An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is an excerpt of a more detailed review from my blog The ConAn eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is an excerpt of a more detailed review from my blog The Conversationalist.
He, She and It was a revelation to me, I’m so glad I got to read this and am so glad that somehow this book came to me exactly when I needed it. There is as much about this book that is literary as science fiction, to the benefit of the book and the story it tells. It has incredible depth and is written beautifully, with poignancy that I think is rare to find.
Relationships are central to this book, relationships of family, of parent and child, of community, of spousal partnership, of professional collaboration. Although many readers may centre on the romantic relationships portrayed in the book, these make sense only in the context of all the other relationships that are part of the tapestry of this book. They do not exist in a vacuum or in isolation from the rest of the story.
We follow Shira’s point of view as the dominant protagonist, although Yod and Malkah’s point of view features as well. The worldbuilding for this story is deft. We start with a picture of an enclave, such as we might imagine in any future science fiction city, perfectly coifed and artificial, everything manufactured – the suggestion of control and surveillance is everywhere. We are then introduced to the free city Tivkah, resisting the multi-corporations and having enough skill and leverage to hold onto tenuous freedom and the city’s prized democratic community. Upon losing custody of her son, Shira flees the multicorporate enclave she is employed by and returns to Tivkah, her childhood home. She takes up a position with the scientist Avram to assist him in the socialisation of his cyborg creation Yod.
The resolution of this book is one I found deeply satisfying, although it wasn’t an ending as such. Instead it felt like a change, where the people whose lives I’d followed for some time were about to embark on a new era of their lives, but the chapter for this part was over and it was time to part. I valued that and it is a significant part of the poignancy that I observed as part of the book. There is hope and optimism amidst the realism of living in a dystopia. But people live their lives, they do the best they can with what they have, they value the people and ideologies that are important to them. As do we all. Perhaps with less grace than those in the free city of Tivkah.
He, She and It is profound and I firmly believe one that will yield much more upon rereading. I loved the abiding feminism in this book where there were so many female characters and relationships between women in all kinds of ways. Women performed all kinds of roles, from the familial and maternal, to great scientific works, piracy, and military defence. The breadth of capability, of choice and recognition of both was startling and wonderful to me. And this is why I don’t think that this is a book of romance, despite that it is one of the plot arcs that is used to contextualise so much of the story. It is like having a spine in the human body – our spine does not define us, but it is critical and unique. Complexities surrounding relationships between parent and child, family in general are also similarly critical to the telling of this story – they are not less important than romantic relationships.
I loved this book, I count it among those I loved best in my reading this year. Although first published in 1991, He, She and It tells as compelling and profound a story in 2016 as it did when it was first published. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who loves a really good science fiction novel. Unlike many dystopian stories, this book is not at all grim, there is no constant sense of doom. Instead, this book is about life, living and problem-solving as well as possible in a future where technology is rampant and equal parts the solution and the problem to the climate change-ravaged future portrayed....more
An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is an excerpt from a longer and more thoughtful review on myAn eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is an excerpt from a longer and more thoughtful review on my blog The Conversationalist.
There is so much to love about this book, and it’s similar in what was there to love in the first book. Stories of found and chosen family, of friendship and relationships that are negotiated and complex. Within the story there is queerness and differences in gender identity explored, but it’s not trite or token, but built into the story and character interactions without also ever being ‘the point’ of the character to be ‘the genderqueer one’ – it’s simply one personality trait amongst many inherent to the character, and this is true of the others as well. It’s warm and refreshing and it means I can see myself in the story – even if I’m not explicitly there, I’d fit, I’d make sense, I wouldn’t be the villain, nor outcast necessarily and that’s always a win for me. There’s spaceships and video games, virtual reality, storytelling, tech and hacking, politics and cultural differences between groups of sentients. There is so much scope in this universe that Chambers has created and I can’t imagine a book in this universe that I wouldn’t jump at the chance to read.
