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n e in this issue by L. T Feminist World-Building: by Lori XY ConspiracyThe by Carole McDonnell ConstantThe Tower Dozois& Gardner edited Martin by R.R. George Dangerous Women by AnnLeckie Ancillary Justice by David WakingThe Engine by Walk to of End World the the by Alicia Cole Coralventh Bleaching by Anne Down o G ward Future Memory S er randmoth uzy McKee Charnas F T S B e imm e S atured ook S e E Kristin Kest heldon lke dis el Duchamp P E R on o ssay S ems tr e A vi eet Road M rtist e ws a g ma Kath WilhamKath Arts Editor TimmelL. Duchamp Features Editor Nisi Shawl Reviews Editor Lew Gilchriist Managing Editor $5.00 In This Issue Cover banner collagraph of theCascadia subduction zone byMarilyn Liden Bode Electronic singleissue:$3 $10 peryear Electronic Subscription(PDF format): Print singleissue:$5 Print subscription:$16/yr www.thecsz.com Subscriptions andsingleissuesonlineat: D angerous Women edited by George Martin &Gardner R.R. Dozois Walk to of End World the the by SuzyMcKee Charnas Feminist World-Building: Toward Future Memory T reviewed by Karen Burnham he Constanthe Tower by Carole McDonnell reviewed by Victoria Garcia reviewed by Michael Ehart The WakingThe by Engine David Edison V reviewed by Cindy Ward reviewed by Cat Rambo T An by L. Timmelby L. Duchamp ol he XYhe Conspiracy by Lori Selke Down Seventh Street Road cillary Justice by AnnLeckie by Sheldon Anne . 4N G by Alicia Cole by Nisi Shawl Kristin Kest er randmoth F B e Coral Bleaching atured o ook . 1 P E — R o ssay ems e

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sity of Oregon’s Center for the Study of of Study the for Center Oregon’s of sity - elic it withdrawing letter My form. able

Cont. on p. 2 p. on Cont.

- unrecogniz nearly a in me to returned - Univer the of celebration anniversary

sension among board members and was was and members board among sension ined myself participating in the fortieth fortieth the in participating myself ined

- dis caused reportedly essay my ever, - imag have couldn’t certainly I And later. would come to have to come would …. ….

- how submitted, As issue. the opening across the continent, continent, the across academy as to be thriving forty years years forty thriving be to as academy

programs, springing up up springing programs, told me it would be the keynote essay essay keynote the be would it me told would have taken such deep root in the the in root deep such taken have would

the influence of such such of influence the rating their tenth anniversary. The editor editor The anniversary. tenth their rating come to have to come nor even that any of them them of any that even nor —

imagined the extent extent the imagined

- commemo issue the planning were they springing up across the continent, would would continent, the across up springing

I could not then have have then not could I

subscription form at the very moment moment very the at form subscription extent the influence of such programs, programs, such of influence the extent

University of Illinois. Illinois. of University

the comments I’d written on my renewal renewal my on written I’d comments the

nois. I could not then have imagined the the imagined have then not could I nois.

studies program at the the at program studies

an academic journal’s board inspired by by inspired board journal’s academic an

- Illi of University the at program studies

formation of a women’s women’s a of formation

essay on the subject, at the invitation of of invitation the at subject, the on essay

student, for the formation of a women’s women’s a of formation the for student,

in the mid-1970s…for the the mid-1970s…for the in

and treat them as equals. I wrote an an wrote I equals. as them treat and — en

meetings in the mid-1970s, as a graduate graduate a as mid-1970s, the in meetings

I recall attending meetings meetings attending recall I

- wom younger recruit actively must they

and accomplishments. I recall attending attending recall I accomplishments. and

generations, classes, and races, and that that and races, and classes, generations,

serve the history of women’s activities activities women’s of history the serve

feminists must include women of all all of women include must feminists

- pre to and generations across continuity

My own thought, in 1986, was that that was 1986, in thought, own My

feminism, importantly aims to maintain maintain to aims importantly feminism,

and the US. the US. and

stitutions in the US arising from 1970s 1970s from arising US the in stitutions

had achieved the vote in both Britain Britain both in vote the achieved had

- in successful most the of one feminism,

ently become in the 1930s, once women women once 1930s, the in become ently

Among its various missions, academic academic missions, various its Among

- appar had they as opprobrium, and cule

my publishing decisions. decisions. publishing my

- ridi public of objects easy become had

volumes, and its urgency informs many of of many informs urgency its and volumes,

the backlash had arrived, and feminists feminists and arrived, had backlash the document.” document.”

WisCon Chronicles, now up to seven seven to up now Chronicles, WisCon

prevent this from recurring. For by 1985, 1985, by For recurring. from this prevent “Document, document, document, “Document,

planted the seed from which grew the the grew which from seed the planted

us began to think about how we could could we how about think to began us a WisCon panel in 2006: 2006: in panel WisCon a

document, document.” This exhortation exhortation This document.” document,

urged by Liz Henry during during Henry Liz by urged memory again and again. And many of of many And again. and again memory

a WisCon panel in 2006: “Document, “Document, 2006: in panel WisCon a

1 need to thrive is that that is thrive to need so thoroughly slipped from collective collective from slipped thoroughly so

thrive is that urged by Liz Henry during during Henry Liz by urged that is thrive

ness of the history we we history the of ness intellect, and political work could have have could work political and intellect,

consciousness of the history we need to to need we history the of consciousness

us from losing conscious- losing from us i vious question of how so much artistry, artistry, much so how of question vious

means for safeguarding us from losing losing from us safeguarding for means

means for safeguarding safeguarding for means - ob the raised (1983), Tradition lectual

across generations, another important important another generations, across tions, another important important another tions,

- Intel Women’s of Centuries Three Theorists:

tinuity across genera- across tinuity ­ con ntinuity ntinuity ­ co Along with maintaining maintaining with Along

Feminist Feminist Spender’s Dale and , (1983) ing

Along with maintaining maintaining with Along

least 2000. 2000. least - Writ Women’s Suppress To How Russ’s

both younger and more diverse since at at since diverse more and younger both Joanna Joanna , (1981) Ideology and Art, Women,

my joy that WisCon has been growing growing been has WisCon that joy my Old Mistresses: Mistresses: Old Pollack’s Griselda and

I realize that my insight clearly informs informs clearly insight my that realize I in the decade, notably Rozsika Parker Parker Rozsika notably decade, the in

the academy. Recalling it now, though, though, now, it Recalling academy. the of years afterward. Several works early early works Several afterward. years of

bitterly prominent (and notorious) in in notorious) (and prominent bitterly torical record, sometimes only a handful handful a only sometimes record, torical

decade later generational issues became became issues generational later decade - his the from vanished but all had that

meant. I did not recollect it even when a a when even it recollect not did I meant. of feminist and protofeminist struggle struggle protofeminist and feminist of

ed younger feminists, with all that that that that all with feminists, younger ed begun, also, to uncover a long history history long a uncover to also, begun,

as equals. as

- need feminism that insight my forgot

or otherwise “forgotten.” And they had had they And “forgotten.” otherwise or

women and treat them them treat and —

active memory. In forgetting it, I also also I it, forgetting In memory. active misattributed to men artists and writers, writers, and artists men to misattributed actively recruit younger younger recruit actively

brilliant gems, either to be minimized, minimized, be to either gems, brilliant an embarrassment to be banished from from banished be to embarrassment an races, and that they must must they that and races,

and writers had all along been producing producing been along all had writers and isolated oddity, while I thought of it as as it of thought I while oddity, isolated erations, classes, and and classes, erations,

to received wisdom, that women artists artists women that wisdom, received to issue packed with celebratory pieces, an an pieces, celebratory with packed issue include women of all gen- all of women include

work of Sisyphus. They learned, contrary contrary learned, They Sisyphus. of work was that feminists must must feminists that was editor placed it at the back of a double double a of back the at it placed editor

My own thought, in 1986, 1986, in thought, own My women and the process of feminism the the feminism of process the and women positioning it as the keynote essay, the the essay, keynote the as it positioning

edly rendered the accomplishments of of accomplishments the rendered edly us was happy with the result. Instead of of Instead result. the with happy was us

- repeat have that forgetfulness of terns to a “compromise” version. Neither of of Neither version. “compromise” a to

- pat of aware became ’70s and 1960s the the editor, who persuaded me to agree agree to me persuaded who editor, the

During the 1980s, feminists active in in active feminists 1980s, the During ited a long, emotional phone call from from call phone emotional long, a ited

b y L. Timmel Duchamp Timmel L. y y Feminist World-Building: Toward Future Memory Future Toward World-Building: Feminist Feminist Women in Society, as I did in Eugene in vast understanding that shines through World-Building November 2013. their eyes but only occasionally expresses (cont. from p. 1) From the vantage of 2013, however, itself in fragmented gems, usually pun- the most remarkable aspect of the cel- gent and often humorous. Such women ebration in Eugene was its deliberate tend to speak with delightful, sometimes joining of a feminist vision of its own devastating frankness as their growing (feminist) past to a feminist imagination indifference to social pressure results in of (feminist) futures. The celebration was the reticence of middle age falling to the accordingly organized into two sympo- wayside. Ursula’s wisdom and frankness, I certainly couldn’t have sia, one sampling the CSWS’s past work, though, is even more potent for having imagined myself partici- one sampling the visions of fsf (feminist emerged from the forge of her years of pating in the fortieth an- science fiction) and the possibilities for thinking and writing, many of those as niversary celebration of preserving, reading, and understand- a conscious, questing feminist. She is our the University of Oregon’s ing those visions through the rich, ac- wise elder, par excellence. Center for the Study of cumulating papers of fsf writers within The feminist sf symposium consisted Women in Society…. the University of Oregon’s special col- of four panels and a reading by Molly From the vantage of lections.* It opened Thursday afternoon Gloss. Opening the symposium, Carol 2013, however, the most with a showing of Agents of Change: A Stabile observed that feminist sf pro- remarkable aspect of the legacy of feminist research, teaching, and vides feminists with the space to imagine celebration in Eugene was its deliberate joining of activism at the University of Oregon, a alternatives. The first of the four panels a feminist vision of its documentary film by Gabriela Martinez, drew attention to the University of Or- own (feminist) past to a followed by a reception attended by so egon’s feminist sf archives, which hold feminist imagination of many WisCon regulars it carried, for the papers of Ursula K. Le Guin, Mol- (feminist) futures. me, a whiff of WisCon. The first sym- ly Gloss, Kate Wilhelm, Suzy McKee posium, “Women’s Stories, Women’s Charnas, Suzette Haden Elgin, Vonda Lives,” followed on Friday, organized N. McIntyre, and numerous other fsf roughly by decades. The second sym- authors. Laura Strait, a graduate stu- H posium, “Worlds Beyond World,” took dent, read Ursula’s correspondence with place on Saturday. On Friday evening, at Eleanor Cameron, discussing Cam- 2 the mid-point of the conference, Carol eron’s conflict with Roald Dahl (par- Stabile, Director of the CSWS, present- ticularly vis-a-vis the racism in his work ed the Le Guin Feminist Science Fic- for children), for insight into Cameron’s tion Fellowship to Canadian scholar and intentions. Three undergraduates each editor Kathryn Allan, the first scholar to discussed their own interesting archival receive an award from it; Ellen Scott, the projects; although their lack of an his- Director of Women’s and Gender Stud- torical or even genre context for reading ies, honored Sally Miller Gearheart; authors’ correspondence reminded me of During Ursula’s reading Molly Gloss introduced Ursula K. Le the monks’ understanding of twentieth- and Q&A, the atmosphere was both electric and Guin, and then Ursula read a new, un- century documents in Canticle for Lei- reverent. Feminists tend published story to several hundred peo- bowitz, they did succeed in conveying a not to idolize individual ple, after which she answered questions sense of the archives’ riches. women, perhaps because from two official interviewers as well as The second panel, “Feminist Science recognizing the dangers the audience. Fiction as Political Theory,” included of the pedestal is one of During Ursula’s reading and Q&A, Suzy McKee Charnas, myself, Vonda the earliest lessons of the atmosphere was both electric and N. McIntyre, and Kate Wilhelm. I’d Feminism 101. But this reverent. Feminists tend not to idolize been on panels with both Vonda and feeling so many of us have individual women, perhaps because rec- Suzy before, but my awareness that all about Ursula is nothing ognizing the dangers of the pedestal is of the panelists (excepting me) had par- like idealization: it goes one of the earliest lessons of Feminism ticipated in the historic Khatru Sympo- far, far deeper than that. 101. But this feeling so many of us have sium (1975) struck me with awe. For an about Ursula is nothing like idealiza- hour and a half, led by the astute Larissa tion: it goes far, far deeper than that. Lai, we talked about our own histories Her age compounds with extraordinary as feminists and writers, talked about articulateness and conceptual clarity to fsf and its relation to feminism, both

tremendous effect. Many women who’ve among ourselves and with the audience.

