. These are living, breathing characters with all that entails.
This is not a book for those of a faint heart or who cannot see deep within a tale for what lies therein. It’s a book to make the reader think. It's a book of great stature, and storytelling of the finest sort. Of course it’s also a book for those who seek a heady adventure beyond the stars.
I couldn't put this down.
Estri is more than a woman of pleasure – for on her world this is no shameful profession. As Well Keepress she is much sought after, and highly skilled, but she is also teacher, student, lover, friend, fighter, diplomat, businesswoman, a slave, mistress and so much more.
Silistra is a world of contrasts – its people long-lived, its terrain in places inhospitable and its morals unusual. Fertility is everything in a world where the people rarely breed successfully. Duty, or Chaldra is everything – be that duty to oneself, one’s people, or the world in general.. A world misunderstood by the others, but attractive for many reasons, not least its Well Women must stand for its uniqueness and protect its beliefs. In many ways Estri is Silistra – wise, with hidden dangers, intriguing, alluring, complex and misunderstood.
Duty, power, sex, the complexities of relationships between men and women, and how they can change, fate, courage, loyalty, betrayal, personal journeys, fear, and adventure fill every chapter. The sex is not overdone, considering the context and although there is violence that too speaks of the power play which is core.
The world building, as with Morris’s other novels, is rich, complex and totally believable. For the duration of the tale Silistra is real. The characters, too, are a mix of good and bad, but no way clear cut. These are living, breathing characters with all that entails.
This is not a book for those of a faint heart or who cannot see deep within a tale for what lies therein. It’s a book to make the reader think. It's a book of great stature, and storytelling of the finest sort. Of course it’s also a book for those who seek a heady adventure beyond the stars.
I couldn't put this down.
November 23, 2015
Janet E. Morris’s High Couch of Silistra is Intense, Sex-Infused Fantasy for Thoughtful Readers
In 1977, an intellectual female author wrote a debut, fantasy/sci-fi novel featuring a heroine in a dystopic, alien world striving to discover her mysterious past & god-like ancestry; in 2015, her debut novel was reprinted. Some may assume I am referring to Tanith Lee who passed away recently; her 1975 debut The Birthgrave was reprinted in 1977 and this year which I just read/enjoyed/reviewed. However, I am referring to Janet Morris’s 1977 High Couch of Silistra; this reviews her ‘author’s cut’ version, coincidentally released this year. Janet Morris’s style is quite different that Lee’s, though fans of the Birthgrave would certainly devour High Couch.
Intense Sex: One would wrongly assume that High Couch of Silistra is purely a 1970-feminist-movement book; the role of sex, rape, and fertility is posited to make the reader tense. The protagonist Estri is a woman of Silistran origin (alien with human form) and most Silistran’s are reliant on humans to become impregnated, which is a rare event. The culture and expectations of purchased sex, often brutal but sometimes passionate, are constantly present. Somehow, Janet Morris manages to write all this erotic-infused adventure in an intellectual, almost dispassionate voice. This is not shallow romance/soft-pornography. Nor is High Couch of Silistra gratuitous whoring. This is mature-rated, engaging fantasy.
Tension: Without spoiling, note that characters watch their parents have intercourse, men rape other men, and woman lust after men who abuse them. In real life, these situations would appall me. My test for rationalizing my comfort level and reading onward was: if Estri tolerated her predicaments, then so should I. The constant tension between the book’s acceptable behavior and today’s societal norms took me beyond reading the story. It made reading this more than adventure. It made me think. Janet Morris’s intent was to play with controversial sexual and societal themes; she delivered with Estri’s journey, full of codependent genders & races, an intricate alien world, and psychedelic magic.
Cover Art & Interview: In Janet Morris’s 2014 interview on Beauty in Weird Fiction she said that “Human extravagances and limitations are what, for me, Silistra is about, but it is not a series for the erotically-averse, or the intellectually timid.” As a reader/reviewer, I could not agree more with that self-assessment. In that interview she also noted her dislike of the 1977 cover art Boris Vallejo that depicted Estri with a brass bra and Gucci boots. For the author’s cut, she employed artist Roy Mauritsen who presented a more intellectual design for the Silsitra quartet by dividing the Dancing Maenad in (a Roman relief) over the four books (photo by Ana Belén Cantero Paz).
Genre & Theme: This futuristic, dystopian world has science-fiction elements (space/time travel, some technology), but leans toward fantasy (alien beasts with hybrid/mythological designs; sorcery like telepathy/mind reading; fighting that is melee/blade-focused). Ubiquitous themes of procreation, fertility, and “shaping” the world add depth.
The Silstra Quartet seriesThe series continues, the remaining three presumably to be released in the near future (since the covers are designed.)
In 1977, an intellectual female author wrote a debut, fantasy/sci-fi novel featuring a heroine in a dystopic, alien world striving to discover her mysterious past & god-like ancestry; in 2015, her debut novel was reprinted. Some may assume I am referring to Tanith Lee who passed away recently; her 1975 debut The Birthgrave was reprinted in 1977 and this year which I just read/enjoyed/reviewed. However, I am referring to Janet Morris’s 1977 High Couch of Silistra; this reviews her ‘author’s cut’ version, coincidentally released this year. Janet Morris’s style is quite different that Lee’s, though fans of the Birthgrave would certainly devour High Couch.
Intense Sex: One would wrongly assume that High Couch of Silistra is purely a 1970-feminist-movement book; the role of sex, rape, and fertility is posited to make the reader tense. The protagonist Estri is a woman of Silistran origin (alien with human form) and most Silistran’s are reliant on humans to become impregnated, which is a rare event. The culture and expectations of purchased sex, often brutal but sometimes passionate, are constantly present. Somehow, Janet Morris manages to write all this erotic-infused adventure in an intellectual, almost dispassionate voice. This is not shallow romance/soft-pornography. Nor is High Couch of Silistra gratuitous whoring. This is mature-rated, engaging fantasy.