If you enjoy space opera, particularly with an optimistic view, you will enjoy this. If you enjoy books with heartwarming characters you can fall in love with and feel bereft without, you will enjoy this. If you want a coming-of-age story with a difference, with sentient AIs and everyday-heroes then you’ll enjoy this. The writing is delightful, I read this voraciously and loved every second. The book came to life for me and I want to reread it again already – it’s incredible and again, one of the best books I’ve read this year....more
I loved this story, benevolent AI motivated by cat pictures! How can I not love this? I know there's a deeper meaning to be read from this in relationI loved this story, benevolent AI motivated by cat pictures! How can I not love this? I know there's a deeper meaning to be read from this in relation to metaphor and religion, fate and so forth but honestly, I'm in it for the pure joy of how delightful this was to read. ...more
Wow, this was so hyped for me by others that I was worried it wouldn't live up to it. I needn't have worried, this was so freaking awesome! I loved i Wow, this was so hyped for me by others that I was worried it wouldn't live up to it. I needn't have worried, this was so freaking awesome! I loved it wholeheartedly! The characters, the stories, the interaction, Kamala's Ms Marvel, her family background worrying over her, the advice she receives from her Temple. Everything was just note perfect, the writing was a joy and the art just complimented perfectly. So much love for this. ...more
I love these graphic novels so hard. I love the adventures, I love the friendship, I love the ridiculousness! I love that it creates such a broad contI love these graphic novels so hard. I love the adventures, I love the friendship, I love the ridiculousness! I love that it creates such a broad context for being a Lumberjane and therefore female, female-identifying, feminine. All these things are applicable and it's just the best thing. I'm so in love and books like this just... make me feel better about the world and my place in it. I want these to continue to be read and read and reread by so many kids and teens. But also for us adults who needed a little more of this when we were growing up. Hits me right in the Feels that idea does (and it's a repeat concept that is surfacing in my reading appreciation thoughts so far this year). I just want to devour all of these and let them fill me up. I'm so in love. I cannot do anything but gush. ...more
OMG I LOVED THIS SO HARD! I am so in love with this comic it's *ridiculous*. I love the art, I love the characters, I love how they all work together,OMG I LOVED THIS SO HARD! I am so in love with this comic it's *ridiculous*. I love the art, I love the characters, I love how they all work together, work things out, have adventures! It's marvellous! I'm so hooked :D...more
Imma review this here now, and assume that by the end of the year I'll be doing a more comprehensive glee!love filled epic appreciation review. #foresImma review this here now, and assume that by the end of the year I'll be doing a more comprehensive glee!love filled epic appreciation review. #foreshadowing. I loved this so very much! It was everything that Renay and Ana promised me via Fangirl Happy Hour! Friendship to the max! Kitten holy! Adventures! Badges and Scouting! I WANT TO BE A LUMBERJANE SO BADLY! *ahem* No coherence to this review, I just loved it. Officially need to create a shelf called 'unicorn chasers' just so I can add this to it (previously this was reserved for television media of the fluffy-happy-make-me-feel-better variety. Lumberjanes absolutely counts)!
What an interesting format this book comes in! I was engaged by the confidentialAn excerpt from my more detailed review over at The Conversationalist:
What an interesting format this book comes in! I was engaged by the confidential file release style of storytelling, it was interesting and let the story unfold in an unusual way. I will say that it is not very accessible, the art is gorgeous but hard to appreciate if you're not great at holding books, or reading it on a phone screen (as I was). There were sections I skipped because I couldn't zoom in to read some of the artistic text. However, I enjoyed the story so much that it didn't do much to take away from the experience for me. I think this is perhaps something that the publisher would do well to consider for the future books - please keep the art, but please make it more accessible.
I really liked Kady as a protagonist, she was an interesting mix of typical teenage angst mixed with the trauma of having her whole life fall apart, both when the illegal colony was attacked and at several points while on the ship. This is an intense read - the suspense of the story is gripping and at times I found I needed to either put it down for a bit or keep reading because of the story intensity. I was so invested in finding out what happened, what was happening as the story unfolded. I thought it raised some interesting notions about AI, about hacking and government, transparency, authority and ethics in crisis situations.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the rest of the series. ...more
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is without question one of the best books I've read this yearAn excerpt of my review from The Conversationalist:
The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet is without question one of the best books I've read this year, and I am sad that it took me so long to get to it. Optimistic space opera, space ships, friendship, found family, a wonderful array of characters I fell in love with immediately and the most interesting take on wormhole construction yet.