lived into their 80s and 90s possess a Present in the audience for this and the n

n

it to the disabled. disabled. the to it

from the medical establishment and give give and establishment medical the from

she said, to take disability modeling away away modeling disability take to said, she

on disability in science fiction; she aims, aims, she fiction; science in disability on

to be an independent scholar working working scholar independent an be to

“Cripping the Future” and what it means means it what and Future” the “Cripping

post-cyberpunk, talked about her work work her about talked post-cyberpunk,

Kathryn Allan, who studies feminist feminist studies who Allan, Kathryn

from the Tiptree jury. jury. Tiptree the from

and then I write about it,” she declared. declared. she it,” about write I then and

received special recognition recognition special received

sor”: “I follow the desire for knowledge knowledge for desire the follow “I sor”:

her five-novel Marq’ssan Cycle Cycle Marq’ssan five-novel her

- Profes the Andrea by monologue a of Nebula Awards, and in 2010 2010 in and Awards, Nebula

her academic papers as “a performance performance “a as papers academic her finalist for the Sturgeon and and Sturgeon the for finalist

the world. Andrea Hairston described described Hairston Andrea world. the Honor Lists as well as been a a been as well as Lists Honor

ways of knowing and ways of looking at at looking of ways and knowing of ways appeared on several Tiptree Tiptree several on appeared

Alexis Lothian discussed fsf ’s alternative alternative ’s fsf discussed Lothian Alexis Press. Her short fiction has has fiction short Her Press.

able us to think about alternate futures. futures. alternate about think to us able and the founder of Aqueduct Aqueduct of founder the and

- en historiographies new how and genre writer as well as an editor editor an as well as writer

L. Timmel Duchamp is a a is Duchamp Timmel L. what she calls the “Genes and Gender” Gender” and “Genes the calls she what

. Joan Haran talked about about talked Haran Joan . Us Tell edges

- Knowl Transdisciplinary Stories ments:

- Reenact Networked King’s Katie and

question “what does ‘frontier’ mean?” mean?” ‘frontier’ does “what question

“My Two Native Uncles” as well as her her as well as Uncles” Native Two “My

introduction, discussing Ursula’s essay essay Ursula’s discussing introduction,

erator Grace Dillon presented a lengthy lengthy a presented Dillon Grace erator

- Mod scholarship. fsf in approaches new

scholars gave talks on their interesting interesting their on talks gave scholars 3

Feminist Science Fiction Research,” five five Research,” Fiction Science Feminist and-thoughts-on-worlds.html>.

In the final panel, “Directions in in “Directions panel, final the In i blogspot.com/2013/11/a-few-notes-

our allies. allies. our Symposia,” at

make and share with other feminists and and feminists other with share and make the Women’s Stories, Women’s Lives Lives Women’s Stories, Women’s the

making of the feminist world we daily daily we world feminist the of making on the Worlds Beyond World and and World Beyond Worlds the on

in our fiction, we are contributing to the the to contributing are we fiction, our in blog post “A Few Thoughts and Notes Notes and Thoughts Few “A post blog

when we feminist writers build worlds worlds build writers feminist we when the conference’s programming, see my my see programming, conference’s the

discussion was the assumption that that assumption the was discussion *For a more detailed description of of description detailed more a *For

portance for feminists. Implicit in our our in Implicit feminists. for portance

- im its and world-building feminist of invent the wheel of feminism once again. again. once feminism of wheel the invent

And then we discussed specific aspects aspects specific discussed we then And - re to having of necessity the from ture

must-have feature of a feminist utopia. utopia. feminist a of feature must-have - fu the preserving — breaking the cycle the breaking

thing we considered an absolute one- absolute an considered we thing shared world, we will have a chance of of chance a have will we world, shared

Margaret asked each of us to name one one name to us of each asked Margaret that as long as we continue to build that that build to continue we as long as that

niversary_recommended_scifi_list ). effects felt far and wide. I’d like to think think to like I’d wide. and far felt effects

- wp-content/docs/events/40th/40th_an has disproportionate heft that makes its its makes that heft disproportionate has

and our allies. our and http://csws.uoregon.edu/ be found at found be is smallish, invisible to most people, yet yet people, most to invisible smallish, is

share with other feminists feminists other with share

list fsf works and resources (which can can (which resources and works fsf list for more than 40 years now. That world world That now. years 40 than more for

world we daily make and and make daily we world

Lai, and me and generated a reading reading a generated and me and Lai, feminist world we have been building building been have we world feminist

making of the feminist feminist the of making

Molly Gloss, Andrea Hairston, Larissa Larissa Hairston, Andrea Gloss, Molly fsf scholarship are all elements of the the of elements all are scholarship fsf

we are contributing to the the to contributing are we

regular Margaret McBride, included included McBride, Margaret regular

the emergence of new approaches to to approaches new of emergence the

build worlds in our fiction, fiction, our in worlds build

nist Worlds,” moderated by WisCon WisCon by moderated Worlds,” nist sf archives, the conference itself, and and itself, conference the archives, sf

when we feminist writers writers feminist we when

- Femi “Building panel, third The (2000). fsf, I had the thought that the feminist feminist the that thought the had I fsf,

was the assumption that that assumption the was

her wonderful Tiptree-winning Tiptree-winning wonderful her Wildlife Wildlife cases the pleasures and possibilities of of possibilities and pleasures the cases

Implicit in our discussion discussion our in Implicit

After lunch, Molly Gloss read from from read Gloss Molly lunch, After room, to many feminists, and in some some in and feminists, many to room,

resonate throughout. resonate through Kath’s presence in the dealers dealers the in presence Kath’s through

Ursula, which made the WisCon vibe vibe WisCon the made which Ursula, troduced Aqueduct Press, particularly particularly Press, Aqueduct troduced

Notkin, Jeff and Ann Smith, as well as as well as Smith, Ann and Jeff Notkin, - in had celebration the that conscious

following panel were Liz Henry, Debbie Debbie Henry, Liz were panel following As Kath and I drove back to Seattle, Seattle, to back drove I and Kath As Down Seventh Street Road by Anne Sheldon Grace Church Graveyard Rev. James Battle Avirett, Chaplain Silver Spring, Maryland Ash Wednesday, 1862 January 12, 2005 Until the war, it all seemed wrong: Under the light first snow the backwards collar such a cruel metaphor. of 2005 they lie nameless, Not that I lost God in church, like some others. all seventeen beneath one obelisk. No, I always knew Him, though They do it well, we were not on intimate terms. privates and officers alike, This formality did not disturb me. having done it so long. Everywhere I looked I saw the God of Abraham, From a moving car, in all the wonders and atrocities you can read “CONFEDERATE.” He undertakes. Why wouldn’t He desire Occasional desecrations, then, worship, sacrifice, consideration? are no surprise. They were carried What was harder to believe in was here from a common grave a spiritual dimension in my fellow Christian. ten years after the skirmish at the city line. “How could God allow my horse to die?” Though they lost separate plots “I prayed to God about my wife but nothing when the trolley came in 1898, has improved.” Well, then, they are not troubled by lush farmland pray for riches and wake up godless turned to pavement when, in the morning, or by the loud adjacent traffic no magic has increased your pocket change. of Yankees in horseless cars. God let the apostles die in agony, almost They had a chance to shoot at Lincoln. every one. He leaves the Holy Land beneath the heel of the Turk. H Mrs. Thomas Noble Wilson Is He the less for failing to absolve Farmhouse at Seventh Street Road near Sligo the senior warden’s gambling debts? 4 But then there was a war, November 5, 1861 and positions to be had. My husband gave one acre of land Now these are different sheep; for Your new church on the pike. well, more like goats, He was gentle to our children canny men who know and the slaves, and always spoke sweetly how bad the world can look, of my cooking. He worked hard at the plough nervous boys who soon will join them, and made me an oaken table or be dead. They have foolish questions, just right for all this family too, but I see a wisdom here upon the field and his mother’s English china. I haven’t known before, At night, when we gathered the children as if, for all these years for prayer, he could speak the Bible stained glass was fooling with my eyesight. by heart, without spectacles or candle: Inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these… Why then, Lord, did you think it seemly to snatch him up so early, barely fifty? shot just eight miles north of the President’s bedroom and not by a lowly rebel but a Pennsylvania scoundrel, for the sake of two gray horses. Or was he, my husband, of such fine stuff, he didn’t mind the loss of home and wife and world once he awoke in Paradise?

Did You do it just to punish me?

Such an ordinary woman. n

n

Cont. on p. 6 p. on Cont.

I will love them all the more. the all them love will I

of my second-best petticoat. second-best my of

in range of Mr. Lincoln Lincoln Mr. of range in

into the hem hem the into

and if these boots will carry me me carry will boots these if and

and sew our only remaining treasure treasure remaining only our sew and

I seem to love my blisters blisters my love to seem I

to rip open six yards of muslin muslin of yards six open rip to

they are too small and give me blisters. blisters. me give and small too are they

and a headache I am nursing still still nursing am I headache a and

It’s funny how I love these boots, boots, these love I how funny It’s

Took me half the night night the half me Took

as some who God is fighting for. for. fighting is God who some as

against my ankles. ankles. my against

just to keep the balance. Am not so sure sure so not Am balance. the keep to just

were rocking gently back and forth forth and back gently rocking were

my water, water, my — a New Yorker with a missing leg missing a with Yorker New a

and heaven-knows-how-many bonds bonds heaven-knows-how-many and

— so I gave another Yank another gave I so

three thousand dollars dollars thousand three

some cheese, too, and pickled pork, pork, pickled and too, cheese, some

But all the time I fumed and scolded scolded and fumed I time the all But

My boots are off a dead Yank, Yank, dead a off are boots My

within my bedroom dresser! dresser! bedroom my within

but folks are sharing round. round. sharing are folks but

for money. They dared to paw paw to dared They money. for

Dear Sister, I have no canteen now now canteen no have I Sister, Dear

two rebs came back to search the house house the search to back came rebs two

Saturday, July 9, 1864 9, July Saturday, Next day, as the rest marched south to Rockville, Rockville, to south marched rest the as day, Next

Gambrill Mill Pond near Monocacy Junction Junction Monocacy near Pond Mill Gambrill

in old Gomorrah. old in

Private Henry Askew Henry Private as if it were a house of ill repute repute ill of house a were it if as

the plunder of Summit Hill Hill Summit of plunder the

with righteous anger and ordered ordered and anger righteous with

hard. Hard. hard. is It

But now they were armed armed were they now But

Don’t know about no reward. reward. no about know Don’t

having four slaves ourselves. ourselves. slaves four having

but you shall reap a great reward.” reward.” great a reap shall you but

We are no such thing! thing! such no are We

. “It is hard, hard, is “It . Thomas Mrs.

