Women and fantasy

Brennan, Marie: Warrior and Witch

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:43:50 GMT

Warrior and Witch
Writer: Marie Brennan
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 420

It's been a while since I read the first book of this duology, Doppelganger (or now titled Warrior thanks to the re-release), but I'm glad I finally got around the conclusion (also titled, thanks to the re-release, as Witch). Brennan's prose has improved with this second book, and the problems I had with Doppelganger I don't have with Warrior and Witch, which made me quite a happy camper. And I will add that I feel these books are best read back-to-back. Doppelganger stands on its own, but really, these two books make up a whole, and it's important to read them in order to get the whole story.

The premise: when a witch is born, a doppelganger is created. In order for that witch to achieve her full powers, the doppelganger MUST be killed, or the witch's magic will spin out of control and kill them both. Only Mirei has found a way out of this bloody tradition, and not everyone is so accepting of the change of rules. The witching community has divided, one side determined to embrace Mirei and her new magic, and the other side determined to destroy not only Mirei, but all the other doppelgangers as well. Mirei must protect these girls while trying to help mend the rift between the two camps, and stay alive in the process. Because her new magic is killing her.

The full review, with spoilers, may be found in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Marie Brennan's WARRIOR AND WITCH

Happy Reading! :)

Le Guin, Ursula K.: Lavinia

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:22:53 GMT

Lavinia
Writer: Ursula K. Le Guin
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 280

I just finished reading Ursula K. Le Guin's latest release, Lavinia. The book's got a touch of poetry to it, which is appropriate, because this is Le Guin's translation (in prose) of the end of Virgil's The Aeneid, but told through the eyes of Aenea's future wife, Lavinia. And it goes where Virgil was not able to follow, to the roots of Rome.

It's a good read, if a little slow, but enjoyable. Those fond of feminist re-tellings of history and myth (as found in Marion Zimmer Bradley's works) should enjoy this especially.

The full review, with some spoilers, may be found in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Ursula K. Le Guin's LAVINIA

Happy Reading! :)

Winterson, Jeanette: The Stone Gods

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:04:47 GMT

The Stone Gods
Writer: Jeanette Winterson
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 207

I've been wanting to read more of Jeanette Winterson's work ever since I fell I love with The Passion. The Stone Gods seemed right up my alley, as it's fiction that utilizes science for its plot (and therefore science fiction, I don't care what side of the genre-fence you're on). I'll admit I was disappointed at first, because while the writing is still very, very good, it's nothing like The Passion. Still, once I got into the story, I began to appreciate what Winterson was doing more and more. She preaches, yes, and it's obvious to see how current events influence this book, but this is about more than simply humanity's ability to destroy itself and the world around it, but it's also about the permanence of soul, and that's a beautiful thing.

The full review, which does contain spoilers, may be found in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Jeanette Winterson's THE STONE GODS

Happy Reading!!

Also, if you're interested, don't forget about the fantasy giveaway at my LJ! For details, just click here.

Kushner, Ellen: The Privilege of the Sword

Mon, 26 May 2008 04:34:25 GMT

The Privilege of the Sword
Writer: Ellen Kushner
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 459

I would've probably been better off not reading this book, as I never really WANTED to, but it ended up being part of a list for a personal reading challenge I set for myself, so go figure. No, I wasn't enamored of even very much engaged by this novel, even though it has ingredients I should've sunk my teeth into (gender reversal, sexual freedoms, etc).

The premise: Katherine is a well-bred country girl hoping to live every girl's dream of marrying well and fitting into society. But her uncle is known as the Mad Duke, and the Mad Duke suddenly decides to giver her and her family the offer of a lifetime: he'll return to them the family fortune, if only Katherine will come to live with him for six months. Oh, and learn how to use a sword.

I can't help but suspect that my lack of reading Kushner's other books set in this world greatly diminished my enjoyment of this one, but I will warn potential readers that this book lacks recognizable fantasy conventions, and the only thing that makes this particular book worthy of the genre is the fact it's a fictional, secondary world.

