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that_scrivener's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I echo the critiques of character & mysogyny + a bit of a drag, despite its fabulous world-building (I swoon for bureaucracy + court intrigue), BUT. It was worth investing the 500 pages for the last 100 pages of (ahem) the 2nd book ; as the plot (& social critique) unfolds, the flat characters, racial/ethnic stereotypes, weird thing a la Twilight where female protagonist is super clumsy/unruly haired and this is ruthlessly flogged throughout seem more about deliberate social commentary than authorial shortcomings. I felt echoes of the read-for-the-first-time wonder I associate with childhood — weeping over c.s lewis, mirrlees, Tolkien, Pullman etc. — & the privilege of not noticing the gross allegories, inasmuch as I have been able to justify a re reading of the problematic elements.
This is not really contributing beyond the reviews already published; I wanted to suggest, for anyone who wants to add a little supplemental reading & depth to the 2000 pages of this entire series, Marcel Aymé’s Le Passant-Murailles (hot cover art: 2012 English translation from Pushkin Press). I had never encountered any reference to Aymé before peeking into the authors that contextualize Dabos’ work (presumably it goes without saying that I am an underemployed phd, lol), but he is well known in French pop culture & is 1. a truly excellent read + 2. really enriches this series. I also recommend this piece if you are subsequently charged up by Aymé or want a quick & rewarding overview of his jam: Filipe M. Guerra, Fantasy That Makes You Laugh and Think, https://baos.pub/fantasy-that-makes-you-laugh-and-think-the-tales-of-marcel-aym%C3%A9-5ae9565a3449l
NB if you are the person that needed this information, be my friend? Must enjoy ruining escapist reading, walks on beach.
This is not really contributing beyond the reviews already published; I wanted to suggest, for anyone who wants to add a little supplemental reading & depth to the 2000 pages of this entire series, Marcel Aymé’s Le Passant-Murailles (hot cover art: 2012 English translation from Pushkin Press). I had never encountered any reference to Aymé before peeking into the authors that contextualize Dabos’ work (presumably it goes without saying that I am an underemployed phd, lol), but he is well known in French pop culture & is 1. a truly excellent read + 2. really enriches this series. I also recommend this piece if you are subsequently charged up by Aymé or want a quick & rewarding overview of his jam: Filipe M. Guerra, Fantasy That Makes You Laugh and Think, https://baos.pub/fantasy-that-makes-you-laugh-and-think-the-tales-of-marcel-aym%C3%A9-5ae9565a3449l
NB if you are the person that needed this information, be my friend? Must enjoy ruining escapist reading, walks on beach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Colonisation
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Colonisation
Minor: Racism