5

gray. in colonel the cried abolitionist!” an “You’re — but

says sweet words, called me me called words, sweet says

He thought this, I suppose, disarming candor, candor, disarming suppose, I this, thought He

Oh, he love his big fort, fort, big his love he Oh,

i

though with all her former rights. rights. former her all with though

The President come by with his hat. hat. his with by come President The

would be dragged back into the fold, fold, the into back dragged be would

Said he hoped the South South the hoped he Said to get my child a blessing and a name? a and blessing a child my get to

spoke up honestly (always our downfall). downfall). our (always honestly up spoke where there ain’t even a roof roof a even ain’t there where

But later, drinking it, my poor brother brother poor my it, drinking later, But Shall I go sit with slaves at Grace Grace at slaves with sit go I Shall

Must I feed this baby in the street? street? the in baby this feed I Must

to fetch the oldest port. oldest the fetch to

. . magazine their make to it, at was they while

and sent Tildy down cellar cellar down Tildy sent and

Pulled down our church, church, our down Pulled

at the bottom of the well) well) the of bottom the at

that’s still safe safe still that’s — (though not her silver her not (though That shut his pink face up. face pink his shut That

got out Mother’s best linen linen best Mother’s out got “You claiming kin with me?” me?” with kin claiming “You

— I determined to do it right it do to determined I to that sergeant from Vermont. Vermont. from sergeant that to

I must serve dinner to General Early, Early, General to dinner serve must I “You family to me?” I says says I me?” to family “You

When I learned, to my dismay, dismay, my to learned, I When the ones I understand. understand. I ones the

“Aunt Betty,” they call me, me, call they Betty,” “Aunt

and two barrels of corn. of barrels two and

singing German beer songs! songs! beer German singing

leaving Brother and me little but ruined fences fences ruined but little me and Brother leaving

Set fire to my windows and my curtains curtains my and windows my to fire Set

and De Sellum goods slowing down their wagons, wagons, their down slowing goods Sellum De and

they didn’t even speak no English. English. no speak even didn’t they

De Sellum bacon in their bellies, bellies, their in bacon Sellum De

my painted bedstead out on Seventh Road, Road, Seventh on out bedstead painted my

riding De Sellum horses, horses, Sellum De riding

Those men that dragged dragged that men Those

They march on Washington this noon noon this Washington on march They

to keep their powder dry? dry? powder their keep to

these last twenty-four hours. hours. twenty-four last these

when they come and tear my shanty down down shanty my tear and come they when

but certainly we saw the worst of them them of worst the saw we certainly but

What’s the use of being free free being of use the What’s

are no less civilized than the Northern soldier soldier Northern the than civilized less no are

Confederates, on the whole, whole, the on Confederates, April 1, 1862 1, April

Vinegar Hill near Ft. Stevens, Stevens, Ft. near Hill Vinegar

July 11, 1864 11, July

Free Woman of Color of Woman Free Summit Hill Farm, Gaithersburg, Maryland Maryland Gaithersburg, Farm, Hill Summit

Elizabeth Thomas Elizabeth Miss Sarah Ann De Sellum De Ann Sarah Miss Private Henry Askew As soon as they are gone, we plan to straggle home ourselves and see what’s left. I will not think Near Fort Stevens, Washington, DC about it now. Poor skinny shoeless boys, they are, Noon, July 12, 1864 out there…I think their pride has been abated. Dear Sister, I write from no battle but Endless Skirmish and misplaced James Mulloy Yankee ordinance. Battleground National Cemetery What damage we could do had we their stores! July 27, 1864 The General drank well City folk came out last night in a rich man’s house to peer across the ramparts and sleeps well this morning, maybe (and between the two chimneys thinking twice about the joys which are all that stands of Osborn’s house) of battle. (Our lieutenant says, Early at all the smoke and fireworks. is late, and never meant to take the Capital. What have we been bleeding for? We, on the far side, The dust makes mud out of my sweat between two armies, hid and stoppers up my throat.) from the smoke and fireworks I only wish to sleep as well myself in our cellars, not even hoping for sleep some night soon and wake up — with the gunfire and crying children. not yet in Paradise — Then walked up the steps at last but looking out our cracked side window to red skies and ruin. to the Blue Ridge and the field No crops. No windows. Few dishes. where even now, I wager, My wife in speechless tears. the earworms are comfortable, You cannot tell the gray smoke from the blue. at peace, eating up our corn. The Confederates are gone. Our orchard, too. H Lucinday Batchelder Was our President decreed the Union dead be buried there. 6 Sacristy, Grace Church No one now will drink the water Evening, July 12, 1864 from this spring. Now they’re straggling out upon the road, The new black graves not much worse for wear than when they straggled in; are littered with small green apples but fewer by some, I cannot guess how many. that will never be sold to pay for beer or flour, Please God, my husband spent these last days never be sliced or skinned for pie. quiet in the cellar, not fretting about honor and trying to aid the Union cause. They have no need Rev. James Battle Avirett of one thin farmer. Why, Mr. Lincoln’s cannon Grace Church Rectory shakes these very walls, some three miles north. December 13, 1874 Mrs. Wilson and I huddle here since, returning Monday morning from Janie Sarrow’s Dear Lord, I am tired childbed, but drunk with peace. we met the rebel army: a vast marching cloud At last the mound is empty of dust and men where New Cut Road goes down beside the road to Washington, to meet the creek. We crept through corn and came at last the stinking noble bits to shelter here the back way, church mice of southern soldier behind the altar, praying every prayer we know are here in hallowed ground. this humble chapel will tempt no soldier. The careful vestry’s satisfied, the coffins were bought (though only six. Not much left of Sunday’s wine. We drank it off Not, I fear, the church’s proudest moment — to quell the shakes and keep it from the Rebs — couldn’t the budget stretch then recommenced our praying. In the half-dark, to eleven more pine boxes? we struggled through the Common Prayer to find But sadly there was ample space “In Time of War and Tumults”: Almighty God, for seventeen —

deliver us from the hands of our enemies. Abate so hungry to begin with,

their pride, and assuage their malice. and ten years dead.) n

n

one of them a Reb, Reb, a them of one

in 2011. Anne lives in Silver Spring, Maryland. Spring, Silver in lives Anne 2011. in Spindle but all these important white men, men, white important these all but

The Bone Bone The collection poetry her published Press Aqueduct how it felt so long ago, ago, long so felt it how

worked as a poet-in-the-schools and a freelance storyteller. storyteller. freelance a and poet-in-the-schools a as worked

hard to want to remember remember to want to hard

Anne Sheldon is a retired children’s librarian and has has and librarian children’s retired a is Sheldon Anne

It’s hard to remember, remember, to hard It’s

November 7, 1911 7, November

Mane Books), 1998. Books), Mane

Fort Stevens Commemoration Commemoration Stevens Fort

, Shippensburg, PA (White (White PA Shippensburg, , State Border a in Gray and Blue

A Guide to Civil War Sites in Maryland: Maryland: in Sites War Civil to Guide A Soderberg. Cooke Susan Elizabeth Thomas Elizabeth

(Thomas Dunne Books), 2007. Books), Dunne (Thomas

, New York York New , History Changed and DC, Washington, Saved

of his Bordeaux. his of

Desperate Engagement: How a Little Known Battle Battle Known Little a How Engagement: Desperate Leepson. Marc

we drank that much or more more or much that drank we

Church), 1965. Church),

to the church. I make no doubt doubt no make I church. the to

, Silver Spring, MD (Grace Episcopal Episcopal (Grace MD Spring, Silver , Maryland Spring, Silver

for one hundred Federal dollars dollars Federal hundred one for

A History of Grace Episcopal Church, Church, Episcopal Grace of History A Getty. Newbold Mildred

check a off posted I fall, Last

1999.

, Mechanicsburg, PA (Stackpole Books), Books), (Stackpole PA Mechanicsburg, , Campaign Antietam are buried, nameless. buried, are

Too Afraid to Cry: Maryland Civilians in the the in Civilians Maryland Cry: to Afraid Too Ernst. A. Kathleen who fell upon the twelfth twelfth the upon fell who

sity of Alabama Press), 2007. Press), Alabama of sity seventeen of those those of seventeen

- (Univer Tuscaloosa , Washington on Raid Early’s Jubal Cooling. F. where now, I hear, hear, I now, where

Came to Be Buried at Grace Episcopal Church,” online article. online Church,” Episcopal Grace at Buried Be to Came and his rude unfinished church church unfinished rude his and

Gordon Berg. “The Graceful Dead: How Confederate Soldiers Soldiers Confederate How Dead: Graceful “The Berg. Gordon exemplary wine cellar cellar wine exemplary

Bibliography remember fondly Mr. Blair’s Blair’s Mr. fondly remember

on that long-ago July, July, long-ago that on

on the fresh black dirt. black fresh the on

I find I often muse muse often I find I

fragrant wreaths of evergreen above us us above evergreen of wreaths fragrant

in the act of stealing a fine pair of grays. of pair fine a stealing of act the in yet laid down freely freely down laid yet

by a Union renegade renegade Union a by lived through hell, hell, through lived 7

had he not been shot one night night one shot been not he had But that first congregation congregation first that But

and might have been elected to the vestry vestry the to elected been have might and singing “Dixie” in July. July. in “Dixie” singing i

— an acre and a half a and acre an with play-acting rebels in the old graveyard graveyard old the in rebels play-acting with

— A certain Mr. Wilson gave the land the gave Wilson Mr. certain A They are not entirely happy happy entirely not are They

to pay the rector or the lumber mill. mill. lumber the or rector the pay to “inclusive.” “diverse,”

as the country, every check a stretch stretch a check every country, the as The church folk now are called called are now folk church The

but the parish was as splintered splintered as was parish the but what to make of its Confederate ghosts. ghosts. Confederate its of make to what

so a neighbor of the Blairs attested, in ’57, ’57, in attested, Blairs the of neighbor a so and each time the parish knows less less knows parish the time each and

Episcopalian church. They had broken ground, ground, broken had They church. Episcopalian Twice, it’s been rebuilt rebuilt been it’s Twice,

I observed the half-built half-built the observed I burned too close to windy curtains. curtains. windy to close too burned

Riding south from Rockville Rockville from south Riding At choir practice, a candle candle a practice, choir At

went to the ground in 1896. 1896. in ground the to went

July 4, 1881 4, July

The first church church first The

Cavalier Hotel, Lynchburg, Virginia Virginia Lynchburg, Hotel, Cavalier

July 12, 2014 12, July

General Jubal Early Early Jubal General

Grace Church Graveyard Graveyard Church Grace

Private Henry Askew Henry Private

and thirteen years ago. years thirteen and

five weeks after Sumter Sumter after weeks five

to be a holy hero hero holy a be to The banquet was very fine. very was banquet The

the first since I signed up up signed I since first the I don’t mind. mind. don’t I

— but one whole night of sleep of night whole one but their children given sky for roof. roof. for sky given children their

no blinding memories, memories, blinding no their orchard chopped, chopped, orchard their

no screams, no terror for his wife, wife, his for terror no screams, no it weren’t their shanty torched, torched, shanty their weren’t it