The full review's in my journal, in anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Ellen Kushner's THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SWORD

Happy Reading! :)

Butler, Octavia: Lilith's Brood

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:10:02 GMT

Lilith's Brood
Writer: Octavia E. Butler
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 746

Octavia Butler's work has yet to disappoint me. I decided to tackle Lilith's Brood as part of my required reading for my grad school program because I'd heard so many good things about it. I expected to like it, and I did, but I didn't expect to get so much out of it in terms of themes and relationships. There's so much richness in this book, so much to question and consider, and Butler does an amazing job at painting everything in shades of grey. There are no right answers.

Lilith's Brood is technically a compilation of Butler's Xenogenesis Trilogy: Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago. The premise is this: humanity has destroyed itself via nuclear war, and an alien race, the Oankali, rescue the survivors. But the Oankali are fascinated with humanity and all the puzzles and contradictions that make up the race, and because the Oankali are traders, they "fix" humanity in order for it, and themselves for that matter, because trading genetic material is as necessary to them as breathing is for us, to survive.

Lilith Iyapo is the first woman Awakened from stasis to learn how to live among the Oankali, accept humanity's fate, and train and teach humanity to live under this very strange new world. Lilith's Brood is her story, and that of her descendent's, but it's also the story of the evolution and branching off of the human race, and it's a compelling one at that.

Fans of social/soft SF should find this book very appealing, and readers who enjoy works with a feminist bent will have fun examining gender and sex issues found in this book, as the Oankali do not have just males and females, but the third sex, the ooloi, who is neither male or female, and whose role in society is a tremendously important one. This is a book I'd highly recommend.

The review of Lilith's Brood is in my journal, and for the sake of clarity, I divided the review into three parts: one part for each original book that comprised the trilogy. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Octavia E. Butler's LILITH'S BROOD

Happy Reading! :)

Bear, Elizabeth: Carnival

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:24:27 GMT

Carnival
Writer: Elizabeth Bear
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 393

Carnival is written along the lines of the good old feminist utopias, the "battle of sexes" story in which women are in charge of society and it's up to men to wreck havoc and prove whether or not women are better suited for leadership than men are. But Carnival is much more than that. New Amazonia is no true utopia, nor does it try to be. And on the flip side, the rest of the universe, which is governed by the Old Earth Coalition and its Governors, isn't a utopia either. In fact, it's pretty frightening: Old Earth's population has been culled down dramatically by the Governors through Assessment. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

What brings these two "worlds" together is the fact that New Amazonia has a seemingly inexhaustible energy source, and the Coalition wants it. The first attempt resulted in stolen art and the slaughter of a fleet of Marines, so now the Coalition is trying the diplomatic approach in the form of two gay men: Michelangelo Kusanagi-Jones and Vincent Katherinessen. Why gay men? Because with rare exception, women aren't allowed in leadership positions in the Coalition, and the women of New Amazonia will only deal with "gentle" males, their term for gay men.

The core of the plot is this: Angelo and Vincent are expected to get this energy source no matter what the cost, but one of them has his own plans, and those plans might change the very fabric of both New Amazonia and the rest of the Coalition.

This isn't just a feminist text. It uses ethnic diversity as its backdrop (during the culling of Old Earth, it was white people that got axed) and embraces queer theory. How can it not, with two gay men as the story's two main protagonists? There's a lot to consider in this novel, and it's certainly not your usual cultural setting or cast of characters when it comes to SF.

It's a good read that forces to take your time and absorb the details. The book's not for everyone, but anyone interested in feminist SF, queer SF should definitely check this out.

The full review, which contains some spoilers, is in my LJ if anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Elizabeth Bear's CARNIVAL

Happy Reading! :)

Pelland, Jennifer: Unwelcome Bodies

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:38:16 GMT

Unwelcome Bodies
Writer: Jennifer Pelland
Genre: Short Stories/Science Fiction/Horror
Pages: 247

When I heard Pelland was releasing a short story collection, I was very excited. Granted, I've only read two of her short stories, but the one really stuck with me. Pelland has a smooth, clean writing style and her story ideas can really knock a person on their ass.

