[November] Golden Witchbreed

[imyril]

I'm getting absent-minded - I forgot to add our upcoming SciFiMonth read-along to the board!

We'll be reading Mary Gentle's planetary romance Golden Witchbreed through November: a lingering exploration of the planet Orthe, whose near-miss with apocalypse has led its rulers to avoid technology until Earth's envoys come knocking. Now, a junior diplomat is tasked with identifying whether Orthe has good trade to offer and finds herself entranced by their civilisation. But her blonde hair as much as her interest in Orthe's high tech past leave her exposed to accusations of being Golden Witchbreed, the reviled slavers who broke the planet to the brink of ruin - can she - and Orthe - survive this contact?

SCHEDULE

Friday 6th November | Part One & Two
Friday 13th November | Part Three – Part Five
Friday 20th November | Part Six & Seven
Friday 27th November | Part Eight

As usual with recent read-alongs. there's no obligation to post on the day, just please don’t post any earlier to give everyone a chance to reach a similar point before we share our spoilery thoughts.

I’ll aim to post prompts on Goodreads on Sunday evenings – if anyone else fancies hosting a week, you’d be more than welcome!

[imyril]

It's the first Sunday of SciFiMonth and that means our read-along begins here! Okay, okay, I admit I started already... but only so I could bring you some prompts to consider for our first week's chapters.

(view spoiler)[

Apostrophes and italics everywhere! What’s your approach to pronouncing the challenges SFF writers throw at us?

'For my part, I prefer aliens that look alien... Humanoid aliens, they’re trouble.’ Physical differences - and similarities - trouble Christie and the Ortheans this week, but how do you feel? Would you rather your aliens looked more or less like us? Do you think Gentle is giving us a warning about what to expect?

There's a lot of rapid world-building as Christie is thrown in at the deep end. What aspects (if any) stand out or intrigue you?

‘He’s a good man,’ she said. ‘Don’t trust him.’
Every friendly Orthean warns Christie not to trust the others. What are your first impressions of Christie's new alien allies (Geren, Haltern, Ruric and Dalzielle/Suthafiori) - and what do you think about Orthean intrigues?

‘Up until now they’ve taken you and your kin for overgrown ashiren. Now they know you’re the same as us, it’s just your methods that are different.’ Christie S'aranth survives a second assassination attempt and gains a nickname - do you think the shift in how she is perceived will be a good thing? Would you trust Maric and keep ke close?

...and anything else you would like to discuss!
(hide spoiler)]

If anyone would like to host a week, please yell :)

[bookforager]

Hi, imyril, I'll happily host a week if they're not all taken?
Mayri x

[imyril]

Mayri: Hi, imyril, I'll happily host a week if they're not all taken?


That would be lovely - which week would you like? :)

[bookforager]

Is week 3 taken? :-)

[imyril]

It is now :) All yours.

But first, all the questions for week 2... pick and choose as you wish!
(view spoiler)[

Last week, Christie gained a nickname. This week, she takes an arykei. Were you surprised by her choice (and who she chose)? ...and how did you feel about Falkyr's choices in light of their relationship?

There's a lot of games of ochmir played this week. How good a metaphor for Southland politics do you find it?

What was your reaction to Blaize? What did you think about Christie allowing him to live and tag along?

What do you think happened to Haltern?

Fenborn! Why do you think they took Christie's party? ...and why do you think they let them go?

From one supposed myth to another... Everyone is afraid of the Golden Witchbreed! Do you believe in them - and do you believe they're dead and gone?

There are intriguing hints of the mystical creeping in with Theluk's intuition and endurance as an Earthspeaker and the revelation of memory-dreams. How has this changed your understanding - or expectations - of Orthe?

Christie begins to realise how little she has truly understood about Orthe, and the Southland in particular. Now that you've got to know her, do you think the Dominion were right to send her? What is your assessment of her as a person and a diplomat?

(hide spoiler)]

...plus anything else you'd like to comment on (because WOAH there was a LOT going on this week)

[Lisa]

Here's my Week One post! (Finally!) https://deargeekplace.com/sci-fi-mont...

[Lisa]

Here's my week 2 post: https://wp.me/p9ZtJO-oN

[imyril]

Oops, links!

Week One: https://onemore.org/2020/11/06/golden...
Week Two: https://onemore.org/2020/11/13/golden...

[bookforager]

Argh, I'm so bad at doing this right.
My week 1 responses: https://bookforager.wordpress.com/202...
And my week 2: https://bookforager.wordpress.com/202...

[bookforager]

And here are the questions/prompts for week 3:

(view spoiler)[
Christie is reunited with more than one old acquaintance in this section. What do you think about Ruric, Haltern and Suthafiore’s return to the story? Do you feel any differently about any of these characters now that you know a little more about the many facets of Orthe?

Christie also meets Ruric’s ashiren Rodion. Care to share any of your thoughts and/or feelings about ker or ker storyline?

Ouch! Christie has been well and truly framed for the death of Kanta Andrethe. Do you think she was right to run? Got any theories about who might have actually killed Andrethe, and why?

And then the Hexenmeister cometh (it’s all going on, isn’t it!). He claims to be the only person truly able to speak for all of Orthe. Do you agree? What’s your impression of him?

Seeing the Brown Tower and the Rasrhe-y-Meluur, Christie is finally faced with something she has suspected for a while: Orthe isn’t a pre-tech world after all. It’s an extremely post-tech world. Tech that far exceeds anything Christie is familiar with as a space-faring envoy for the Dominion. Do you have any thoughts on this aspect of the story that you’d like to share?

And, finally, Christie ‘meets’ the shadowy Emperor-in-Exile. What are your first impressions of this player of the game?
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Enjoy! xx

[bookforager]

imyril wrote: "It is now :) All yours.

Sorry - also meant to say ... THANK YOU! x

[imyril]

Okay, week three post: https://onemore.org/2020/11/21/golden...

...and week 4 questions!

(view spoiler)[
Christie’s identity feels very fluid as she struggles to separate herself from the Hexenmeister's memories and re-establish herself with her human colleagues. Do you think (in retrospect) that she was right to accept the Hexenmeister's memories? To what extent do you think being an empath has helped vs complicated her experiences on Orthe?

What do you make of the election and the way the T’an Suthai Telestre is chosen?

Do you consider Ruric a traitor? What do you make of her reasons for her actions? Do you think Earth is as big a threat as she suggests?

How do you think the Dominion will respond to Christie's reports and recommendation? Do you think they will send her back?

Looking back, what are your favourite / least favourite aspects of Golden Witchbreed (characters, themes, subplots / twists)? Anything you would have liked to see explored further?

...and any other final thoughts you have in closing :)
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[bookforager]

Week three post for me: https://bookforager.wordpress.com/202...

[bookforager]

And here's my Week 4 post: https://bookforager.wordpress.com/202...