— pretend they aren’t so glad glad so aren’t they pretend sleeps rector the last At

all forgive and forgiven, forgiven, and forgive all good. for down laid

and pretend they were all heroes, heroes, all were they pretend and men young poor the and

who spoke to the President, President, the to spoke who sung, hymn last the

in her new black dress dress black new her in out, played service the

want to stand here with the old black lady lady black old the with here stand to want dug, were graves The y Past the World’s End Walk to the End of the World, by Suzy McKee Charnas, Ballantine Books, 1974, 214 pp. by Nisi Shawl We’ll begin this essay in the middle you’ve doubtless anticipated, it was only of an argument. Two writers I respect — remotely the book I remembered. [T]he conceit we editors Michael Swanwick and K. Tempest Describing Walk to the End of the World had in mind when we initi- Bradford — took different sides in a con- to friends and interviewers, I’d usually say ated these recurring Grand- troversy that concerns not just what it told the story of a woman brought up mother Magma pieces you’re reading now but all the Grand- in a repressive society that had evolved was that an established from the “undisclosed location” survivors feminist SFF writer (played mother Magma essays The CSZ has of a nuclear war: the struggling descen- this issue by me) would published. Swanwick blogged that up- dants of bureaucrats and secretaries liv- recommend an important and-coming SFF authors needed to older book and/or oeuvre familiarize themselves with the genre’s ing in a post-apocalyptic world. I’d say it to younger, emergent femi- classics by reading them. Bradford re- was an account of the woman’s pilgrimage nists interested in SFF. sponded (under an anonymous sig) that through this grim society and ultimately, many of these classics were revolting be- her escape from it. cause of their sexism, homophobia, rac- What is it really? ism, and other problematic underlying It’s really the story of two men. attitudes. She didn’t see why reading that The part of the novel that mattered to kind of crap should be required. me and stuck with me for decades, the Of course I think they’re both right. narrative of the woman named Alldera, a And somewhere in what I’m writing I slave trained to run messages, lasts for 36 plan to tell you how and why. pages. That’s less than a fifth of the book. Walk to the End of the World is really Now that that’s set up and promised, the story of two men, lovers, journeying we’ll proceed to the beginning of things. from one side of their land — “the Hold- In case you missed it, the conceit we edi- H fast” — to the other. It’s mainly through tors had in mind when we initiated these their eyes and the eyes of another man, recurring Grandmother Magma pieces 8 an aging soldier who commands “rovers” was that an established feminist SFF (drug-addled berserkers), that Charnas writer (played this issue by me) would shows us the agonies of women treated recommend an important older book as subhuman breeders and laborers. Deli- and/or oeuvre to younger, emergent cately, using her protagonists’ peripheral feminists interested in SFF. The recom- vision, she depicts the horrific debase- mendation is supposed to highlight a ment of the Holdfast’s women. Their work the one offering it found influen- beatings and mutilations are observed tial: a book or group of books she or he but not remarked upon — because these considers not seminal but (to mint a new sorts of things are completely unremark- word) ovacular: an egg, a bud, a primal able. Their forced descent into cannibal- chamber of molten, scape-changing lava. ism matters only because of the offensive I write and do writing-related tasks stench of their corpse processing center. (teaching, editing) for a living. I love my Caught up in the intergenerational job. Whenever asked what gave me the tensions on which their dominant cul- idea that I could embark on this career, I ture focuses, the men’s thoughts are full have immediately answered that my mo- of their quests and the revenge they pur- tivation came from reading the feminist sue. For most of the book they turn to SFF writers of the 1970s. Asked for spe- Alldera only for her strength as a load cific titles, I’ve always named Walk to the bearer and her somewhat anomalous End of the World first, followed by Joanna ability to translate their orders to other Russ’s The Female Man and Monique women; only briefly, near the book’s Wittig’s Les Guérillères. conclusion, does one of them bother to So of course for my Grandmother inquire as to her history, motivations, ex- Grandmother Magma Magma essay I knew I’d write about pectations, and fears.

Walk to the End of the World. Then I re- As a nineteen-year-old woman of col-

read it. For the first time in 40 years. As or reading Walk to the End of the World I n

n

- Reflec Feminist: a Only “That essay . Zone Subduction Cascadia

As L. Timmel Duchamp says in her her in says Duchamp Timmel L. As The The for Editor Reviews is

Read it so we can talk about it. about talk can we so it Read Honor at WisCon 35. She She 35. WisCon at Honor

way. Whichever version comes to you. you. to comes version Whichever way. . She was Guest of of Guest was She . House And, I hope, like you. like hope, I And,

Filter Filter collection story her - any World the of End the to Walk Read Like the thrust of this essay. Like me. me. Like essay. this of thrust the Like

Tiptree, Jr. Award for for Award Jr. Tiptree,

there in my hands. my in there rives at her world’s end and keeps going. keeps and end world’s her at rives

Nisi Shawl won the James James the won Shawl Nisi

spite having the same copy of it right right it of copy same the having spite - ar she well, extremely knows she past a

- de around, time second this couldn’t, knowable future by the representative of of representative the by future knowable

Unfortunately, I’m not sure you can. I I can. you sure not I’m Unfortunately, - un an to road the on Put end. book’s the

I want you to read the book I read. read. I book the read to you want I uge Alldera actually does set out for at at for out set does actually Alldera uge

did, though, and I went with her. with went I and though, did, - ref same the That’s borders. Holdfast’s

keep going past the world’s end. Alldera Alldera end. world’s the past going keep a legendary feminist refuge beyond the the beyond refuge feminist legendary a

isted. There was no ostensible reason to to reason ostensible no was There isted. the runner with pretending to discover discover to pretending with runner the

- ex refuge literary No published. been an, a broken-down appeaser who tasks tasks who appeaser broken-down a an,

its beautiful bleakness, no sequel had had sequel no bleakness, beautiful its - wom older another, of insistence the at

was enthralling me with with me enthralling was World the of End ’s male band of adventurers adventurers of band male ’s World the of

the to Walk time the at But . Motherlines End End the to Walk to added gets Alldera

and Alldera finds it in the book’s sequel, sequel, book’s the in it finds Alldera and take one another seriously. another one take

for a refuge she’s not sure exists. It does, does, It exists. sure not she’s refuge a for fluently with one another and show we we show and another one with fluently

slave runs off into the wilderness, headed headed wilderness, the into off runs slave ginalized genre. We must communicate communicate must We genre. ginalized

On the novel’s last page the liberated liberated the page last novel’s the On - mar a of segment marginalized a — tion

Alldera’s hope. Alldera’s - fic science feminist with concerned

sion). Much more radical, though, was was though, radical, more Much sion). ing stories is even more vital when we’re we’re when vital more even is stories ing

- oppres women’s of cause, the not result, - convers these of knowledge Intimate

versal acceptance of gay male love (the (the love male gay of acceptance versal self in them. in self

- uni its and sexism violent of validation - one immersing as same the all at not is

with a future culture’s culture’s future a with — 1974, remember 1974, 9 the field’s new joys joys new field’s the about Hearing heart.

in in — was radical enough, dealing as it did it as dealing enough, radical was is not at all the same as having them by by them having as same the all at not is

the story that she told. The story she sold sold she story The told. she that story the i the field’s early tales tales early field’s the about Learning ent.

corners. The story that she sold was not not was sold she that story The corners. - pres our and history our both into ously

descriptions, tucked it into her settings’ settings’ her into it tucked descriptions, - simultane delve to try don’t we if know

wove it between the interstices of her her of interstices the between it wove be deemed classics as well. We’ll never never We’ll well. as classics deemed be that she told. she that

between the lines her characters spoke, spoke, characters her lines the between may eventually eventually may — new, better standards better new, she sold was not the story story the not was sold she

She got that story to me slant: she laid it it laid she slant: me to story that got She slant.… The story that that story The slant.… ers’ scrutiny, and present works may set set may works present and scrutiny, ers’

basically, she didn’t write what I read. read. I what write didn’t she basically, She got that story to me me to story that got She - newcom under up hold not may classics

I think I know now how she did it; it; did she how now know I think I didn’t write what I read. read. I what write didn’t genre for a while, too. Also, though, past past though, Also, too. while, a for genre

she did it; basically, she she basically, it; did she wanted to get away with that same trick. same that with away get to wanted them to others who’ve been around the the around been who’ve others to them

I think I know now how how now know I think I she’d actually been paid for it. Magic! I I Magic! it. for paid been actually she’d newcomers in particular. It’s valuable in in valuable It’s particular. in newcomers

novel come out from a major imprint, imprint, major a from out come novel sics is valuable to all of us, and to SFF’s SFF’s to and us, of all to valuable is sics

ing such searing truths. Not only had her her had only Not truths. searing such ing - clas past of experience first-hand a right:

- publish with away gotten had Charnas Swanwick and Bradford were both both were Bradford and Swanwick

What I couldn’t understand was how how was understand couldn’t I What sessments had led her to believe. to her led had sessments

society’s perversion. All that made sense. that All perversion. society’s - as others’ than book exciting more much

idealized norm and heterosexuality this this heterosexuality and norm idealized she realized that it was a much different, different, much a was it that realized she

truths.…

Of course homosexuality would be the the be would homosexuality course Of read it to talk about it. Upon doing so so doing Upon it. about talk to it read

publishing such searing searing such publishing

would come to be linked to seniority. seniority. to linked be to come would . She finally had to to had finally She . Frankenstein Shelley’s

had gotten away with with away gotten had

en off or slaughtered. Of course status status course Of slaughtered. or off en to her in numerous critiques of the field: field: the of critiques numerous in her to

stand was how Charnas Charnas how was stand

- driv be would color of people course reluctance to read an ovacular work cited cited work ovacular an read to reluctance

What I couldn’t under- couldn’t I What

everything bad that had happened. Of Of happened. had that bad everything

series. Charmingly, she confesses her own own her confesses she Charmingly, series. audacity.…

Of course women would be blamed for for blamed be would women course Of in Aqueduct Press’s Conversation Pieces Pieces Conversation Press’s Aqueduct in pressed by its unflinching unflinching its by pressed

the apocalypse caused by their politics. politics. their by caused apocalypse the , the first volume volume first the , Conversation Grand The I was hugely im- hugely was I World

country’s rulers had made to live through through live to made had rulers country’s space. Duchamp’s essay is collected in in collected is essay Duchamp’s space. Walk to the End of the the of End the to Walk

result of the paranoid preparations my my preparations paranoid the of result long conversation held across time and and time across held conversation long woman of color reading reading color of woman

ined appeared to me to be the logical logical the be to me to appeared ined science fiction may be understood as a a as understood be may fiction science As a nineteen-year-old nineteen-year-old a As

- imag had Charnas society The audacity. ence Fiction, 1818-1960,” feminist feminist 1818-1960,” Fiction, ence

was hugely impressed by its unflinching unflinching its by impressed hugely was - Sci and Feminism Women, on tions y Rip-Roaring Action and Gaudy Charm The Waking Engine, by David Edison, Tor Books, February 2014, 400 pp., $25.99. by Victoria Elisabeth Garcia

[E]vocative images of the The Waking Engine is a lavishly imag- neck belched bruise-purple smoke built environment combine ined and ambitious first novel. Here, into the air from below. Not far with gleefully purple evocative images of the built environ- from that, an alabaster angel blew dialog and an elegant ment combine with gleefully purple dia- his shofar before a ramshackle sense of the grotesque log and an elegant sense of the grotesque square that brimmed with black to form a joyfully pulpy to form a joyfully pulpy action romp oil…. And chains, everywhere action romp about the about the clash of good and evil. The first chains — thick as houses, exposed clash of good and evil. of Edison’s projected Ruby Naught series, by canals, or pulled up from below- it will have strong appeal for fans of the ground and winched like steeples Ancient, sprawling, and New Weird, as well as readers of more over bridges and buildings, draped so labyrinthine that classical weird tales. across districts, erupting from the it sometimes must be The novel opens as Cooper, a chunky tiled floors of public squares.” navigated by smell, The New Yorker in a Danzig t-shirt, awak- City Unspoken leaks myth Edison does a capital job of mak- and memory from every ens on a strange hillock, beneath a yel- ing the reader feel immersed in a mi- crevice. low sky. Bells are tolling, and he is in lieu where magic, decay, luxury, crime, extreme physical pain. Attending him memory, and commerce have woven are a pink-haired woman and a gray- themselves into a bustling urban web. skinned man, both of whom seem en- Indeed, the first third or so of the book tirely unimpressed. This, he learns, is an sometimes feels more like travelogue everyday occurrence in The City Unspo- than like a novel. (Even when Cooper is ken. People who have died wake up here kidnapped and hauled before a power- all the time. Death, it turns out, is usu- ful, ancient courtesan-queen, the scene H ally just a pause in the longer stretch of has more of Louis Theroux in it than life: a comma-like pause, and not a full Robert E. Howard: Cooper deluges the 10 stop. After expiring, one simply wakes woman with well-chosen questions, and up in another place, perhaps on another the resulting Q & A has a rather journal- world, re-embodied (usually as a full- istic feel.) Though this will not please all grown adult) with memories intact, and readers, some will find it uniquely satis- no choice but to shrug it off and restart fying. Fans of Jan Morris’s extraordinary the business of life. Though entirely new Hav books, in particular, will discover children are conceived and born in The much to love here. City Unspoken, they are the minority. The book’s slower first third also has The bulk of the population is made up an agreeably picaresque quality: As Coo- of the formerly dead. This conceit gives per wanders through the city, he encoun- Edison the chance to salt his cast of ters an intriguing series of eccentrics and characters with a number of dead culture grotesques (a pilot who is trying, quite heroes, to interesting effect. literally, to drown himself in beer; a wily Ancient, sprawling, and so labyrinthine street-kid who, unbeknownst to Cooper, that it sometimes must be navigated by is the re-embodiment of Richard Nixon; smell, The City Unspoken leaks myth and a priestess from a learned, subterranean memory from every crevice. Edison’s de- tribe who delivers a kind of esoteric ori- scriptions of this are pure delight: entation lecture). Together, these char- “…(M)onuments and mausole- acters teach Cooper (and the reader) ums pitted and scarred with age lay about the workings of Edison’s world in tilted, stone and gilt akimbo as the a way that has both charm and intellec- growth of the city slowly devoured tual substance. The niftiness of this more them.… To the west, a sculpture of than makes up for the book’s ambling a weeping woman worked entirely initial pace.