Tension: Without spoiling, note that characters watch their parents have intercourse, men rape other men, and woman lust after men who abuse them. In real life, these situations would appall me. My test for rationalizing my comfort level and reading onward was: if Estri tolerated her predicaments, then so should I. The constant tension between the book’s acceptable behavior and today’s societal norms took me beyond reading the story. It made reading this more than adventure. It made me think. Janet Morris’s intent was to play with controversial sexual and societal themes; she delivered with Estri’s journey, full of codependent genders & races, an intricate alien world, and psychedelic magic.
Cover Art & Interview: In Janet Morris’s 2014 interview on Beauty in Weird Fiction she said that “Human extravagances and limitations are what, for me, Silistra is about, but it is not a series for the erotically-averse, or the intellectually timid.” As a reader/reviewer, I could not agree more with that self-assessment. In that interview she also noted her dislike of the 1977 cover art Boris Vallejo that depicted Estri with a brass bra and Gucci boots. For the author’s cut, she employed artist Roy Mauritsen who presented a more intellectual design for the Silsitra quartet by dividing the Dancing Maenad in (a Roman relief) over the four books (photo by Ana Belén Cantero Paz).
Genre & Theme: This futuristic, dystopian world has science-fiction elements (space/time travel, some technology), but leans toward fantasy (alien beasts with hybrid/mythological designs; sorcery like telepathy/mind reading; fighting that is melee/blade-focused). Ubiquitous themes of procreation, fertility, and “shaping” the world add depth.
The Silstra Quartet seriesThe series continues, the remaining three presumably to be released in the near future (since the covers are designed.)
May 11, 2017
I wasn't only disappointed so much by the book itself, by also by the reviews. Some Goodreads reviewers called it 'feminist' which, emphatically, it isn't. It is a pointless (though thankfully brief) read about a useless heroine who manages to travel from point A to point B while getting raped a lot.
But let's start with the positive. The one star I give to this book is solely in honour of the excellent world building. And if anyone (no one?) has been following my reviews, you'll know that shoddy world building is not a thing I easily excuse. In this case, however, I can't fault it. Silistra is no place you've ever been or even thought of. Everything, from the plants and animals to the structure of society, is brand new, and is presented in a way that is evocative and immersive. I really enjoyed the slight confusion of trying to make sense of this utterly unknown culture that I had just been dropped into.
But the rest of it is…not so great.
Gripe 1: Feminism, and how this book is NOT that.
One of the reasons reviewers called this book 'feminist' is because it 'explores the idea of female dominance through sexuality'. But isn't that exactly the opposite of feminism? Feminism mostly tries to put forward the idea that women can do and be anything men can be if they put their minds to it. There is no 'feminine way' to do things and there is a definite backlash to the idea that women should be exerting power over their circumstances only through their vaginas. Women can (and do all the time, thank you very much) run their lives by using their brains.
Estri, on the other hand, barely tries to do this. She makes some cognitive decisions in the beginning of the book, to which I thought, Yay! A woman with a sex drive and a brain! Because, yes, that IS feminist, but Estri soon deteriorates into a woman who simply lies back and takes whatever comes her way right between the legs. She doesn't exert dominance over anyone. She has no power, and can seem to do nothing or go nowhere without submitting to the rape and abuse of various men.
She also exhibits very little control over herself, much less her situation. She demands to continue on her quest, which is admirable, but not really enough to absolve her of her other sins: she has no power over her own urges. She falls in love with every single man who rapes and mistreats her, and rather than mustering an ounce of self-respect, she simply follows them around like a lost puppy. She thinks about it a handful of times, concluding that *insert name here* is so awful and terrible (and some of them are truly reprehensible), but she just continues to sleep with them and love them, because her 'need is too great'. This perpetuates the dangerous stereotype that women are completely and utterly at the mercy of their bodies. In case anyone doesn't know this: THEY ARE NOT. They have brains and are capable of complex thoughts and most notably, can resist their inappropriate sexual impulses if they know it's either dangerous or not good for them.
Gripe 2: Claims of a sex positive society, and how this book doesn't quite follow through.
I was really hoping for a book that lives up to its reputation of featuring prostitution in a new light, but this book doesn't. Sex is still a thing taken from women by men. It is still a method men use to control and shame women. The problem here is that it could have been SO much cooler. What if there was a society where sex, and even the purchasing of sex, was a perfectly normal and healthy thing? What if sex was seen as a major and respectable form of commerce? But not here. The selling of sex is a way to make sure women fulfil their most desperate need and highest purpose in life: conceive and have offspring. And here we have another sexist trope, the idea that the greatest joy a woman can experience is motherhood.
Gripe 3: I have some more gripes about Estri and lame she is and how she frequently mentions her shortcomings, but do very little to try and overcome them. She just lies back, because, wait for it, here comes the next round of rapes.
Gripe 4: Rape. Rape. Rape. Oh, and did I mention the rape?
This book has so much rape in it that I went from being uncomfortable to being outraged to just plain pulling an Estri and waiting for it to be over. I don’t know where this female ‘dominance’ and ‘control’ is that people speak of, because Estri gets raped by almost every single man she meets. A previous lover unceremoniously anally rapes her in the first few pages, and the experience passes over Estri like so much water. She doesn’t even bat an eye. More rapes follow. There is a gang rape. There are men raping other men. There are men beating two women and forcing them to have sex with each other against their will. AND NONE OF IT EVER GETS ADDRESSED. It’s just treated as normal. Par for the course. A thing that happens every day and no use even talking about. Estri barely gets it over her heart to admit that she didn’t consent to any of the acts. She just takes it lying down without a complaint. Which, gentlefolk, is NOT THE SAME AS BEING SEX POSITIVE!