Unwelcome Bodies is a collection that focuses on a variety of issues: the environment, religion, and terrorism, and the one thing that unites these stories is the character's body image and how they fit into the world/society around them. Each of the stories are different and unique, and most all of the stories balance a wonderful blend of science fiction and horror. This collection is an easy one to recommend.

The full story-by-story review, which does include spoilers in some cases, is in my journal. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Jennifer Pelland's UNWELCOME BODIES

Happy Reading!

Sherman, Delia: Interfictions

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:48:10 GMT

Interfictions: An Anthology of Interstitial Writing
Edited by: Delia Sherman and Theodora Goss
Genre: Short Stories/Fiction
Pages: 291

What is interstitial fiction? This short story anthology does its best to find out. From the intro, which defines interstitial being between borders, but something that's not a hybrid, to each of the 19 stories crafted by some damn talented voices in fiction, I have to say, I learned a lot. Interstitial writing isn't just about genre, or only about genre. In some stories, interstitality had to do with place, or with character, or with a particular moment in life. This book is shelved in the SF/F section of the store, and indeed, some of the stories certainly have a magical realist flair, but if I had to classify this book as anything, it's literary fiction. It's not an anthology that's for everyone, but for anyone with a love of language and fine writing with an open and inquisitive imagination, I think you'll find this anthology worth your while. I know I sure did.

The full review, which contains a story-by-story reaction (and some reactions contain spoilers, others do not), may be found in my journal. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Interfictions: An Anthology of Interstitial Writing

Contributers:

Christopher Barzak
Leslie What
Anna Tambour
Joy Marchand
Jon Singer
K. Tempest Bradford
Csilla Kleinheincz
Michael J. DeLuca
Karen Jordan Allen
Rachel Pollack
Veronica Schanoes
Mikal Trimm
Colin Greenland
Vandana Singh
Matthew Cheney
Lea Sihol
Adrian Ferrero
Holly Phillips
Catherynne M. Valente

Cook, Matthew: Blood Magic

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:28:51 GMT

Blood Magic
Writer: Matthew Cook
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 264

So I'm on a bit of a JUNO books kick. Next up was Matthew Cook's Blood Magic, which by the backcover blurb didn't sound interesting to me at all, but a good friend of mine, whose tastes I trust, recommended it highly so I gave it a shot. It's a darn impressive debut, with a strong female protag who works blood magic and can raise the dead once more to fight, but who is sympathetic in her need to help people, even when those people are afraid of her and the magic she performs. A short fast read and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

The full review, which does contain spoilers, can be found in my LJ. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Matthew Cook's BLOOD MAGIC

Also, I finally posted my top ten reads for 2007. As an added bonus, I'm also doing a giveaway. All you have to do is comment to the entry with the appropriate info, and you could win the book of your choice off my top ten list, courtesy of me! :)

Interested? Check it out here. Feel free to pimp the contest as well. It runs through Valentine's Day. :)

Happy Reading! :)

Kelso, Sylvia: Amberlight

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:44:34 GMT

Amberlight
Writer: Sylvia Kelso
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 260

So I finished reading Sylvia Kelso's Amberlight, which is an interesting fantasy that focuses on a matriarchal society, gender reversals, and even touches (but not through said guy's POV) male rape. It's a short read, and an interesting one, and while I had some problems getting through it, I'm glad I did. I'll be picking up the sequel when it's released this year.

The full review's in my LJ, if you're interested. Fair warning, it does contain spoilers. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Sylvia Kelso's AMBERLIGHT

Happy Reading! :)

Gender treatment in fantasy, according to Bakker

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:06:18 GMT

We're having a discussion at my journal about R. Scott Bakker's treatment of women characters in the Prince of Nothing series, and about female characters in gritty fantasy in general, started upon a quote from an interview of Bakker.