Reviews in silver sat buried up to her mas- The Waking Engine is not entirely cere-

sive head in newer stonework — a bral, however. Though it contains much

garland of exhaust pipes about her to endear it to readers of Iain Sinclair, n

n

of derring-do leads to a a to leads derring-do of y y magnificentl ­ Purity’s friends appear satisfied with this this with satisfied appear friends Purity’s

Cont. on p. 13 p. on Cont.

comply with the dress code. But though though But code. dress the with comply pered swashbuckling. This lively swirl swirl lively This swashbuckling. pered

member one another for failing to fully fully to failing for another one member - wisecrack-pep and sacrifices, heroic

- dis and parties, tea throw gossip, but do into the service of last-minute rescues, rescues, last-minute of service the into

her young, noble peers have nothing to to nothing have peers noble young, her the end, we soon see these qualities put put qualities these see soon we end, the

strained in nearly every way, Purity and and Purity way, every nearly in strained and its aesthetic punch clear through to to through clear punch aesthetic its and

- con lives their With dispersed.) widely maintains its vivid imagery, its smartness, smartness, its imagery, vivid its maintains

death, no matter how badly mangled or or mangled badly how matter no death, two-fisted adventure. Though the book book the Though adventure. two-fisted

original flesh to working condition after after condition working to flesh original to escalate from fantastical travelogue to to travelogue fantastical from escalate to

body-bound are forced to restore their their restore to forced are body-bound in play, it does not take long for the book book the for long take not does it play, in

two-fisted adventure. adventure. two-fisted

permanent death is near-impossible, the the near-impossible, is death permanent And once the antagonists are solidly solidly are antagonists the once And

fantastical travelogue to to travelogue fantastical

er’s corpse after death. (Because true and and true (Because death. after corpse er’s

with Cronenberg-class body horror. horror. body Cronenberg-class with

book to escalate from from escalate to book

- own its leaving from spirit the prevents

ister, stunningly bizarre, and finally burst burst finally and bizarre, stunningly ister, not take long for the the for long take not

been subjected to “body binding,” which which binding,” “body to subjected been

- sin gloriously become scenes her climax, are solidly in play, it does does it play, in solidly are

members of the aristocracy have also also have aristocracy the of members

invention. As the book moves toward its its toward moves book the As invention. [O]nce the antagonists antagonists the [O]nce

tral structure known as the Dome. The The Dome. the as known structure tral

ing: an absolutely first-rate hard fantasy fantasy hard first-rate absolutely an ing:

- cen palatial and rambling a within live

- chill and brilliant both is this doing for

the rest of the aristocracy, she is forced to to forced is she aristocracy, the of rest the

technological leviathan. Her mechanism mechanism Her leviathan. technological

metaphysically and bodily. Along with with Along bodily. and metaphysically

turning herself into a great, magico- great, a into herself turning

in her teens, Purity is imprisoned both both imprisoned is Purity teens, her in

with mechanical implants over time, time, over implants mechanical with

others is Purity Khloo. A noblewoman noblewoman A Khloo. Purity is others

Cicatrix has been “amending” her body body her “amending” been has Cicatrix

acter. Perhaps the most engaging of the the of engaging most the Perhaps acter.

once reigned over The Court of Scars, the the Scars, of Court The over reigned once

- char point-of-view only the not is he

by way of Darth Vader. A fae being who who being fae A Vader. Darth of way by

Though Cooper is the novel’s polestar, polestar, novel’s the is Cooper Though

mother, the Cicatrix, is Erzbet Bathory Bathory Erzbet is Cicatrix, the mother,

Edison is in on the joke. the on in is Edison

And if Lallowë is De Sade, then her her then Sade, De is Lallowë if And

to be funny, it seems all but certain that that certain but all seems it funny, be to

nicely unsettling effect. effect. unsettling nicely

occasionally they’re overblown enough enough overblown they’re occasionally 11

philosophical tone evokes De Sade, to to Sade, De evokes tone philosophical

cesses bring life to the narrative, and if if and narrative, the to life bring cesses

act this ritual, and their calm, and quietly quietly and calm, their and ritual, this act

this off. The book’s conversational ex- conversational book’s The off. this i

- reen they as converse They fail. without

these are just the tools needed to carry carry to needed tools the just are these

from Toledo, Ohio. Ohio. Toledo, from bound human father to death every day, day, every death to father human bound

for the rhythm of spoken language, and and language, spoken of rhythm the for

from banal as Macau is is Macau as banal from young sociopath who tortures her body- her tortures who sociopath young

sense of humor, and a well-trained ear ear well-trained a and humor, of sense

evil characters are as far far as are characters evil high-ranking nobleman, is a gorgeous gorgeous a is nobleman, high-ranking

ever, has a light touch, an understated understated an touch, light a has ever,

Tale decadence, Edison’s Edison’s decadence, Tale gods. Lallowë, the half-fae wife of a a of wife half-fae the Lallowë, gods.

- how Edison, thin. wear quickly could

choc-a-bloc with Weird Weird with choc-a-bloc

- demi undead of tails lashing the by air

In less adept hands, this sort of thing thing of sort this hands, adept less In

Extravagantly dark, lurid, lurid, dark, Extravagantly

for the thrill of being flung through the the through flung being of thrill the for

dren to taste purity?” purity?” taste to dren

to kidnap, rape, and torture in exchange exchange in torture and rape, kidnap, to

- chil rape Who torment? in them

nal street gang, The Undertow, is willing willing is Undertow, The gang, street nal

from the dance of lives and bind bind and lives of dance the from

- crimi A Ohio. Toledo, from is Macau as

undead remnants who steal souls souls steal who remnants undead

son’s evil characters are as far from banal banal from far as are characters evil son’s

in thrall to to thrall in aren’t You towers? ing

- Edi decadence, Tale Weird with bloc

- burn your above unseen swarm

gear. Extravagantly dark, lurid, choc-a- lurid, dark, Extravagantly gear.

gang that worships lich-lords who who lich-lords worships that gang

gets thrown into rollicking, pulpy high high pulpy rollicking, into thrown gets

a runner for a a for runner a aren’t you and tow,

antagonists, however, that the book truly truly book the that however, antagonists,

- Under the to bondage your of

It is through the viewpoints of the the of viewpoints the through is It

the symbol symbol the not is is, it whatever

up the book’s energy level. level. energy book’s the up

me that the tattoo on your lip, lip, your on tattoo the that me

the book. Her sections do much to ramp ramp to much do sections Her book. the

“Oh really?… I suppose you’ll tell tell you’ll suppose I really?… “Oh

the most believable, meaty characters in in characters meaty believable, most the

her. grace notes, and Purity herself is one of of one is herself Purity and notes, grace

“That’s a lie!” Marvin challenged challenged Marvin lie!” a “That’s ed with wonderfully Mervyn Peake-ish Peake-ish Mervyn wonderfully with ed

- punctuat is search Purity’s of rendering overwrought, and richly richly and overwrought, ple: ­ pur

and most hallowed precincts. Edison’s Edison’s precincts. hallowed most and ties for dialog that is elevated, cheerfully cheerfully elevated, is that dialog for ties

leads her to explore The Dome’s deepest deepest Dome’s The explore to her leads - opportuni of plenty are there novel, the

itself known. Purity’s pursuit of answers answers of pursuit Purity’s known. itself ed pulp. And even in the slower parts of of parts slower the in even And pulp. ed

pecially after a threat from within makes makes within from threat a after pecially - unreconstruct pure, of heart a beats there

Italo Calvino, and the like, at its core core its at like, the and Calvino, Italo - es not, is Purity existence, golden-cage y Dangerous Women Dangerous Women, edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, Tor Books, 784 pp., $32.50. by Cat Rambo

I found myself, in starting to write Moreover, that older female pro- this review, circling the title over and tagonist isn’t the only one who appears. over again. Genre fiction has sometimes Nancy Kress’s “Second Arabesque, Very Dozois goes on to talk confronted, other times evaded, gender about dangerous women Slowly” presents an equally strong fig- issues — how does Dangerous Women fit ure in Susan, though she moves through in history in an intro that into that scheme? Is it time to talk about firmly avoids looking at a landscape externally more dire than categories, or gender marking, or any any of the questions at- Lindholm’s heroine. S.M. Stirling’s of the other things that flicker into the tached to the anthology’s “Pronouncing Doom” also deals with a title. mind? similar older woman traveling in a post- The introduction by Gardner Dozois apocalyptic landscape, although one not doesn’t resolve much. It begins, “Genre quite as bleak as Kress’s. I’d also like to fiction has always been divided over the call out Diana Rowland’s lovely “City question of just how dangerous women Lazarus,” a New Orleans noir science are.” As a woman, I’m not entirely sure fiction piece that provides a perfect ex- that’s the only question genre fiction has ample of how a deft POV shift at the about us, and I’m a little uneasy at the end of a story can cap it off; Sharon Key gender that this statement seems to as- Penman’s “A Queen in Exile,” a crisp his- cribe to genre fiction. Dozois goes on to torical piece about a mother’s love; and talk about dangerous women in history Melinda Snodgrass’s “The Hands That in an intro that firmly avoids looking at Are Not There,” which at times felt like any of the questions attached to the an- an updated C.L. Moore story. There are some excellent thology’s title. This is a trifle disappoint- Many of Dangerous Women’s stories are stories in this weighty vol- H ing, since it would have been interesting returns to characters or worlds we’ve met ume, which ranges through to hear more about the genesis of the genres, including fantasy, and loved elsewhere, making this book a anthology. 12 SF, historical fiction, mys- treasure trove for those who read widely But introductions are not necessar- tery, and horror. in genre. The opening story, “Some Des- ily important and are often skipped by perado” by Joe Abercrombie, returns readers. I knew that I’d find better an- us to Shy, one of the characters of Red swers in the text. Country, for example. In it, Abercrom- And I did. As I read, many of my bie shows that he’s capable of a detailed questions fell away and I found myself miniature as well as the beautiful tessel- focusing on the stories. There are some lations of POV that comprise his nov- excellent stories in this weighty volume, els. Jim Butcher’s “Bombshells” deals not which ranges through genres, includ- with Harry Dresden but his apprentice ing fantasy, SF, historical fiction, mys- Molly. Sam Sykes brings us a glimpse tery, and horror. One story in particular of the shict culture in “Name the Beast.” continues to stick with me — and that’s Lev Grossman takes us back to the mag- a noteworthy accomplishment in a vol- ical college of Brakebills with “The Girl ume so dense with some of the best in the Mirror.” Diana Gabaldon returns Many of Dangerous Wom- genre writers around. Megan Lindholm’s to the popular world of her Outlander en’s stories are returns to “Neighbors” is an outstanding piece that series with “Virgins,” a story that sets a characters or worlds we’ve I had to put down a couple of times be- young Jamie Fraser on his path. Caroline met and loved elsewhere, cause it hit so close to problems I see my Spector’s “Lies My Mother Told Me” making this book a trea- own aging female relatives facing. For sure trove for those who features Michelle Pond, an ace from the read widely in genre. me “Neighbors” was the centerpiece of world of Wild Cards, the ongoing super- the book, not only because its protago- hero collaborative series Martin ­initiated. nist belongs to a group woefully under- Speaking of Martin, the most obvious represented in genre fiction, but because example of this is, of course, one of the it is the product of a master wordsmith main reasons people will want this col-

capable of playing the reader’s heart like lection: his novella “The Princess and the

a lute. Queen,” which takes place in the same n

n

agile little dog. little agile writer to watch. watch. to writer

Aegard, and a chunky but but chunky a and Aegard, and enjoyable read. Edison is clearly a a clearly is Edison read. enjoyable and

comics creator John John creator comics and snappy, it is an intelligent, solid, solid, intelligent, an is it snappy, and