I find this to be an enormous opportunity lost . These issues could have been discussed in light of this supposed ‘sex positive society’ of theirs, but it doesn’t happen. What could have been a very intense and thought-provoking look into an unfamiliar sexual society just falls flat without any payoff.
Gripe 5: The story was not compelling.
This is sad, because I would have forgiven this book most of its crimes if the story was amazing. But it’s not. I'’s just not that interesting. There are a lot of good world building exercises, but without a story to prop up the scenes, they just fall flat. Like I said before she travels from point A to B, and that is basically it. No character development, no growth, no knowledge acquired, no new skills learned, no relationships built that aren't immediately abandoned and forgotten. Just a lot of rape and abuse and then a ending that suggests enlightenment...but doesn't actually show it. All of it is just meh.
Gripe 6: There's no actual sex.
Not a single word to describe even a moment of intimacy between any of the characters. Most of it is just truncated into ‘he took me’ or ‘he used me’, or even more cryptically, ‘afterwards’. Sometimes it happens so quickly that I miss it completely and only notice the latest gang rape when I look back over the pages. Normally this is not really a gripe, but I think I would be willing to withhold many of my other gripes if this was just some run-of-the-mill erotica. I know dub-con is a highly enjoyed feature of a lot of erotica, and so I maybe then I wouldn’t have found the blatant sexism and consent issues to be such a problem. If there was some description of the sex I could rest assured that this book was written towards getting people off, rather than opening their minds. I don’t know. Maybe. I just think that if you’re going to write a story that is almost exclusively about sex and features more rape than anyone ever can swing a cat at, it should at least have *some* description of it somewhere. Otherwise half the book seems to not be happening at all.
But let's start with the positive. The one star I give to this book is solely in honour of the excellent world building. And if anyone (no one?) has been following my reviews, you'll know that shoddy world building is not a thing I easily excuse. In this case, however, I can't fault it. Silistra is no place you've ever been or even thought of. Everything, from the plants and animals to the structure of society, is brand new, and is presented in a way that is evocative and immersive. I really enjoyed the slight confusion of trying to make sense of this utterly unknown culture that I had just been dropped into.
But the rest of it is…not so great.
Gripe 1: Feminism, and how this book is NOT that.
One of the reasons reviewers called this book 'feminist' is because it 'explores the idea of female dominance through sexuality'. But isn't that exactly the opposite of feminism? Feminism mostly tries to put forward the idea that women can do and be anything men can be if they put their minds to it. There is no 'feminine way' to do things and there is a definite backlash to the idea that women should be exerting power over their circumstances only through their vaginas. Women can (and do all the time, thank you very much) run their lives by using their brains.
Estri, on the other hand, barely tries to do this. She makes some cognitive decisions in the beginning of the book, to which I thought, Yay! A woman with a sex drive and a brain! Because, yes, that IS feminist, but Estri soon deteriorates into a woman who simply lies back and takes whatever comes her way right between the legs. She doesn't exert dominance over anyone. She has no power, and can seem to do nothing or go nowhere without submitting to the rape and abuse of various men.
She also exhibits very little control over herself, much less her situation. She demands to continue on her quest, which is admirable, but not really enough to absolve her of her other sins: she has no power over her own urges. She falls in love with every single man who rapes and mistreats her, and rather than mustering an ounce of self-respect, she simply follows them around like a lost puppy. She thinks about it a handful of times, concluding that *insert name here* is so awful and terrible (and some of them are truly reprehensible), but she just continues to sleep with them and love them, because her 'need is too great'. This perpetuates the dangerous stereotype that women are completely and utterly at the mercy of their bodies. In case anyone doesn't know this: THEY ARE NOT. They have brains and are capable of complex thoughts and most notably, can resist their inappropriate sexual impulses if they know it's either dangerous or not good for them.
Gripe 2: Claims of a sex positive society, and how this book doesn't quite follow through.
I was really hoping for a book that lives up to its reputation of featuring prostitution in a new light, but this book doesn't. Sex is still a thing taken from women by men. It is still a method men use to control and shame women. The problem here is that it could have been SO much cooler. What if there was a society where sex, and even the purchasing of sex, was a perfectly normal and healthy thing? What if sex was seen as a major and respectable form of commerce? But not here. The selling of sex is a way to make sure women fulfil their most desperate need and highest purpose in life: conceive and have offspring. And here we have another sexist trope, the idea that the greatest joy a woman can experience is motherhood.
Gripe 3: I have some more gripes about Estri and lame she is and how she frequently mentions her shortcomings, but do very little to try and overcome them. She just lies back, because, wait for it, here comes the next round of rapes.
Gripe 4: Rape. Rape. Rape. Oh, and did I mention the rape?
This book has so much rape in it that I went from being uncomfortable to being outraged to just plain pulling an Estri and waiting for it to be over. I don’t know where this female ‘dominance’ and ‘control’ is that people speak of, because Estri gets raped by almost every single man she meets. A previous lover unceremoniously anally rapes her in the first few pages, and the experience passes over Estri like so much water. She doesn’t even bat an eye. More rapes follow. There is a gang rape. There are men raping other men. There are men beating two women and forcing them to have sex with each other against their will. AND NONE OF IT EVER GETS ADDRESSED. It’s just treated as normal. Par for the course. A thing that happens every day and no use even talking about. Estri barely gets it over her heart to admit that she didn’t consent to any of the acts. She just takes it lying down without a complaint. Which, gentlefolk, is NOT THE SAME AS BEING SEX POSITIVE!
I find this to be an enormous opportunity lost . These issues could have been discussed in light of this supposed ‘sex positive society’ of theirs, but it doesn’t happen. What could have been a very intense and thought-provoking look into an unfamiliar sexual society just falls flat without any payoff.
Gripe 5: The story was not compelling.