This book hits almost every button I think I have for stories that make me fall in love instantly. I got galactic civilisations, thoughtful interesting alien cultures which were neither tokenised nor stereotyped. Space travel and flight really involved the travelling part and that was an excellent part of the story narrative. I loved that I got a sense of what it was like to be part of a crew on a ship where there could be many weeks between docking into ports and what that looks like in terms of interpersonal skills and ship management. Oh, the emotional intelligence work involved here it was just gorgeous! I'm all a-swoon about it.
This book is like taking a deep breath of fresh air, and being hugged by all its wonderful words. I'm so in love with this. ...more
An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'd usually post an excerpt and direct people to the full review oAn eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'd usually post an excerpt and direct people to the full review on my blog The Conversationalist, but it's too awesome and important a book to chance that people won't see why I think that so, here is my review in full:
How have I not read any of Seanan McGure’s work before?! Especially given my love of urban fantasy?! In any case, this was my first foray into McGuire’s work and I could not put the book down. Every Heart a Doorway is simply magnificent and is an instant favourite for 2016, without question.
Every Heart a Doorway has one of the most interesting fantasy premises I’ve come across in a long time and it’s beautifully executed. The world building for the story is sublime and I want to read so many more stories set in this universe! Not only were the setting and world building engaging, the characters leapt off the page and brought the story to life for me. I could imagine their voices, the way they looked, everything so clearly.
My heart went out to Nancy and I was particularly taken by her experience having tumbled into a world that wasn’t sunshine and rainbows, as some of the worlds in the books were described, but one that is more silent, deeper and a bit darker. I am absolutely a fan of sunshine, unicorns and rainbows without question, but my experience of that is enhanced when there is shadow and darkness to the lightheartedness. I also love how well McGuire demonstrates that sunshine and rainbows do not inherently equal benevolence or fairness, and that the darker or creepier worlds are not necessarily malevolent or evil.
What especially struck me about this novella, and I think it’s an aspect that makes this particularly good reading for young/new adults is the way in which Nancy experiences isolation and difficulty with her family after she returns from her world. Nancy’s experience parallels the experience of many who are struggling personally with something that their families don’t or can’t understand. Across the experiences of other characters in the novel like Kade, Jack, Jill and Sumi, the concept of family and the relationship with family as being complex, fraught and difficult on several levels is explored including having family, not having family, being loved and wanted, or unwanted and misunderstood by family.
Additionally, the novella includes a spectrum of characters with different experiences, not all of them are white, one is asexual and another is transgendered, and this too mirrors the experience of people reading who want to see themselves in fiction, and see how other characters think about their lives, feelings and experiences and process them. I sincerely wish I had a book like this for when I was growing up, I needed this book growing up and I needed it now to look back on my past and growing up and the impact of being misunderstood and out of place on me. That profound sense of not belonging so much that you lose yourself in fantasy trying to cope – for the characters in the story that’s more literal than metaphorical but it really hit home for me. Wanting to belong and trying to find that place, finding it and losing it, trying to find a new sense of home and belonging afterwards. This story is profound on several levels.
I also love the overt feminism of the story in considering why there are so many more girls than boys who go through secret doors into hidden worlds. The idea of boys being too loud to be easily missed, and the expectations and assumptions about how boys play and what will happen to them versus the way in which we seek to protect girls, but also how we impose upon them a silence and stillness that means that it is easier for them to be misplaced, should they find a door and go wandering. This is a pointed commentary and it draws on the generalisations bound up in traditional gender roles reflecting not only a bitter truth contained within, but also the constraint that is imposed upon people to be, to not be, to conform a certain way.
I have no criticisms to level at this novella, as one reviewer put it: it’s damn near perfect. It packs an emotional punch, it’s beautifully written, the length is accessible – it’s neither too long nor too short and it leaves you wanting more. I am my own doorway, I am the only one who gets to choose my story and I make the decisions that govern my narrative. Every Heart a Doorway will stay with me for the rest of my life.