Seattle with her husband, husband, her with Seattle whole is a winner. By turns gorgeous gorgeous turns By winner. a is whole

elsewhere. She lives in in lives She elsewhere. But be that as it may, the book on the the on book the may, it as that be But

, and and , Review Indiana the

hold onto here. here. onto hold

, , Polyphony in published

the human scene may not find much to to much find not may scene human the

Garcia’s fiction has been been has fiction Garcia’s

plex emotion and nuanced depictions of of depictions nuanced and emotion plex

Victoria Elisabeth Elisabeth Victoria

nal to the book.… the to nal - com in interested Readers inhabits. he

stories it contains is origi- is contains it stories still far less memorable than the world world the than memorable less far still

it. Each of the twenty-one twenty-one the of Each it. bland. Cooper is a bit less so, but he is is he but so, less bit a is Cooper bland.

hope it inspires others like like others inspires it hope

competent. In other words, they are are they words, other In competent.

winner.

is a solid anthology, and I I and anthology, solid a is

looking, quick with a quip, and ultra- and quip, a with quick looking,

book on the whole is a a is whole the on book Women Dangerous Overall,

harm, are clever, compellingly exotic- compellingly clever, are harm,

But be that as it may, the the may, it as that be But

against those who would do the city city the do would who those against

much to hold onto here.… onto hold to much

who eventually spearhead the fight fight the spearhead eventually who

human scene may not find find not may scene human

of-view characters Asher and Sesstri, Sesstri, and Asher characters of-view

nuanced depictions of the the of depictions nuanced

characters, by and large, are not. Point- not. are large, and by characters, complex emotion and and emotion complex

the the brûlée, crème as rich are trappings not) in turn. in not) Readers interested in in interested Readers

While the setting, imagery, and genre genre and imagery, setting, the While lows each author to say something (or (or something say to author each lows book does have faults.… faults.… have does book

have faults. faults. have - al it that but women, dangerous of ture As with any first novel, the the novel, first any with As

As with any first novel, the book does does book the novel, first any with As - na the about statement a makes itself

earth-shattering. earth-shattering. it at this: it’s not so much that the book book the that much so not it’s this: at it

cinematic finale that is quite literally literally quite is that finale ­ cinematic has to say about gender issues, I’ll leave leave I’ll issues, gender about say to has

Women Dangerous what to as questions

(cont. from p. 11) p. from (cont. in the table of contents. And as for those those for as And contents. of table the in

13

disappointed when they range elsewhere elsewhere range they when disappointed Rip-Roaring Action Rip-Roaring

a particular author, but they will not be be not will they but author, particular a

i pect that many readers will pick it up for for up it pick will readers many that pect net).

- sus I book; the to original is contains http://www.kittywumpus.

writing classes on line (see (see line on classes writing like it. Each of the twenty-one stories it it stories twenty-one the of Each it. like

West and currently teaches teaches currently and West anthology, and I hope it inspires others others inspires it hope I and anthology,

a workshop for Clarion Clarion for workshop a is a solid solid a is Women Dangerous Overall,

nomination. She has taught taught has She nomination. letdown.

her a World Fantasy Award Award Fantasy World a her finishes with a similar similar a with finishes — again excellent again

earned earned Magazine Fantasy of while while — the same lines, the Bloch story Bloch the lines, same the

Also in 2012 her editorship editorship her 2012 in Also

be all that dangerous in the end. Along Along end. the in dangerous that all be

a 2012 Nebula nominee. nominee. Nebula 2012 a

dangerous woman in it doesn’t seem to to seem doesn’t it in woman dangerous

on Planet Porcelain” was was Porcelain” Planet on

to fit with the rest, perhaps because the the because perhaps rest, the with fit to

“Five Ways to Fall in Love Love in Fall to Ways “Five

tremendous skill as a writer, doesn’t seem seem doesn’t writer, a as skill tremendous

Cat Rambo’s short story story short Rambo’s Cat

Jesus,” while showcasing his invariably invariably his showcasing while Jesus,”

even longer. Joe Lansdale’s “Wrestling “Wrestling Lansdale’s Joe longer. even

despite its length, could have gone on on gone have could length, its despite

ed to be. By contrast the Martin piece, piece, Martin the contrast By be. to ed

- need there than prose the about padding (or not) in turn. in not) (or

author to say something something say to author sometimes there seemed to be a bit more more bit a be to seemed there sometimes

but that it allows each each allows it that but Dickensian in length, in the sense that that sense the in length, in Dickensian

ture of dangerous women, women, dangerous of ture seemed awry. A few stories felt a bit bit a felt stories few A awry. seemed

a statement about the na- the about statement a Luckily, there wasn’t a great deal that that deal great a wasn’t there Luckily,

that the book itself makes makes itself book the that because it included the Lindholm story. story. Lindholm the included it because

at this: it’s not so much much so not it’s this: at I would forgive this anthology much much anthology this forgive would I

gender issues, I’ll leave it it leave I’ll issues, gender worth the wait it may take to get to it. it. to get to take may it wait the worth

has to say about about say to has Women

for the last slot in the book, but is well well is but book, the in slot last the for

Dangerous Dangerous what to as

ASOIF’s events. This is cannily saved saved cannily is This events. ASOIF’s

And as for those questions questions those for as And

ries, but is set in a time much earlier than than earlier much time a in set is but ries,

- se Fire and Ice of Song A the as world y Intimate Space Opera Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie, Orbit Books, October 2013, 416 pp., $15. by Karen Burnham With 2013 now firmly behind us, it’s are stripped of all past life, memories, time to look back and spot some of the and personality (usually made up of pris- stand-outs of the year. One surprising ti- oners of war), and directly controlled by tle is a debut science fiction novel by Ann the AI. The individual Breq was an ancil- I know that we’ve already Leckie, Ancillary Justice. It’s a Space Op- lary of the ship Justice of Toren and was had the “New Space era that has a much more intimate focus stationed as part of an occupying force Opera” movement just than most, and its world-building treat- on a recently conquered planet. 10 years ago, but it ment of language and culture feels like There are many traditional ways this seems like a new cohort of writers is discovering a smoother version of China Miéville’s could go, and Leckie conspicuously Space Opera and its tropes Embassytown. I know that we’ve already avoids several of them. She hangs a lan- and picking them up to had the “New Space Opera” movement tern on one plot she has no interest in: play with. just 10 years ago, but it seems like a new reclaiming Breq’s “real” or human unique cohort of writers is discovering Space identity and rebelling against the AI. Opera and its tropes and picking them One character in the present timeline up to play with. figures out what she was and starts agi- When I say intimate focus, I’m large- tating to recover her “original” person- ly contrasting Ancillary Justice with the ality; Breq shuts her down cold. This is massively multiple third person POV Justice of Toren’s story as much as it is novels that seem to dominate both epic Breq’s alone. fantasy and epic sf. Kevin J. Anderson’s The planetary occupation in the past There are so many Saga of the Seven Suns series and Pe- at first goes smoothly. The population strengths here, many of ter F. Hamilton’s Dreaming Void trilogy doesn’t put up too much resistance to them in the small touches. spring to mind as exemplars of what I the superior Radch forces, and the mili- H think of as “big fat sf ” — both have casts tary, being dominated by AI-controlled of dozens of viewpoint characters, and ancillaries, acts in a disciplined fashion 14 the viewpoint switches every chapter without committing too many atroci- The use of all-female if not more frequently. Ancillary Justice, ties. When we join the story, things have pronouns made me as in contrast, keeps a tight focus on Breq, been progressing smoothly for several a reader profoundly and the only narrative switches we get years. The commanding lieutenant is conscious of my cultural are between the “present,” where she is humanistic and working to integrate the desire to “correctly” on a self-imposed quest for revenge, and population smoothly without the need gender people. the past, where we learn what she was for violence. She also embodies some of and why she feels the need for revenge. the conflicts inherent in the Radch soci- In the present, we meet Breq on an ety, especially the limitations placed on a icy and rough/rural world. She rescues a talented but not upper-class soldier in a former colleague who was lying freezing rigidly class-stratified culture. However, in the street, a washed-up drug addict. all good things cannot last, and tensions Breq is looking for a particular weapon between different factions on the planet to use in her revenge plot, and her rescue draw the attention of higher-ups who of Seivarden slows her down a lot. Still, demand a much more forceful response despite plenty of mishaps and keeping than the Lieutenant (or Justice of Toren) Seivarden from continuing down her is comfortable with. When the narra- spiral of self-destruction, Breq manages tive returns to the ship, Justice of Toren The combination of both to progress in her personal quest. learns some critical facts about the lead- big and small elements In the past, we discover who Breq was ership of the Radch, and the changes makes the world-building before: not an everyday person, but one that are overtaking the empire over the feel especially rich. small part of a ship-based AI entity. In last few centuries — and is finally de- this universe, there is a central empire stroyed, leaving Breq as the sole survivor, called the Radch, expanding through now trapped in a single body without ac- conquest and cultural domination. Many cess to her larger AI cohort and mind.

of their ships are controlled by AI, and There are so many strengths here,

many of those use human troops who many of them in the small touches. Breq n

n

with this book, and instead sets up for for up sets instead and book, this with blog. Roundtable

that the story would not be concluding concluding be not would story the that magazine’s magazine’s Locus edits She

engineer. engineer. realized (as I should have known before) before) known have should I (as realized

Center as an electrical electrical an as Center appointed at the turn: for one thing, I I thing, one for turn: the at appointed

NASA’s Johnson Space Space Johnson NASA’s - dis little a was I motion. in events new

writer. She works at at works She writer. as Breq’s quest comes to a head and sets sets and head a to comes quest Breq’s as

and avocationally a fiction fiction a avocationally and the story and turns towards the thriller thriller the towards turns and story the

vocationally an engineer engineer an vocationally character-building that occupied 90% of of 90% occupied that character-building

Karen Burnham is is Burnham Karen turns away from the world-building and and world-building the from away turns

mous for. At the climax the narrative narrative the climax the At for. mous

- fa is Opera Space that combat mada

- ar vs. armada scale grand the of none

straight-up battle scenes, and almost almost and scenes, battle straight-up

includes only a few few a only includes Justice Ancillary

how it doesn’t need to be. to need doesn’t it how

ior is, and serves as a nice illustration of of illustration nice a as serves and is, ior

- behav such determined culturally how in the future. future. the in

for instance. Which really drove home home drove really Which instance. for ward to what this sub-genre has to offer offer to has sub-genre this what to ward

tions of broad shoulders, or narrow hips, hips, narrow or shoulders, broad of tions - for looking much very am I then Opera,

descrip- — cate a character’s “real” gender “real” character’s a cate

new wave of Space Space of wave new new a represent these the future. the

- indi might that clues descriptive for out

pecially of Lee’s story “Ghostweight”). If If “Ghostweight”). story Lee’s of pecially sub-genre has to offer in in offer to has sub-genre

people. I would read with a weather eye eye weather a with read would I people. - es thinking (I’m consequences the with ing forward to what this this what to forward ing

my cultural desire to “correctly” gender gender “correctly” to desire cultural my traumatic events and then move forward forward move then and events traumatic then I am very much look- much very am I then

me as a reader profoundly conscious of of conscious profoundly reader a as me focus on characters who have survived survived have who characters on focus new wave of Space Opera, Opera, Space of wave new