This is sad, because I would have forgiven this book most of its crimes if the story was amazing. But it’s not. I'’s just not that interesting. There are a lot of good world building exercises, but without a story to prop up the scenes, they just fall flat. Like I said before she travels from point A to B, and that is basically it. No character development, no growth, no knowledge acquired, no new skills learned, no relationships built that aren't immediately abandoned and forgotten. Just a lot of rape and abuse and then a ending that suggests enlightenment...but doesn't actually show it. All of it is just meh.
Gripe 6: There's no actual sex.
Not a single word to describe even a moment of intimacy between any of the characters. Most of it is just truncated into ‘he took me’ or ‘he used me’, or even more cryptically, ‘afterwards’. Sometimes it happens so quickly that I miss it completely and only notice the latest gang rape when I look back over the pages. Normally this is not really a gripe, but I think I would be willing to withhold many of my other gripes if this was just some run-of-the-mill erotica. I know dub-con is a highly enjoyed feature of a lot of erotica, and so I maybe then I wouldn’t have found the blatant sexism and consent issues to be such a problem. If there was some description of the sex I could rest assured that this book was written towards getting people off, rather than opening their minds. I don’t know. Maybe. I just think that if you’re going to write a story that is almost exclusively about sex and features more rape than anyone ever can swing a cat at, it should at least have *some* description of it somewhere. Otherwise half the book seems to not be happening at all.
November 23, 2015
Janet E. Morris’s High Couch of Silistra is Intense, Sex-Infused Fantasy for Thoughtful Readers In 1977, an intellectual female author wrote a debut, fantasy/sci-fi novel featuring a heroine in a dystopic, alien world striving to discover her mysterious past & god-like ancestry; in 2015, her debut novel was reprinted. Some may assume I am referring to Tanith Lee who passed away recently; her 1975 debut The Birthgrave was reprinted in 1977 and this year which I just read/enjoyed/reviewed. However, I am referring to Janet Morris’s 1977 High Couch of Silistra; this reviews her ‘author’s cut’ version, coincidentally released this year. Janet Morris’s style is quite different that Lee’s, though fans of the Birthgrave would certainly devour High Couch.Intense Sex: One would wrongly assume that High Couch of Silistra is a 1970-feminist-movement book; the role of sex, rape, and fertility is posited to make the reader tense. The protagonist Estri is a woman of Silistran origin (alien with human form) and most Silistran’s are reliant on humans to become impregnated, which is a rare event. The culture and expectations of purchased sex, often brutal but sometimes passionate, are constantly present. Somehow, Janet Morris manages to write all this erotic-infused adventure in an intellectual, almost dispassionate voice. This is not shallow romance/soft-pornography. Nor is High Couch of Silistragratuitous whoring. This is mature-rated, engaging fantasy.Tension: Without spoiling, note that characters watch their parents have intercourse, men rape other men, and woman lust after men who abuse them. In real life, these situations would appall me. My test for rationalizing my comfort level and reading onward was: if Estri tolerated her predicaments, then so should I. The constant tension between the book’s acceptable behavior and today’s societal norms took me beyond reading the story. It made reading this more than adventure. It made me think. Janet Morris’s intent was to play with controversial sexual and societal themes; she delivered with Estri’s journey, full of codependent genders & races, an intricate alien world, and psychedelic magic. Cover Art & Interview: In Janet Morris’s 2014 interview on Beauty in Weird Fiction she said that “Human extravagances and limitations are what, for me, Silistra is about, but it is not a series for the erotically-averse, or the intellectually timid.” As a reader/reviewer, I could not agree more with that self-assessment. In that interview she also noted her dislike of the 1977 cover art Boris Vallejo that depicted Estri with a brass bra and Gucci boots. For the author’s cut, she employed artist Roy Mauritsen who presented a more intellectual design for the Silsitra quartet by dividing the Dancing Maenad in (a Roman relief) over the four books (photo by Ana Belén Cantero Paz). Genre & Theme: This futuristic, dystopian world has science-fiction elements (space/time travel, some technology), but leans toward fantasy (alien beasts with hybrid/mythological designs; sorcery like telepathy/mind reading; fighting that is melee/blade-focused). Ubiquitous themes of procreation, fertility, and “shaping” the world add depth. The Silstra Quartet seriesThe series continues, the remaining three presumably to be released in the near future (since the covers are designed.)
September 30, 2015
High Couch of Silistra by Janet Morris. Wow! I happily received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have to say it was uniquely interesting, and found it hard to put down. The well-written main character, Estri Hadrath Diet Estrazi, reeks of sexuality. She runs into many complex situations, some of which are quite violent. “Silistra was the catalyst to the sexual revolution in the year twenty-two thousand seven hundred and four Bipedal Federate Standard Time.” That line alone grabbed my attention right from the start. I'm not one to give out spoilers as plenty of other reviewers have fleshed it out quite well. But if you love sci-fi fantasy, eroticism, violence, and adventure, you won't want to miss this one. It will not disappoint!! This is book one in a quartet, and looking forward to book two. I give it high marks, and wish I could give more.
October 5, 2015
Best-selling Author Janet Morris undresses a violent alien world intimate and familiar, met through the eyes of the one woman who’s destined to wield its power. Her strength and her deliverance she claims as her birthright. Her story, a tantalizing seduction, woven like the Chaldra promise which feigns to keep her, the Well Keepress of the High Couch of Silistra.
November 10, 2015
THE HIGH COUCH OF SILISTRA paints many contrasts in describing in the character of its heroine, Estri, contrasts in the ways she is viewed by others: “Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.” But there is a unifying inner theme that clarifies her, throughout the ups and downs of her journey: she is a strong willed, adventurous woman leaving her family’s stronghold on a mission to find her father, and in doing so, despite being humiliated, or maybe because of it, she realizes her true mettle. She is undeterred by dangers in this world gone awry.