I'd love to see more feminist takes on this topic.

Carnival Posted!

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:59:32 GMT

Karen Healey has the 19th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans up at Girls Read Comics (And They're Pissed)!

Looking for a host for the 20th issue. Please contact me if interested.

Valente, Catherynne: The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:32:30 GMT

The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice
Writer: Catherynne M. Valente
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 516

There's actually not a whole lot I can say about the concluding volume of Valente's The Orphan's Tales. I loved it. I was satisfied. I didn't want to put it down, and thanks to my four-day weekend, I really didn't have to. I did find myself wishing that I'd had the chance to read this volume immediately after volume I because there's a lot of subtle detail and symbols and entangled storylines that I found myself straining to remember. But the good thing is I love these two books so much I look forward to reading them again in the future, back to back, just like I wanted.

The Orphan's Tales is the kind of story that rewards re-reading. I know that when I go back to volume I, I'll get far more out of it now that I know how the whole thing ends. There's a certain kind of joy in that knowledge, and I don't say that lightly, because I don't like re-reading stuff. But this, in its own way, it reminds me of The Lord of the Rings: something rich and developed enough to return to year after year. Granted, the two stories couldn't be more different: Valente's world is rich with diversity, symbolism, feminism, fairy tale, and magic. The way these stories weave themselves together is nothing short of beautiful, and I hear, again and again, that The Orphan's Tales are structured after The Arabian Nights, which I've never read, so I don't know how it really compares, only that Valente's work is a jewel and any fantasy reader's library is sorely lacking if these two volumes aren't a part of it.

Wooding, Chris: Poison

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:05:53 GMT

Poison
Writer: Chris Wooding
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Pages: 273

A friend of mine introduced me to this author via this book, and I have to say, I'm very impressed. I was sucked right in, and anyone who enjoys reading YA, particularly fantasies (of the epic sort) with strong female leads, will enjoy this. I really appreciated how the characters had to rely on wit instead of magic, and while story seems simple, by the end, it's so much more. Makes you think, in a good way.

The full review's in my journal, if anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Chris Wooding's POISON

Happy Reading!

Mitchison, Naomi: Travel Light

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 04:58:44 GMT

Travel Light
Writer: Naomi Mitchison
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Pages: 135

Just finished Naomi Mitchison's Travel Light, an enjoyable YA fairy tale that takes your conventional stereotypes and has fun turning them on their heads. For some reason, this reminded me of Catherynne Valente's The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden, without the story-within-a-story structure. The themes, the handling of fairy tales, the settings, are all comparable. It's a good read, recommended for adults and YA alike.

The full review's in my journal, if you're interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Naomi Mitchison's TRAVEL LIGHT

Happy Reading! :)

Call for Submissions: 19th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans

Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:10:36 GMT

Where: Girls Read Comics (And They're Pissed)
When: January 5th
Deadline for Submissions: January 3rd
Contact: ten[dot]karen[at]gmail[dot]com and submission form

Submission Call

Notice: Accepting Volunteers to Host the 20th Carnival. Email Ragnellthefoul[at]hotmail[dot]com if interested.

18th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans!

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:15:26 GMT

(This one has three parts!)

Part I: Women, Gaming, and You!
Part II: These Things We Love, And How We Interact With Them
Part III: Reviews, Reactions, and Recommended Further Reading

Submission Call!

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:49:29 GMT

18th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans

Where: Trouble: More Than Bargained For
When: November 30th
Deadline for Submissions: November 28th
Contact: anna[at]annaoverseas[dot]com and submission form

Special Request:

I'll be looking for any posts that fall into the idea of Feminist Sci Fi and Fantasy, but I'm hoping espeially to see a lot of posts on gaming this month - from Tabletop to LARP, from MMORG to MUDs, from Let's Pretend to CCGs, anything that you'd define as gaming is of interest!

Notice: Accepting Volunteers to Host the 19th Carnival. Email Ragnellthefoul[at]hotmail[dot]com if interested.

