I really loved this book. The three linked tales, with three unconventional lead characters, pick a deft path through questions of what family membersI really loved this book. The three linked tales, with three unconventional lead characters, pick a deft path through questions of what family members owe to one another, the relationship between religion and the truth, and how much of our lives are determined from birth. They’re also funny and lively, with unpredictable twists!
Kaila and Sebastien’s story begins in the first part of the book, a romp that turns serious when their plan for revenge is successful. The next story, the eponymous ‘The Red Man’, introduces Ymke; it’s a beautiful character study of a family scraping a living on the borders of a war between nobles, a conflict that could destroy their lives without even noticing. I loved the natural way Ymke’s disability and its consequences were threaded through the story.
By the third and final tale, when all three characters meet up and work together, it’s a joy to see how they’ve grown and developed. Of course, two con artists (one with a longsword) and a mistreated professional scribe can concoct an even bigger scheme than two of them alone... but who are they hurting, who are they helping, and will they lose control of what they’ve created?
The final treat of the book is the afterword, in which the writers describe their process of coming up with the stories and—my favourite part—the influences on the cultural geography they created for Kaila, Ymke and Sebastien to roam around. Yoon Ha Lee’s Hexarchate Stories also had detailed author’s notes for each piece. I hope this is a trend we’ll see continuing.
Recommended for anyone who loves unlikely heroes, girls with swords, found family and just desserts....more
I pre-ordered this book and got it when it first came out, but put off reading it for ages, I think because I was afraid I wouldn’t like it as much asI pre-ordered this book and got it when it first came out, but put off reading it for ages, I think because I was afraid I wouldn’t like it as much as the Imperial Radch trilogy. Thanks to a friend who reviewed it enthusiastically, I finally got around to it and I’m extremely pleased I did! Leckie’s worldbuilding feels mature and solid, and it’s a delight to explore her universe from another angle, with such engaging characters....more
I loved the characters of this novel (especially the irascible Rallya!), the queer romance, the plotting and the scifi.
Rafe, the amnesiac quasi-ingenuI loved the characters of this novel (especially the irascible Rallya!), the queer romance, the plotting and the scifi.
Rafe, the amnesiac quasi-ingenu with a mysterious past, could have become a stereotype in another writer’s hands, but Wright makes him very human. The other main characters—the ship Bhattya’s officers (or Three), Rallya, Vidar and Joshim—have a rapport that shows clearly the decades they’ve worked together.
In terms of tech, the webbers’ immersion into the web, with their artificially-extended nervous systems and physical identification with their ships, represents a vision of VR and networking that seems peculiarly 80s, which is by no means to say old-fashioned: I miss the consideration of embodied consciousness in modern depictions of this kind of technology. I wish that the non-human aliens had made more of an appearance in the plot, but that’s a very minor complaint. Conversely, the history of the two empires and their immortal Emperors was shown with just the right amount of detail, leaving plenty of room for the imagination to work while leaving no doubt about the stakes involved.
A Matter of Oaths is a must-read for fans of the new wave of queer scifi, as Arden (who recommended this book to me) described it. It’s a true shame that it was out of print for so long, but this is a fine moment for its reemergence!...more
I read the English translation, which is simply titled Vaesen (but I was happy to recognise and be able to translate the few Swedish words scatteredI read the English translation, which is simply titled Vaesen (but I was happy to recognise and be able to translate the few Swedish words scattered here and there!). I love this book, which was a present from someone who knows how much I like both monsters and Scandinavia. The otherworldly beings described are many and various, the illustrations gorgeous, and the tone strikes the perfect balance between matter-of-fact and poetic....more
An immensely impressive, gorgeously written book, heartrending and wonderful. I would gladly have read an entire novel about any of Esi and Effia'sAn immensely impressive, gorgeously written book, heartrending and wonderful. I would gladly have read an entire novel about any of Esi and Effia's descendents and their families. It astonishes me that this was Yaa Gyasi's debut novel, and I fervently look forward to reading more of her work....more
I knew Stone Butch Blues was an important book, but nobody told me how beautifully written it was. It’s outstandingly beautiful, even when it’s fullI knew Stone Butch Blues was an important book, but nobody told me how beautifully written it was. It’s outstandingly beautiful, even when it’s full of pain and confusion and hard facts....more
A magnificent metafictional work, rather like a House of Leaves with fandom in place of the House. The characterisation of early-2000s phpBB denizensA magnificent metafictional work, rather like a House of Leaves with fandom in place of the House. The characterisation of early-2000s phpBB denizens was wonderfully handled....more
I adored this book and wanted it to go on forever; now it’s finished, I am bereft and will be wailing continuously until at least next June, when theI adored this book and wanted it to go on forever; now it’s finished, I am bereft and will be wailing continuously until at least next June, when the sequel comes out....more
**spoiler alert** I enjoyed the historical setting of this novel and the descriptions of the work very much, though I felt deeply suspicious of how**spoiler alert** I enjoyed the historical setting of this novel and the descriptions of the work very much, though I felt deeply suspicious of how conveniently Jean-Baptiste and Héloïse’s relationship worked out....more
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