Just like all her books, Janet Morris writes prose that is beautifully eloquent, and to make matters more challenging in the context of this world, her language is dotted with new, unfamiliar terms which I had to learn, just as if I was visiting a foreign place, a distant time. I am looking forward to the next volume in this quartet, and I know it will farther enrich the musical narration describing this mythical mission.
Five stars.
This book was sent to me gratis for an unbiased review.
Just like all her books, Janet Morris writes prose that is beautifully eloquent, and to make matters more challenging in the context of this world, her language is dotted with new, unfamiliar terms which I had to learn, just as if I was visiting a foreign place, a distant time. I am looking forward to the next volume in this quartet, and I know it will farther enrich the musical narration describing this mythical mission.
Five stars.
This book was sent to me gratis for an unbiased review.
October 1, 2015
A true classic of science fiction and fantasy, and one of the very few that managed to escape my teen-hood... until now. Wow! This amazing book is a rich tapestry you have to read to believe, and believe in the planet of Silistra you will! Janet Morris pulls you into her eclectic reality with all the skill and imagination one rightly expects from the Creator of the "Heroes-in-Hell" shared-world series, and "The Sacred Band of Brothers"!
January 17, 2016
I reviewed this book for NetGalley.
"The High Couch of Silistra" is the first novel of the Silistra quartet that Ms. Morris wrote in the late 70s and early 80s. This book was her first science fiction novel and is an excellent space fantasy tale.
The novel is an intersection of the feminism, sexual revolution and fantasy fiction of the 70s. It is entertaining and provocative in following the adventures and exploits of Estri, the heroine of the series. This is a youthful quest saga that is very well done.
This is an enjoyable and still entertaining novel though it is almost forty years old. A nice change from hard science fiction.
"The High Couch of Silistra" is the first novel of the Silistra quartet that Ms. Morris wrote in the late 70s and early 80s. This book was her first science fiction novel and is an excellent space fantasy tale.
The novel is an intersection of the feminism, sexual revolution and fantasy fiction of the 70s. It is entertaining and provocative in following the adventures and exploits of Estri, the heroine of the series. This is a youthful quest saga that is very well done.
This is an enjoyable and still entertaining novel though it is almost forty years old. A nice change from hard science fiction.
November 13, 2015
I WOULD LOVE TO WATCH THE FILM!
The author eases the reader into Estri's world and her way of life and introduces us to a protagonist whose personality may well have been flawed by our standards but was, in fact, a normal way of life for her.
As the pace picks up, you can't help but feel compassion and hope for Estri that she will survive against all odds and finally meet her father.
The ending of the story left me wanting more, thus I have added the next book in the series to my 'Christmas-to-read-list'.
The author eases the reader into Estri's world and her way of life and introduces us to a protagonist whose personality may well have been flawed by our standards but was, in fact, a normal way of life for her.
As the pace picks up, you can't help but feel compassion and hope for Estri that she will survive against all odds and finally meet her father.
The ending of the story left me wanting more, thus I have added the next book in the series to my 'Christmas-to-read-list'.
December 9, 2015
This is a book with many layers. A depth not found in most science fiction books. The heroine finds it harder to conceive than human women. Ester is revered and desired like a courtesan. We feel for her. She has power. Does she abuse this power? Does she improve conditions for other women? There is much potential for good. Does she feel debased and used by men? She grows and learns from this experience. And so do we.
August 16, 2014
Rape, worldbuilding, rape that's okay because the rapist is so manly, florid dialogue, and some more rape to top it off.
Bonus quote: "Every woman in her deepest self desires to be bound and raped."
Bonus quote: "Every woman in her deepest self desires to be bound and raped."
June 9, 2009
I probably would not have read this one if I hadn't enjoyed Morris's work so much in the Theives' World books, but I did like it pretty well. It didn't have as much adventure and swashbuckling as I normally like, but good characters and it made me pick up another in this series.
January 4, 2010
Prostitution glorified. I have books 1 & 2 now want to read the rest. I found these at a Florida swap meet.
Read
May 9, 2022i got about 40% through it before i stopped. mostly enjoyable but has the trope that is 100% guaranteed to make me put a romance down. i don't know why it surprised me given the genre and the plot, but somehow it did, lmao. also as a side note i find it deeply amusing that morris labels this her most philosophical work. what are they teaching y'all in those stem majors lmao.
November 16, 2015
I've changed my rating for this book, but kept the original review below. It was so hard reading this book because of the brutal treatment among characters and the complex themes throughout the story. The main character - Estri - is searching for her father at the behest of her deceased mother. The "help" she receives along the way from various men is complicated for lack of a better word. She develops feelings for a few of the men she engages in relations with on her journey - Dellin, Sereth, Raet... yet each man also treats her poorly (understatement!). Maybe it is because of her culture and upbringing as a well keepress, but I just found it sad she did not feel she deserved better. That is not to say Estri was pure of heart. She often sought to hurt the men she was involved with or was selfish in her decisions. I did not want to finish after about a third of the book... but over the next evening/morning, I could not stop thinking about the story. I wanted to know if Estri succeeded in finding her father. And of her relationships with the men she had couched; would she have what most readers would consider a "normal" partnership, or continue to submit to someone else's will. I guess that speaks for the quality of the story and writing that I would pick up a story that had bothered me so. I changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars. There are three more books to the series, and I feel like I would like to read them. But not in straight succession; I will probably read some lighter fare to break up the darkness I am sure will come in the subsequent novels.
--ORIGINAL REVIEW-- I could not finish reading this book. Although the writing and world building is excellent; and the high level ideas of the book are good as well... the details are so difficult for me as a reader. Although nothing written is too graphic, the men of this story treat women - particularly the main character Estri like less than garbage... just a vessel to be used. And although Estri accepts this behavior - as she is high-keepress; her job is to bring men pleasure and hopefully bear children - it is too much for my enjoyment. Many years ago, this story might not have bothered me as much, but presently it does very much.
