“Outlaw Planet” Full Discussion “Spoilers Allowed”

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

A few questions to get us started:


1. What did you think of the world?
2. What did you think of the characters?
3. What worked or didn't for you?
4. Overall thoughts?

[CBRetriever]

1. world gradually made sense
2 characters made sense from the beginning
3. the first time I ran across the second story line, I thought the publishers had made a mistake, but it gradually made sense
4. I liked it and like many Andre Norton books, the somewhat open ending made sense as you could imagine the future.

[Nicol]

I also found the first unit report jarring but then looked forward to it at the end of each part. I thought it was really well done. I went back and forth about perhaps waiting and reading the Pandominion duology first since it takes place in that world. Ultimately, I didn’t because the wait at the library was too long. Once those books come in, I plan on rereading this one. I enjoyed it that much.
I will say it took a minute for me to get into the story at the beginning but once I was in, I couldn’t put it down.

I have not read much sci-fi western, but this is definitely the favorite of what I have read. I think I’ve only ever read Joe Abercrombie’s Red Country and The Blade Itself but couldn’t get into it. Not sure if its Abercrombie or westerns, but now I am thinking its Abercrombie, sorry. I read them both for RATB challenge. Not sure if the bookshelf has any other sci-fi-westerns.

I felt Carey did an excellent job of showing how violence destroys and the cyclical nature of wars (even if mind control was involved lol) without it being trauma porn. Also, when I think how much I disliked last month’s BOTM The Shadow of the Wind for being trauma/misogyny porn; here Carey definitely paints a world steeped in misogyny and racial hierarchies without ever making me think the authors holds those beliefs or that those beliefs are inevitable. It did not interrupt the narrative for me, and it showcased resistance to that world’s belief system. I also didn’t feel like the violent scenes were gratuitous.

I loved Slim, and enjoyed a story where AI isn’t evil. Also liked how all recognized Slim’s autonomy; and Slim kept the shell Bess had inscribed. I also seem to enjoy those stories where technology is magic like Carey’s other series (view spoiler)[ that starts with The Book of Koli (hide spoiler)] and Rosemary Kirstein’s (view spoiler)[ The Steerswoman (hide spoiler)]

I also liked how Bess was a complicated MC, while I understood her thirst for vengeance, I guess I am more of a Martha in real life lol. Even though I disliked her inherent (mind control perhaps?) beliefs about Pugs and her times where she seemed careless, she would always ultimately do the “just” thing. I guess just in my terms of thinking, helping to save Dima and demanding to rescue Ksaia and Jemet.

And finally the big reveal of Esten’s choice. At first, with the tribal names, I wondered if some were the descendants of the original 23 and wasn’t sure how that would work cross species and all. I thought it was heartbreaking. To create a group of people that would live but also for sure suffer for 1100 years to right the original wrong. Luckily I won’t ever be in the position but I wonder if the ends justify the means. I also wonder if there was not another choice? I mean I don’t have one, just wondering if anyone else thought of one.

Wow, that is a lot, sorry for the long post.

[Peter]

The professional review to read is by the reliable Paul Di Filippo:
https://locusmag.com/review/outlaw-pl...
Do note that his review is thorough, but somewhat spoilery. You may want to wait to read it after you’ve read the book.

OK, this is a spoilers-allowed area. But still....