The use of all-female pronouns made made pronouns all-female of use The on-screen violence. Both Lee and Leckie Leckie and Lee Both violence. on-screen new a represent these If

building feel especially rich. especially rich. feel building terested in character and culture than in in than culture and character in terested

15 and small elements makes the world- the makes elements small and twist. - in more is she and warfare, European

at a glance. The combination of both big big both of combination The glance. a at settings with a different different a with settings Korean historical warfare instead of of instead warfare historical Korean

also uses Space Operatic Operatic Space uses also i volumes about their status and history history and status their about volumes language, her space battles draw from from draw battles space her language,

exclusively (so far), she she far), (so exclusively of people’s dress and jewelry to learn learn to jewelry and dress people’s of also play with conquest, colonialism, and and colonialism, conquest, with play also

works in the short form form short the in works tion, she is able to read subtle elements elements subtle read to able is she tion, ent twist. Though her far future stories stories future far her Though twist. ent

. While Lee Lee While . Shadows of - sta space Radch-controlled a to return - differ a with settings Operatic Space

Conservation Conservation collection

the other hand, when she and Seivarden Seivarden and she when hand, other the form exclusively (so far), she also uses uses also she far), (so exclusively form

debut, Yoon Ha Lee’s Lee’s Ha Yoon debut,

languages in which that is required. On On required. is that which in languages . While Lee works in the short short the in works Lee While . Shadows

in mind of another 2013 2013 another of mind in

trouble correctly gendering people in the the in people gendering correctly trouble

Conservation of of Conservation collection Lee’s Ha

put me me put Justice Ancillary

travels in her present-day quest, she has has she quest, present-day her in travels in mind of another 2013 debut, Yoon Yoon debut, 2013 another of mind in

to outsiders, and it means that as Breq Breq as that means it and outsiders, to put me me put Justice Ancillary way, odd an In

This makes them appear androgynous androgynous appear them makes This me as strongly. as me

tuate gender differences with clothing. clothing. with differences gender tuate tuated the elements that didn’t captivate captivate didn’t that elements the tuated

- accen don’t also and year), last learned - accen focus the shifting so action, the in

dered pronouns (neither does Finnish, I I Finnish, does (neither pronouns dered world-building and the characters than than characters the and world-building

- gen use don’t Radch The pronouns. sf, I was simply more interested in the the in interested more simply was I sf,

about: Breq’s use of exclusively female female exclusively of use Breq’s about: Also, and this is indicative of how I read read I how of indicative is this and Also,

has been talking talking been has everyone that element sweeping storytelling up to that point. point. that to up storytelling sweeping

combined with the big world-building world-building big the with combined detail is quite different from the broad broad the from different quite is detail

is famous for. for. famous is

tus. This is particularly important when when important particularly is This tus. in a very specific sequence, and all that that all and sequence, specific very a in

combat that Space Opera Opera Space that combat

- sta class of clues subtle own its cially

Breq from point A to point B to point C C point to B point to A point from Breq scale armada vs. armada armada vs. armada scale

- espe and leaders, immortal hive-mind for the climax, as the narration has to get get to has narration the as climax, the for almost none of the grand grand the of none almost

has its own class-based rules, religion, religion, rules, class-based own its has pacing felt like it actually slowed down down slowed actually it like felt pacing up battle scenes, and and scenes, battle up

pire, as so many are in Space Operas, but but Operas, Space in are many so as pire, is conscious of, for instance). Also, the the Also, instance). for of, conscious is only a few straight- few a only

- em Roman the of analog simple a not ing Breq’s rescue of Seivarden than she she than Seivarden of rescue Breq’s ing includes includes Justice Ancillary

mogenous horde. The Radch culture is is culture Radch The horde. mogenous - motivat more is there that suspect (I

- ho the in even her identify characters will be plenty to cover in the next books books next the in cover to plenty be will

and hum it; it’s a quirk that lets other other lets that quirk a it’s it; hum and total resolution I was hoping for. There There for. hoping was I resolution total

but she in particular likes to learn music music learn to likes particular in she but wrong with that, it just didn’t offer the the offer didn’t just it that, with wrong

is part of an AI-controlled hive mind, mind, hive AI-controlled an of part is a sequel and probably a trilogy. Nothing Nothing trilogy. a probably and sequel a y Convoluted Betrayals in a Dense and Original World The Constant Tower, by Carole McDonnell, Wildside Press, June 2013, 456 pp., $17.99. by Michael Ehart

Let me start out with this: The Con- only be controlled by keening trees and stant Tower by Carole McDonnell is crystals. Psal is a “studier,” a scholar of rich, rewarding, and intricately and skill- keening, of pharma, and of ancient lore. fully crafted. It is also dense, sometimes While he is the king’s firstborn, the royal confusing, and often perhaps a little heir is Psal’s physically perfect brother. McDonnell tells a tale of cleverer than it ought to be. But it has Psal loves Cassia, but her father marries wandering towers, the everything a sophisticated fantasy reader her to someone else, a man who beats people who live in them, could ask for — ancient civilizations, an her “no more or less than expected.” This and the entirely human interesting and detailed social structure, begins a series of events reminiscent of pastimes of murder, war, a well-thought-out mythology, action, machinations by the Borgias, with mur- and revenge. It is an intrigue, backstabbing, unrequited young der and mayhem aplenty. amazingly original story, love, star-crossed friends, and weird and Some caveats: Much of the murder almost completely lacking wonderful prose. and mayhem in this book takes place in Western fantasy tropes. Instead we are treated to And what prose! The unsuspecting offstage, especially early on. This creates McDonnell’s quite excellent reader is toiling along, perhaps unsure if a strong sense of just missing out, like world-building. she should continue, and then McDon- being at a party where all the fun people nell gives her a passage like this: are in another room. It also requires the He had risen early before the author to describe at length several mo- moons waned and, as usual, was ments that might have been more effec- thinking of his sweetheart Prin- tively conveyed in a more direct fashion. cess Cassia, the daughter of Chief The big betrayal in the first few chapters, Tsbosso, his father’s great enemy. for instance, which sets the whole plot in H For six months, King Nahas had motion, is only seen through the reaction forbidden the marriage. Confused, of secondary characters. 16 longing for Cassia, Psal knew only Another minor irritation is the pres- this: he breathed easier and walked ence of passages like this: more joyfully when among the The Voca chief ignored him, walk- Peacock Clan, the clan to which ing toward Ephan. “You must be the gentle, lovely Cassia belonged. Ephan, the one they call ‘Cloud’? McDonnell tells a tale of wandering Nahas’ Little Favorite? I have towers, the people who live in them, and heard ‘Storm and Cloud always go the entirely human pastimes of mur- together.’” She glanced at Lan and Netophah. Some caveats: Much of der, war, and revenge. It is an amazingly the murder and mayhem original story, almost completely lacking That’s a lot of unfamiliar names thrown in this book takes place in Western fantasy tropes. Instead we at us in a very short space, and just when offstage, especially early are treated to McDonnell’s quite excel- the reader has gained a little confidence on. This creates a strong lent world-building. There is a satisfy- in her ability to keep the names straight sense of just missing out, ing matter-of-factness to her invented a bunch more are introduced. Although like being at a party where culture, a culture that is breathtaking in I usually find a dramatis personæ a little all the fun people are in both ambition and scope. Her execution pretentious, in this case it would have another room. is marvelous: polyandry exists logically been very helpful — along with some sort alongside “comfort women;” an outcast of guide to the various clans, sub-clans, clan of amazons haunts the trail of the leaders, and general social structure. clans, looking for girls to steal. Kings Still, the book contains plenty of po- and clans mean something completely litical drama, and some of the most con- different than they would in a Western voluted betrayals, double-dealing, and European setting. backstabbing to be found this side of Psal, the crippled son of King Nahas, Westeros. McDonnell has a deft touch

is a member of the Wheel clan, dwellers with intrigue, and her dense prose style

in a constantly moving tower that can serves her well as she takes on all The n n

n

boxing tournaments. tournaments. boxing

dark fantasy based on Hausa Hausa on based fantasy dark

on “In Blood and Song,” a a Song,” and Blood “In on

collaborated with Nisi Shawl Shawl Nisi with collaborated

Michael Moorcock. He He Moorcock. Michael

with an introduction by by introduction an with

, , Manthycore the of Servant

The The including novels, and

sword-and-sorcery stories stories sword-and-sorcery

graduate, writes Bronze Age Age Bronze writes graduate,

wonderful.

Michael Ehart, a seminary seminary a Ehart, Michael

thing very odd and very very and odd very thing

putting down on it some- it on down putting

something very odd and very wonderful. very and odd very something

writes a page without without page a writes

writes a page without putting down on it it on down putting without page a writes chore. McDonnell never never McDonnell chore.

is not much of a chore. McDonnell never never McDonnell chore. a of much not is tence is not much of a a of much not is tence

rewards are great. And really, persistence persistence really, And great. are rewards great. And really, persis- really, And great.

Still, for the reader who persists, the the persists, who reader the for Still, persists, the rewards are are rewards the persists,

able to understand. understand. to able [F]or the reader who who reader the [F]or

entirely comfortable with what I was was I what with comfortable entirely

chapters to work out, and I was never never was I and out, work to chapters

the social ramifications took a few more more few a took ramifications social the

politics of that detail alone and all of of all and alone detail that of politics

towers were and how they worked. The The worked. they how and were towers

chapters for me to fully grasp what the the what grasp fully to me for chapters

puzzle out. For example, it took several several took it example, For out. puzzle of much of the book. book. the of much of

that are largely left to the reader to to reader the to left largely are that supports the tragic nature nature tragic the supports

17 inevitability that strongly strongly that inevitability political, and scientific concepts here here concepts scientific and political,

create a real sense of of sense real a create be a real help. There are a lot of social, social, of lot a are There help. real a be

conceits of the narrative narrative the of conceits i Once again, some sort of guide would would guide of sort some again, Once

biblical cadences and and cadences biblical topmost layers. topmost

The formal tone and and tone formal The to everything that goes on in the tale’s tale’s the in on goes that everything to

bies, lends a sort of Lord Dunsany feel feel Dunsany Lord of sort a lends bies,

- ba aborted of bones tiny the and ruins

with the usual set pieces of mysterious mysterious of pieces set usual the with

a long-lost prior civilization, complete complete civilization, prior long-lost a

And the sense that everything rests atop atop rests everything that sense the And

keening trees and crystals is pretty cool. cool. pretty is crystals and trees keening

cept of wandering towers controlled by by controlled towers wandering of cept

- con The under-explained. if teresting,

- in and fresh are ideas McDonnell’s

less intrusive. less

here seems charming, and soon becomes becomes soon and charming, seems here

novel as a story to an unseen audience, audience, unseen an to story a as novel

conceit, that of a narrator telling the the telling narrator a of that conceit,

structure. it off nicely. Another usually annoying annoying usually Another nicely. off it

leaders, and general social social general and leaders, kill the narrative, but McDonnell pulls pulls McDonnell but narrative, the kill

various clans, sub-clans, sub-clans, clans, various skilled craftsperson this would probably probably would this craftsperson skilled

some sort of guide to the the to guide of sort some matic impact. In the hands of a less less a of hands the In impact. matic

ey helpful very along with with along — - dra and form both in Shakespearean

case it would have been been have would it case foreshadowings that seem to be almost almost be to seem that foreshadowings

little pretentious, in this this in pretentious, little

There are even a few blatantly placed placed blatantly few a even are There

a a personæ dramatis a

the tragic nature of much of the book. book. the of much of nature tragic the

Although I usually find find usually I Although

of inevitability that strongly supports supports strongly that inevitability of

ceits of the narrative create a real sense sense real a create narrative the of ceits