--ORIGINAL REVIEW-- I could not finish reading this book. Although the writing and world building is excellent; and the high level ideas of the book are good as well... the details are so difficult for me as a reader. Although nothing written is too graphic, the men of this story treat women - particularly the main character Estri like less than garbage... just a vessel to be used. And although Estri accepts this behavior - as she is high-keepress; her job is to bring men pleasure and hopefully bear children - it is too much for my enjoyment. Many years ago, this story might not have bothered me as much, but presently it does very much.
October 7, 2016
-I would like to give a big thank you to Perseid Press for the paperback copy of this book!-
You can also find this review on Hedgehog Book Reviews!!
The men and women living on Silistra are governed by a hierarchy of sexual desire and fertility. Infertility is a widespread issue that allows the most sexually appealing women the greatest power. Estri is among the most powerful in the land—she holds the position of the high couch of Silistra. Estri’s mother died during childbirth and she has yet to know much about her father. She is sent on a quest to find her father and discover the secrets that his kind may hold.
In my opinion, this should be a classic science fiction book, especially for those who love female protagonists. Estri is a strong woman who leads with her body and her wit. She was really fun to join on this adventure across strange lands. I thought she was by far the most interesting character in the book, so I naturally paid a lot of attention to her and was left wanting more. I love strong-minded (and, in this case, bodied) women who don’t take any bs from men to whom they don’t owe anything. Go Estri!
I also thought it was cool to hear about the customs of these different societies that Morris so brilliantly created. Estri visits a few places that each have their own customs. I’m not sure how Morris made them so unique, but she found a way to make them all intriguing.
When I got to some of the first sexual scenes, I was a bit confused. I was thinking that Estri was submitting to men as a way of giving up. I soon realized that I was thinking in the mind of someone from our world, not Silistra’s. In actuality, Estri was pleasing these men as an act of power and domination. Switching into this mindset was very freeing.
I was searching for a good science fiction read, and I definitely found it. High Couch of Silistra is full of new cultures and creatures to study. I can’t stop thinking about how I really want to meet a hulion, a big cat with wings and a mane. I definitely want to read more of The Silistra quartet and follow Estri on more adventures. If you’re a science fiction lover (especially with a passion for female protagonists), you’ll love this book.
You can also find this review on Hedgehog Book Reviews!!
The men and women living on Silistra are governed by a hierarchy of sexual desire and fertility. Infertility is a widespread issue that allows the most sexually appealing women the greatest power. Estri is among the most powerful in the land—she holds the position of the high couch of Silistra. Estri’s mother died during childbirth and she has yet to know much about her father. She is sent on a quest to find her father and discover the secrets that his kind may hold.
In my opinion, this should be a classic science fiction book, especially for those who love female protagonists. Estri is a strong woman who leads with her body and her wit. She was really fun to join on this adventure across strange lands. I thought she was by far the most interesting character in the book, so I naturally paid a lot of attention to her and was left wanting more. I love strong-minded (and, in this case, bodied) women who don’t take any bs from men to whom they don’t owe anything. Go Estri!
I also thought it was cool to hear about the customs of these different societies that Morris so brilliantly created. Estri visits a few places that each have their own customs. I’m not sure how Morris made them so unique, but she found a way to make them all intriguing.
When I got to some of the first sexual scenes, I was a bit confused. I was thinking that Estri was submitting to men as a way of giving up. I soon realized that I was thinking in the mind of someone from our world, not Silistra’s. In actuality, Estri was pleasing these men as an act of power and domination. Switching into this mindset was very freeing.
I was searching for a good science fiction read, and I definitely found it. High Couch of Silistra is full of new cultures and creatures to study. I can’t stop thinking about how I really want to meet a hulion, a big cat with wings and a mane. I definitely want to read more of The Silistra quartet and follow Estri on more adventures. If you’re a science fiction lover (especially with a passion for female protagonists), you’ll love this book.
November 27, 2015
No one can argue with Janet Morris's skill in creating beautifully written text. Her prose is of a standard not often seen and the imagery it provokes is almost without equal, even when it's a book written (and please don't kill me) before I was born. The content remains fresh, which is the hallmark of a classic.
The cover from 1977 is dated, yet one can imagine it was fresh and compelling when first released. 50 Shades of Grey it is not--hiding its content beneath a cover that gives little clue to what lies between its pages. I don't mind the older cover though perhaps it hints at more salacious aspects of the book.
And salacious it is. At its heart, it's more than just sci-fi/fantasy. It is an honest exploration of the female psyche and sexual relations. A world where reproduction is held to be in utmost importance, yet the females are not bound to one male and considered the property of father or spouse, but rather are .
There are restrictions and regulations, though, the women are not totally free, and those that are chosen to be well-keepresses are raised with the expectation of fulfilling male desire. It is an unflinching look at what amounts to be ritual prostitution and as a writer currently undertaking to write about Inanna, I find it to be a fantastic example of how to approach the subject with dignity.
What I found most disconcerting was Estri's naivety when compared to her age, abilities and education. Though this is the first book in a quartet and she's on a journey to discover who she really is, there was more than once when I found myself ever so slightly annoyed with the situations she'd find herself in and the men gaining control over her. I can understand how for some readers parts of the book would be too much. But I do think that one has to look at her experiences from her point of view rather than with modern sensibilities if one is to be able to enjoy the book.
Would I recommend this to everyone? I don't think so, but I do know there are many that would enjoy it and would look to read the remaining three books
The cover from 1977 is dated, yet one can imagine it was fresh and compelling when first released. 50 Shades of Grey it is not--hiding its content beneath a cover that gives little clue to what lies between its pages. I don't mind the older cover though perhaps it hints at more salacious aspects of the book.