An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Also read for the Australian Women Writers Challenge, and one of An eARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Also read for the Australian Women Writers Challenge, and one of my best books of the year.
Den of Wolves is a superb conclusion to the Blackthorn and Grim trilogy. I have loved this series so much, it captivated me from the very beginning. I adore these characters, my heart has wept and broken with theirs, it has exalted with theirs and it has taken quiet joy in small things, justice and friendship as theirs has. I can’t be anything other than sentimental about this book, it was glorious. If you want a contained example of epic/high fantasy done well, this is an excellent example. Especially if you’re done with tired fantasy tropes of magical chosen one on a quest stories and so forth. Read this.
In particular, one of the things I loved most about these books is the consistent character development that the key protagonists Blackthorn and Grim went through. Some of their development they achieved through their relationship with one another, but they also developed independently of one another. The rich depth to these characters and their background stories, their reason for being, their reason for continuing on was compelling from the start, and no more so than this book. Blackthorn still wrestles daily with her geas where she cannot pursue vengeance for her family and the people she once spoke up for. Her discomfort with standing by idly while wrong continues to be perpetuated resonates with me. It takes Grim to remind her that rushing into vengeance that results only in futility and not in any change is pointless, and I value that too.
One of Blackthorn’s defining characteristics is her anger. Given my own discomfort with my anger, she is a fascinating character to explore this emotional experience with. Her anger changes over time, it is tempered but never decreases. It is leashed, but never far from the surface. It is clear that Blackthorn is at times consumed by her anger, that it controls her life rather than herself, but that too is part of the story and her learning. In Den of Wolves the shape of her anger has purpose, and though it is impatient and she battles with the need to do something, she also puts her anger to work doing what she can.
We finally see a conclusion to the overarching plot in this series with Den of Wolves. There is the culmination to Blackthorn’s quest for vengeance, but it occurs in a rather unusual way. It was such a satisfying vengeance, I felt like all the ways in which it needed to be fair were observed, all the ways in which acknowledgement of wrongs that could never be righted occurred, and that truly justice was done. There’s an idealism in how this book concluded, and thus how the series concluded that is especially attractive to me right now. This book and series are excellent for comfort reading if you need to know that everything will actually be okay, but that it will not be hand-waved away and the ending will matter.
Marillier is a very solid and satisfying author of fantasy, she never fails to deliver a book that is compelling, has depth, extols the virtues of kindness and makes you want to turn page after page, long after the hour of bedtime has come and gone. She is a favourite author of mine – and has been since I first picked up her books. I sincerely want to put this book and series in the hands of anyone who professes to appreciate fantasy. Den of Wolves is a magnificent conclusion to an outstanding series, and shows the brilliance of Marillier as an author....more
Sometimes you get to read a book like The Book of Phoenix and simply go: Wow. What an incredible story. I couFrom my review at The Conversationalist:
Sometimes you get to read a book like The Book of Phoenix and simply go: Wow. What an incredible story. I couldn't put this down once I started, it was such a compelling read. I loved Phoenix's character and her self discovery as the story unfolds. I love the way that this is a story of a dystopia, and yet is not without hope - it's not so grim that I can't bear to read. I wish more authors remembered the importance of emotional pay off with something like dystopias - you have to want something out of it, and for me that's always some kind of emotional salve for the pain and awfulness experienced. The Book of Phoenix is a book about humanity and heroes, of saving and destroying the world
Another aspect of this book that I loved was its anger. There is such a profound rage that is a fundamental and crucial part of this story and its telling. This anger was part of what made the book so compelling but it wasn't rage without focus, instead it was rage that both confronts and invites you to also be angry. And I was, and I revelled in it - not something I usually say about the experience of anger. The way anger works in The Book of Phoenix is masterful.