- con and cadences biblical and tone

’s twistiness. The formal formal The twistiness. ’s Tower ­Constant y Understanding Men as Extraterrestrial Experiments The XY Conspiracy, by Lori Selke, Conversation Pieces #37, Aqueduct Press, October 2013, 124 pp., $12. by Cynthia Ward Women get into sex work because of museum with her hypothesis about the current coercion or past trauma, accord- Y that makes the guy, the museum is ing to one stereotype. Lori Selke’s hero- destroyed. Jyn finds herself on the run ine Jyn becomes a stripper for the same from a trio of Men in Black, bound for Lori Selke’s heroine Jyn reason many other women do: “sex work Area 51. becomes a stripper for the [is one] of the fields where women don’t Does Jyn find the answers she seeks? same reason many other need to have finished college to make a Well, no. And, on that basis, you might women do: “sex work [is living wage.” Jyn likes the hours and sev- conclude The XY Conspiracy must be one] of the fields where eral other aspects of stripping. However, a mainstream road-trip novella, albeit women don’t need to have her true passion is UFOs. one with an uncommonly high level of finished college to make a Jyn has some minor celebrity in UFO fascinating speculation about science, living wage.”… circles. But she doesn’t think she merits reproduction, and the existence of extra- However, her true passion any particular attention, so she assumes terrestrial life. is UFOs. the dark-suited club customer who So why was this novella published watches her fixedly during the book’s by a science fiction press? The reason is beginning is just another job-hazard something Jyn discovers near the end. stalker. Then her roommate, familiar It involves a reproductive strategy that with Jyn’s fringey enthusiasms, wonders is common in some “lower” earthly life if the creep is a Man in Black. forms, but has never been scientifically Who or what the Men in Black might verified in humans. How you interpret be — government agents? aliens? coinci- Jyn’s discovery will determine whether Jyn’s biggest UFOlogical dence? — no one knows. But Jyn gets out you view this novella as mainstream or H goal is to find firm support of San Francisco. Stripper work is por- science fiction. for her hypothesis regard- table, and her impromptu road trip will Does this ambiguity undermine the ing sex chromosomes.… 18 let her visit the sites of past UFO inci- novella? No. It’s clear, thought-pro- In short, men are an ex- dents, like Seattle, Yakima, Great Falls, voking, and effective. Too, The XY Con- traterrestrial experiment. and Roswell. She hopes to uncover new spiracy feels like science fiction from or better information about UFOs, or beginning to end (it helps that Jyn’s at least about the Men in Black. Maybe hardly a credulous and ignorant True she’ll discover why there’s never been a Believer). Whichever genre you choose sighting of a Woman in Black. for Lori Selke’s first stand-alone fiction Jyn’s biggest UFOlogical goal is to find book, the narrative is vivid and solid firm support for her hypothesis regard- most of the way through. ing sex chromosomes. She believes that Alas, the solidity softens during the Does Jyn find the answers the Y or “male” chromosome — which is climactic stretch, when the highly intel- she seeks? Well, no. And, found only in mammals, is far smaller ligent protagonist’s survival-savvy behav- on that basis, you might and more fragile than the X or “female” ior becomes disturbingly self-threatening conclude The XY Conspira- cy must be a mainstream chromosome, and is easily overpowered and her previously crystalline motives road-trip novella, albeit by environmental factors — has been in- become distinctly murky. Selke has Jyn one with an uncommonly troduced from outside. In short, men are stop sharing her thoughts and start is- high level of fascinating an extraterrestrial experiment. suing motivation-masking declarations speculation about science, Jyn’s quest reacquaints the lesbian ur- like, “I had no idea where I was going or reproduction, and the banite and “punky Asian outlaw stripper what to do next,” and “Why was I here? existence of extraterres- chick in a dinky little foreign car” with What was I doing? But my mind was a trial life. the hazards of small towns and wide- blank,” and other “maybe I should’ves” open spaces, ranging from bad road food hand-waving statements of the sort gen- and hotel room break-ins to skinheads erally deployed by authors to distract and increased exoticization by largely attention from spotty plot logic. And white and male audiences. In addition, given the situation our heroine ulti-

her car is being followed. And after mately ends up in (one involving grand

she trusts the owner of a Roswell UFO theft auto, trespassing on a high-security n

n

a shallow beach. shallow a

wrenched by waves, washes up on on up washes waves, by wrenched

three-magpies.livejournal.co. three-magpies.livejournal.co. the growing matter is removed, reef, reef, removed, is matter growing the

She muses on writing at at writing on muses She

factor. After factor.

. . Summer Haunted Eternal

my body pale past light; biological biological light; past pale body my

, and and , Mountain Dark Fruit,

of passing such slender warmth, warmth, slender such passing of

Strange Horizons, Goblin Goblin Horizons, Strange in

bleached bone remains. At the point point the At remains. bone bleached appears or is forthcoming forthcoming is or appears

When the coral sinks to a certain depth, depth, certain a to sinks coral the When tanks of fish. Her poetry poetry Her fish. of tanks

dog, crested gecko, and two two and gecko, crested dog,

extra weight. extra

a photographer, their cat, cat, their photographer, a

unable to carry even the slimmest slimmest the even carry to unable

Lawrenceville, GA, with with GA, Lawrenceville,

pores. Acidification of my body, body, my of Acidification pores.

and educator, lives in in lives educator, and

acidification seeping through mural mural through seeping acidification

Alicia Cole, a writer writer a Cole, Alicia

The coral fragments, ocean ocean fragments, coral The

the meat of my body. body. my of meat the

Strange, small heart blooming within within blooming heart small Strange,

blooming within the meat of the sea. sea. the of meat the within blooming

lacerations fragile. Strange, heart heart Strange, fragile. lacerations

Limestone calcerations bloom, coral coral bloom, calcerations Limestone

She lives in Los Angeles. Los in lives She

Alicia Cole Alicia

She is completing a novel. novel. a completing is She

CORAL BLEACHING CORAL (Aqueduct Press, 2005). 2005). Press, (Aqueduct

Practical Approach Approach Practical

Writing the Other: A A Other: the Writing

Shawl, she coauthored coauthored she Shawl,

serial-killer thrillers. serial-killer and magazines. With Nisi Nisi With magazines. and

19

of devalued victims for for victims devalued of numerous anthologies anthologies numerous

fiction as an easy source source easy an as fiction published stories in in stories published

i

that is often exploited in in exploited often is that Cynthia Ward has has Ward Cynthia

of a form of women’s work work women’s of form a of

and sympathetic treatment treatment sympathetic and

told, and a rare respectful respectful rare a and told,

kilter adventure. kilter very good story, very well well very story, good very

to stereotypes but seeking tales of off- of tales seeking but stereotypes to is a a is Conspiracy XY The

reer is welcome relief for readers allergic allergic readers for relief welcome is reer

- ca heroine’s its to approach ’s Conspiracy

The XY XY The not, or anticipated Still, sexuality.

science and science fiction to erotica and and erotica to fiction science and science

range widely and skillfully in topic from from topic in skillfully and widely range

Convention participant, whose writings writings whose participant, Convention

Selke’s a feminist author and WisCon WisCon and author feminist a Selke’s

tive treatment is a surprise, given that that given surprise, a is treatment tive

- posi this that Not thrillers. serial-killer

self-threatening.… as an easy source of devalued victims for for victims devalued of source easy an as

becomes disturbingly disturbingly becomes work that is often exploited in fiction fiction in exploited often is that work

survival-savvy behavior behavior survival-savvy thetic treatment of a form of women’s women’s of form a of treatment thetic

intelligent protagonist’s protagonist’s intelligent - sympa and respectful rare a and told,

stretch, when the highly highly the when stretch,

is a very good story, very well well very story, good very a is Conspiracy

ens during the climactic climactic the during ens

sorbing narrative. Lori Selke’s Selke’s Lori narrative. sorbing The XY XY The

Alas, the solidity soft- solidity the Alas,

- ab consistently and written, smoothly

through.

lone weak stretch in an otherwise strong, strong, otherwise an in stretch weak lone

and solid most of the way way the of most solid and

the novella, they do not. They mark the the mark They not. do they novella, the

[T]he narrative is vivid vivid is narrative [T]he

Lest you think these problems derail derail problems these think you Lest

or death), Jyn gets off far too lightly. too far off gets Jyn death), or

which might reasonably result in prison prison in result reasonably might which

military base, gunfire, and more, and and more, and gunfire, base, ­ military Kristin Kest: Contested Bodies

Kristin Kest, an illustrator for over 20 “on the margins” sometimes find a years, has worked for dozens of publish- guard posted at the door: the main- ing companies, mostly book publish- stream publishing industry and its ers in the children’s science book genre, marketed demographic actively po- and has mostly had lots of fun at her lices its aesthetic, indirectly silenc- work. While growing up, Kristin always ing that which doesn’t quite fit. brought home bugs, bones, shells, birds, So, conundrum. Where can the and occasionally small, furry critters so Princess non-standard creative go to find she could study and draw them. (Her community and like-minded peo- mom didn’t much like the dead crow on ple who support them spiritually? the living room floor — but she did like Where can we go to find the pub- the drawing.) lishing industry heads who make Lately, Kristin has made a foray into things happen and can offer eco- the fantasy and fiction genre; a natural nomic opportunities that are in next step in her evolution as an artist. alignment with our ethics and Kristin sees F/SF as a logical platform aesthetic values? Where can we for challenging social norms within the find other creatives with whom to visual field of communication. Her vi- collaborate on serious imaginative sion for the artist is one that fits F/SF: projects? Look no further, Wis- “There must always be context for the Con is the place. work: who we are, what communities we live in, what connections we forge …Through the seminars, creatives and nurture in the outside world. How are encouraged and reminded to we view the world greatly influences the think of their privileged role as art that we produce.” In describing her having the potential to influence H outlook on art, she notes that, “an artist culture, to create a whole new soci- really needs to have a very interdisciplin- ety of ethical and responsible peo- 20 ary approach to life — not just litera- ple through stories and imagined ture, history, and poetry but science and places. The seminars suggest ways mathematics are all important for simi- for creatives to marry their ethics lar reasons. It might seem safe and cozy to their aesthetics and to build a enough to concentrate solely on the pro- genre that fits them and is inclu- cess of making art, but how does one do sive. Therefore, the overarching in- that well in an insulated art Bubble? To tent of the conference is not just to make the most meaningful art, I think celebrate the beauty and strange- one has to cram one’s life full with a wide ness — and difference — within the variety of non-art-related experiences.” F/SF world, but to dream other, After attending the 2013 WisCon, better possibilities into existence. Kristin blogged about the experience (http://www.thearttank.blogspot.com/) from her perspective as a visual artist Kest has always worked in traditional working as an illustrator: media with brushes and oil paint, pri- Making work to fit what one marily, with canvas, and sealed masonite thinks the industry wants, just to or gessoed heavy paper. Lately, however, make money and without any re- Kest has been immersed in digital paint- gard to one’s own inner voice di- ing media and is currently working on a lutes the message, and we end up graphic novel. Kest has been involved as a with a resented, hollow career. In- dramaturge with the Philadelphia-based stead, we can and should make the dance production company, MIRO, col- work that best represents us and laborating with them on their show, For- our “voice,” and allow the industry bidden Creature Virgin Whore. Some of to make room for it. Those inter- Kest’s work has been recently nominated Featured Artist ested in hiring us for the unique for the Chesley and the Hugo Awards for

thing that we offer will find us. Best SF Illustration.

That said, those of us making work (http://www.kestillustration.com/) n

n

Just Doing My Job My Doing Just

Airless

21

i

Ma1Donna Breaking the Surface between Equipollent Oppositions Equipollent between Surface the Breaking Haywire

Ghosts Doing the Orange Dance

Delta G

$5.00 The Cascadia Subduction Zone PO Box 95787 Seattle, WA 98145-2787