And salacious it is. At its heart, it's more than just sci-fi/fantasy. It is an honest exploration of the female psyche and sexual relations. A world where reproduction is held to be in utmost importance, yet the females are not bound to one male and considered the property of father or spouse, but rather are .
There are restrictions and regulations, though, the women are not totally free, and those that are chosen to be well-keepresses are raised with the expectation of fulfilling male desire. It is an unflinching look at what amounts to be ritual prostitution and as a writer currently undertaking to write about Inanna, I find it to be a fantastic example of how to approach the subject with dignity.
What I found most disconcerting was Estri's naivety when compared to her age, abilities and education. Though this is the first book in a quartet and she's on a journey to discover who she really is, there was more than once when I found myself ever so slightly annoyed with the situations she'd find herself in and the men gaining control over her. I can understand how for some readers parts of the book would be too much. But I do think that one has to look at her experiences from her point of view rather than with modern sensibilities if one is to be able to enjoy the book.
Would I recommend this to everyone? I don't think so, but I do know there are many that would enjoy it and would look to read the remaining three books
May 9, 2016
I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am simply stunned by the interpretations of this work by other reviewers. The indication seems to be that they find this book to be feminist. The main character is strong and confident in her sexuality...until the author does everything in her power to rip that away and prove to the reader that her only strength and power is that granted to her by the men in her life. She then thanks them for the granting... The reviewers feel that this is very enlightened for the 70...and appallingly that may be so, but nearly fifty years later I would not recommend this book unless you want to see how far women have come...and how far we have yet to go.
I am simply stunned by the interpretations of this work by other reviewers. The indication seems to be that they find this book to be feminist. The main character is strong and confident in her sexuality...until the author does everything in her power to rip that away and prove to the reader that her only strength and power is that granted to her by the men in her life. She then thanks them for the granting... The reviewers feel that this is very enlightened for the 70...and appallingly that may be so, but nearly fifty years later I would not recommend this book unless you want to see how far women have come...and how far we have yet to go.
November 25, 2015
This was a very entertaining book, but I'd stop short of calling it feminist or particularly insightful into female sexuality. The woman in this book becomes enthralled by lovers of increasing cruelty from one to the next. The premise seems to be that men or women who embrace their inner beast are the most enlightened and superior. I'm not arguing that physical domination isn't sometimes a very sexy thing, but this story isn't really getting that right, in my opinion. Glorifying prostitution is a bit precarious and not very feminist either. However, aside from disagreeing with this label of "feminist", it's a very well told, interesting story and well worth reading for that reason!
October 22, 2017
A review said this book was really erotic and smutty and kinda feminist. I found it really dull, and the sex vague and boring. There is a lot of lengthy elaborate descriptions that attempt to create fantastical worlds of beauty. They instead bored the crap out of me. I was offended by the way the protagonist became aroused and obsessed with the most recent man to demean and degraded her. Power play is reduced to a dull and depressing power play where a “powerful” woman’s biggest goal is becoming pregnant by a dominant asshole prick. GAG!
could-not-finish
December 30, 2016I couldn't finish the book. First off, I'm not big on fantasy novels and this novel's beginning seemed full of it. And then the rape but not really, then the real rape, then the degradation but she's enjoying it, I just can't take it. No rating because I didn't finish it.
October 2, 2016
I think that, like a lot of readers, I didn't quite know what to make of this book. Is it a brilliant examination of sexuality and gender, or a highly disturbing portrayal of rape fantasies? The answer is probably: both. In any case, it will certainly make you think hard about sex, gender, and consent.
First things first: as a work of fantasy/science fantasy it is excellent. It melds fantasy and sci-fi tropes to create a galaxy full of alien races where space travel is normal, but most of the action takes place on a low-tech world where powers we would be more likely to think of as "magic," such as mind-reading and foresight, are common. The world and its culture are described in all their exotic detail, but without the descriptions being tedious or forced. And the world IS is exotic and refreshingly different from other fantasy worlds I've encountered: the concept of chaldra (essentially duty), the Wells, the exotic foods and drugs that the characters consume--all of this comes together to create the impression of a culture that is complex yet coherent, unique yet recognizable, luxurious yet harsh. Furthermore, the decision to narrate the story from a single female character's point of view, and to eschew grand battle scenes and so on in favor of intrigue, scheming, and maneuvering, all seen from close range, makes this a very different sort of a story than the bulk of fantasy and sci-fi out there.
And as for the main character's point of view...this is where things become ambiguous (which is not a bad thing in fiction). Reproduction has become difficult for the human inhabitants of this world, and in order to give women the best chance of conceiving as possible, prostitution is common and socially acceptable. Many women work as Well-women (the Wells are essentially high-class brothels) or coin-girls (street hookers, basically) as a way to ensure access to as many sexual partners as possible, thus increasing their likelihood of bearing a child. Estri (our heroine), is the Well-Keepress of Astria, the best of the Wells. Society, especially that surrounding the Wells, is semi-matriarchal, and, as mentioned above, women actively seek out sexual partners. In many ways the treatment of sexuality and gender in this novel throws our own conceptions of it on its head.
And yet, and yet, these well-women are treated as chattel, with no choice as to who their sexual partners are--any man with money can buy their services, and they cannot refuse them. Estri herself suffers numerous episodes of rather appalling sexual abuse, some of which she brushes off as inconsequential, and some of which she almost enjoys, or at least, still has warm feelings for its perpetrators afterwards. As the novel progresses she even seeks out a partner who humiliates her and makes her feel inferior, in part because of those very qualities.