I also loved the other romantic threads that weave through the story. I loved Phoenix's connection with Saeed and their romance together, it felt very real to me even though they are engineered beyond ordinary human constraints. I also loved that even after Phoenix though Saeed lost to her, she did not give up on love, but instead found it unexpectedly in a new place, in a new life she had created... even if that was a short lived joy it was also one that felt very real. That Saeed is returned to her is at no point twee, it makes sense and is believable - all of their interactions and conversations together are. I felt for them and breathed with them. Lastly, I loved the romance with the narrator in the beginning of the story with his wife as nomads and how his going off to wander was a part of how their love for one another endured. There was such a rich tapestry that explored love in this book - friendship, mother love, Earth love, and more.
I cannot say enough good things about this story, it's one of the best things I've read this year, I highly recommend this - and I look forward to the other stories in this universe....more
I continue to love the hell out of this series and Kaylin. I love the journeys, I love that she's so flawed and that while she has this unknown magicaI continue to love the hell out of this series and Kaylin. I love the journeys, I love that she's so flawed and that while she has this unknown magical capability/power, she's really limited with it too. I love Helen and the home, I loved Gilbert and Kattea! I am intrigued by the faceoff between Nightshade and Helen! Bellusdeo is just so freaking awesome and I just adore her! I also love that the Emperor is actually trying to figure out how to make friends properly with her. This is not a critical review, this is a gushing review because I just spent a stressful week reading bits of this wonderful book from a beloved series, any moment I could. I'm all hearts about this. ...more
Honestly I think that 'Ancillary Mercy' is my favourite of the trilogy. I loved the way in which issues of colonialism, conquering and expansion were Honestly I think that 'Ancillary Mercy' is my favourite of the trilogy. I loved the way in which issues of colonialism, conquering and expansion were tackled even further, with several characters being deeply discomforted, making us the reader really consider things from several perspectives. Personhood and the personal in relation to the political and colonialism are core concepts to this book and it is Breq who wrestles most.
Also, what is this idea of sentience, of personhood - what then is the responsibility of those who realise sentience, or recognise sentience? I loved that by now the reader is invested in several characters, that the other character are as important to the story as Breq. I still love the tea drinking, the gloves and politeness, the idea of civilisation and what that means - the trappings and the realities.
I sincerely hope to read more from the Presgr point of view, the character was so entertaining! Far from simplistic comic relief, this character provides a truly alien perspective that at times is critically valuable to Breq and the others around her in finding their way through the difficulties posed by the appearance and threat of Anaander Mianaai.
Honestly I can't wait to reread these again as one big story - I think they'd be marvellous to read as an omnibus (Hat tip to Alex for that comment). I'm sad this trilogy is done, but it was done *brilliantly* and that leaves me ecstatic. It's worth noting that there are few series that I read knowing I want to reread them, that they've become instant favourites, but this trilogy is definitely among them. ...more
Read as part of the reading challenge I'm helping to coordinate: A Journey Through the Twelve Planets. This is the first novel to be reviewed, my fullRead as part of the reading challenge I'm helping to coordinate: A Journey Through the Twelve Planets. This is the first novel to be reviewed, my full review can be found on my blog The Conversationalist, but here is an excerpt:
There was so much to enjoy about these stories, diverse characters and situations, points of view, parallels to the present day that were nicely pointed. I loved that both Melbourne and Perth were so recognisable to me! I love that the apocalypse has already prompted adaptive changes from the inhabitants of Nightside – the children see better in the dark for example. There are so many women here and they are simply capable and interesting in their own way – even Nerina who is cast as perhaps the only unlikable character in the book. I almost didn’t notice this because it just seemed so normal and comfortable to read – and then I remembered how rare that is. Also, I love that this is not a gritty story of horror-survival but one of massive change, but still with community at its heart. I just want to reiterate how much I’d love a novel from this world, it’s so interesting and I want to spend more time here....more
I like to think that I’m someone who appreciates history. I like to think I have an interest. If I’m honest, it’s an interest where I’m easily distracted and I’ve rarely taken the time or opportunity to dig deep into the history of something and really become immersed. So reading this collection by Tansy I see what comes out of the possibility of such immersion – where you come out the other side of what can be factually established, what is theorised, what evidence tells us (what little there is for women’s history at least), and into the realm of pure speculation. The result is glorious.
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