You can call me BeBeBess. I am going to analyse and examine fantasy fiction (and sometimes other genres as well) from feminist and socialist point of view. Beware of heavy spoilers. NOTE: Since English isn't my first language, forgive me (or correct) my errors.
“Wives and Daughters” and Society
Up to the later parts of the book, reading Wives and Daughters, the last novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, was a pleasant and, after a way, edifying experience for me. Later, however, it made me sad and thinking about questions I didn't necessarily want to ponder on. And then Gaskell sent Roger Hamley to Africa. And … Continue reading “Wives and Daughters” and Society
Darkover Revisited: The City of Sorcery
What can you say about a book full of well-known and likeable characters, a book which is the last installment of a trilogy? You may try to sum it up somehow, to see how it fits into the previous ones. In The City of Sorcery, though, I can see only a good science fantasy novel … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: The City of Sorcery
Darkover Revisited: Thendara House
My review of The Shattered Chain, the first book in The Saga of the Renunciates, was actually more like a sporking in two parts. This time, my reflections of Thendara House are going to be closer to a review. However, still BEWARE HEAVY SPOILERS, please. Have you ever had an impression that some fantasy/sci-fi books … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: Thendara House
Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part Two
Today, we'll delve into the second part of The Shattered Chain by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Twelve years have passed since the first time and now Magda Lorne, a Terran agent raised on Darkover, begins a journey in a disguise of a Renunciate, on Lady Rohana Ardais' orders: she thinks that Kyril, the Lady's son kidnapped … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part Two
Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part One: Orientalism
The world of Darkover created by Marion Zimmer Bradley is an universe I'd always return to. When I was a teen, books about Darkover were like a symbol to me. A symbol meaning that I knew English well enough to read novels written in it, and that I could buy books from the US at … Continue reading Darkover Revisited: The Shattered Chain, Part One: Orientalism
Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton is Just a Nice YA Fantasy Series
"Heart of Thorns" is a recently published YA trilogy about Mia Rose, a girl from the kingdom of Glas Ddir, betrothed to a prince against her will, a girl who believes that witches, the Gwyrach, are utterly bad. As you may predict, this is only the beginning and everything Mia Rose thinks will be turned … Continue reading Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton is Just a Nice YA Fantasy Series
Fantasy and Orientalism
I'm going to disappoint you. This post isn't about C. S. Lewis and his racism towards Middle Eastern people. This post isn't about Tolkien's coding of Sauron's allies and Easterlings. It's about authors whose works and worlds are almost as famous as Narnia and Middle-Earth. So let's prepare yourself for Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones, … Continue reading Fantasy and Orientalism
I Like Pratchett’s Discworld, but I Have Problems with It, too
Let me begin by a controversial statement: nowadays, problematic aspects of famous books are spotted not as often as you may think. Not everything is deemed racist and sexist. There are authors who are judged harshly, and deservedly, but there are also authors who are still liked on the progressive side despite of their books … Continue reading I Like Pratchett’s Discworld, but I Have Problems with It, too
Winter’s Orbit is a Delight
"Winter's Orbit" is a sweeping blend of space opera, novel of manners, and romance, written by Everina Maxwell. It tells the story of Kiem and Jainan. Kiem is a careless prince from the dynasty of the interplanetary Iskat Empire. Jainan is a count from Thea, one of the vassal planets. Being widowed by Taam, Kiem's … Continue reading Winter’s Orbit is a Delight
The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
How a book can be an uneasy delight? This happened to me as I was reading "The Witness for the Dead" by Katherine Addison. Her novel creates a strange and original world, so strange and original that while immersing into it, you have to recall, sooner or later, LeGuin's Earthsea and Robin Hobb's Realms of … Continue reading The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison
Left Hand of Fiction 