But, and this is important, it is always Estri who ends up as the survivor and the "winner," if you will, of these encounters. Her rapists are killed, and her bullying and abusive partners change their attitude towards her or are discredited and disempowered, while she herself gains almost god-like powers as the book progresses. Despite its apparent preoccupation with sex, the story, and Estri herself, seem to say that ultimately sex is just not that important, and that those who put too much stock in it, or try to use it to gain power over another, are wasting their time and chasing after something they can never catch. Estri's story is not so much the story of a woman who revels in sexual exploitation and degradation as the story of a woman who has the leave the world of her mother behind--literally, in her case--and, clawing and fighting, make her way through the dangers of the world of her father, learning how to deal with the inevitable danger and abuse that will fall upon a woman who makes that step, until she can assimilate both the power of the mother AND the father, and take her rightful place in the world. This is not a simple read, even if it is a riveting one, but it is certainly provocative, challenging, and unique.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First things first: as a work of fantasy/science fantasy it is excellent. It melds fantasy and sci-fi tropes to create a galaxy full of alien races where space travel is normal, but most of the action takes place on a low-tech world where powers we would be more likely to think of as "magic," such as mind-reading and foresight, are common. The world and its culture are described in all their exotic detail, but without the descriptions being tedious or forced. And the world IS is exotic and refreshingly different from other fantasy worlds I've encountered: the concept of chaldra (essentially duty), the Wells, the exotic foods and drugs that the characters consume--all of this comes together to create the impression of a culture that is complex yet coherent, unique yet recognizable, luxurious yet harsh. Furthermore, the decision to narrate the story from a single female character's point of view, and to eschew grand battle scenes and so on in favor of intrigue, scheming, and maneuvering, all seen from close range, makes this a very different sort of a story than the bulk of fantasy and sci-fi out there.
And as for the main character's point of view...this is where things become ambiguous (which is not a bad thing in fiction). Reproduction has become difficult for the human inhabitants of this world, and in order to give women the best chance of conceiving as possible, prostitution is common and socially acceptable. Many women work as Well-women (the Wells are essentially high-class brothels) or coin-girls (street hookers, basically) as a way to ensure access to as many sexual partners as possible, thus increasing their likelihood of bearing a child. Estri (our heroine), is the Well-Keepress of Astria, the best of the Wells. Society, especially that surrounding the Wells, is semi-matriarchal, and, as mentioned above, women actively seek out sexual partners. In many ways the treatment of sexuality and gender in this novel throws our own conceptions of it on its head.
And yet, and yet, these well-women are treated as chattel, with no choice as to who their sexual partners are--any man with money can buy their services, and they cannot refuse them. Estri herself suffers numerous episodes of rather appalling sexual abuse, some of which she brushes off as inconsequential, and some of which she almost enjoys, or at least, still has warm feelings for its perpetrators afterwards. As the novel progresses she even seeks out a partner who humiliates her and makes her feel inferior, in part because of those very qualities.
But, and this is important, it is always Estri who ends up as the survivor and the "winner," if you will, of these encounters. Her rapists are killed, and her bullying and abusive partners change their attitude towards her or are discredited and disempowered, while she herself gains almost god-like powers as the book progresses. Despite its apparent preoccupation with sex, the story, and Estri herself, seem to say that ultimately sex is just not that important, and that those who put too much stock in it, or try to use it to gain power over another, are wasting their time and chasing after something they can never catch. Estri's story is not so much the story of a woman who revels in sexual exploitation and degradation as the story of a woman who has the leave the world of her mother behind--literally, in her case--and, clawing and fighting, make her way through the dangers of the world of her father, learning how to deal with the inevitable danger and abuse that will fall upon a woman who makes that step, until she can assimilate both the power of the mother AND the father, and take her rightful place in the world. This is not a simple read, even if it is a riveting one, but it is certainly provocative, challenging, and unique.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2013
This review originally appeared:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
The High Couch of Silistra by Janet Morris is set on a post-apocalyptic planet that had been ravaged by nuclear war. Genetic mutations have made it very difficult to procreate, and so society has been arranged to glorify promiscuity in the hopes that some genetic combinations may prove fruitful. Civilization is centered around the Wells, which are pretty much centers of prostitution, and women hold most of the power in society.
When Estri, the Well-Keepress of Astria, receives a mysterious letter detailing her conception, she begins a journey to discover more about her past and origins. She hopes that if she is able to find out who her alien father is, she might learn more about herself and what kind of man would allow her to produce a child. However, for most of the novel, she just wanders around and has kinky sex with a lot of people. Mind you, I don’t mind sex in my pulp fiction novels (Case in point: I strangely enjoy the John Norman’s Gor novels), but in High Couch of Silistra, it was too much of a distraction from an otherwise very interesting plot. The last 50 or so pages of the novel were a drastic improvement, and as such, I’d be willing to pick up the next book in the series if I ever come across it at a used book sale. At the same time, I wouldn’t go as far as actually recommending High Couch of Silistra unless you are extremely bored.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.wordpr...
The High Couch of Silistra by Janet Morris is set on a post-apocalyptic planet that had been ravaged by nuclear war. Genetic mutations have made it very difficult to procreate, and so society has been arranged to glorify promiscuity in the hopes that some genetic combinations may prove fruitful. Civilization is centered around the Wells, which are pretty much centers of prostitution, and women hold most of the power in society.
When Estri, the Well-Keepress of Astria, receives a mysterious letter detailing her conception, she begins a journey to discover more about her past and origins. She hopes that if she is able to find out who her alien father is, she might learn more about herself and what kind of man would allow her to produce a child. However, for most of the novel, she just wanders around and has kinky sex with a lot of people. Mind you, I don’t mind sex in my pulp fiction novels (Case in point: I strangely enjoy the John Norman’s Gor novels), but in High Couch of Silistra, it was too much of a distraction from an otherwise very interesting plot. The last 50 or so pages of the novel were a drastic improvement, and as such, I’d be willing to pick up the next book in the series if I ever come across it at a used book sale. At the same time, I wouldn’t go as far as actually recommending High Couch of Silistra unless you are extremely bored.
February 25, 2017
I'm too woke for this shit.
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