Robson, Justina: Selling Out (Quantum Gravity Book Two)

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:47:07 GMT

Selling Out: Quantum Gravity Book Two
Writer: Justina Robson
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Pages: 360 (ARC)

Just finished reading my advanced reader's copy of the second book of Justina Robson's science fantasy trilogy/series, Selling Out, but you should be able to find it in the stores at this point, as the Amazon.com release date was October 31st. As always, there's a lot of fun to be had, but it's a very different book than the first, which was heavy on the romance. There's little romance or sex in this volume, but we get to see a lot of character growth, learn more about the different realms and the creatures populating them. This book really opens up the possibility for future stories, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else Robson does with this series. If you liked the first book, you should like this one. :)

The full review, which DOES include spoilers, may be found in my journal, if anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Justina Robson's SELLING OUT

Happy Reading! :)

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 00:03:18 GMT

Since we all love female centric fantasy, I thought I would point out that I am currently running a one year anniversary contest on my young adult fantasy book review site, Bookwyrm Chrysalis. The prize is a signed copy of Juliet Marillier’s new book, Cybele’s Secret, which is the sequel to Wildwood Dancing and is currently only available in Australia. Contest consists of two questions and ends this Sunday.

Heres my review of Cybele's Secret. (and Wildwood Dancing as well) Both books feature wonderful female rolemodels and will appeal to young women (and "old" as well ^_^)

Robins, Lane: Maledicte

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:41:03 GMT

Maledicte
Writer: Lane Robins
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 434

Just finished this dark fantasy debut by Lane Robins! People are comparing it to Carey's Kushiel's Dart, but I find it more The Counte of Monte Cristo than Kushiel, though there's definitely elements of comparison. The book isn't as sexually explicit as Kushiel, but it's still very dark in content, and of the cast of characters, only one is "good" in the sense of a hero. Everyone else, including the title character Maledicte, is an anti-hero, and that's what makes the story so fascinating.

The review's in my journal, if anyone's interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome.

REVIEW: Lane Robins's MALEDICTE

Happy Reading! :)

Feminist SciFi Carnival

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 08:21:17 GMT

The 17th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans is up!

I'm still looking for hosts for the 18th Carnival. Email me if interested, please.

Larbalestier, Justine: Daughters of the Earth

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:29:35 GMT

Daughters of the Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century
Edited by: Justine Larbalestier
Genre: Science Fiction/Women's Studies
Pages: 397

I finished reading Daughters of the Earth late last week, and I'm only just now getting around to the review. Part of it's due to the format. It's more than a critical text, it's a short story anthology as well, which I find fantastic. Essentially, each essayist was called to choose the story he or she wanted to discuss. You get the story first, then the critical essay that examines that story, that author, and then places it all in historical and feminist context in which it was written. It's a fantastic format.

A really good anthology as well. Covering roughly one story per decade, starting from the twenties and regrettably skipping the forties, you get an interesting progression of feminist SF over the years and a taste of some of the writers writing it. I'd easily recommend this book to anyone interested in SF, the history of women writing SF, or people who are just interested in short stories. There's some good stuff in here, and the companion essay often illuminate their stories.

I posted a full review in my journal, with a story-by-story commentary. Feel free to stop by if you're interested. As always, comments and discussion are most welcome. :)

REVIEW: Justine Larbalestier's DAUGHTERS OF THE EARTH

Happy Reading!

Call for Submissions: 17th Carnival of FSF Fans

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:50:00 GMT

What: The 17th Carnival of Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy Fans
Where: Spawn of Blogorrhea
When: September 26th
Deadline for Submissions: September 19th
Contact: lee[UNDERSCORE]kottner[AT]mindspring[DOT]com or submission form

Notice: Accepting Volunteers to Host the 18th Carnival. Email Ragnellthefoul[at]hotmail[dot]com if interested.

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:21:59 GMT

The 16th Carnival of Feminist SF/F Fans has been posted!

I'm still looking for hosts for #17. Email me if interested.