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grav_ityThis is actually a collection of short stories. Some of them take place in Tortall and the surrounding countries, some of them are non-specific fantasy and two of them take place in modern America (though one of those has a decidedly mystical bent). Common themes are, as always, awesome female characters and stories that don't shrink away from issues. Ever.
My favourite story is actually a tie, but the two stories are connected to one another by common characters, so I don't think I'm cheating too badly. Remember that time Numair turned a bad guy into an apple tree and said, kind of as a throw-away line, that somewhere an apple tree and become a man? Well, "Elder Brother" is the story of that tree-turned-man, and it is SUPER cool. The story is tied to "The Hidden Girl", which also deals with religious oppression. What makes it SUPER COOL is that the protagonists in "Elder Brother" and "The Hidden Girl" approach their oppression differently, and actually come to a better understanding of their own powers while figuring out each other. It kind of broke my brain.
The other story I enjoyed was "Lost", which features a darking and a girl who is much smarter than anyone is willing to believe. And, of course, the tale about Nawat and Aly, who have triplets thanks to Nawat's unique ancestry. The story mostly focuses on Nawat himself, though Aly gets some excellent work, and how he deals with being a man who is also a crow (and seriously, at one point I thought I would have a heart attack, and that is all I'm saying).
Rounding out my favourites was "Plain Magic", because I have a weakness for stitchmages and "Student of Ostriches" which just blew my mind with its awesomeness (and reminded me that even though I can't stand Liam, I do love the Shang Warriors).
Reading this many little stories written by Pierce reminded me of why I like her work so much. Her heroines are not the quiet "win by being female" type. I don't get as angry about that sort of heroine as I used to (for instance, Molly Hooper pretty much won "Sherlock" this season for being decidedly unfabulous), but so help me, I like the heroines who kick ass and take names so. much. more.
There's been a trend for "realism" lately (see also: the end of the "Leviathan" trilogy, the end of "Mockingjay", "The Revenant", heck, even "Fringe"), by which I mean that the heroines end a bit more quietly than I'd like. They take the back seat. They "pay the price" for "all their deception", which they used to circumvent an unfair system. Sometimes, I just want HUGE SOCIAL CHANGE, and screw 'real' you know? That's why I'm reading a book. It gives me a break from all the depressing things I see in the news.
That said, none of Pierce's heroines fail to earn their victories, and some of those victories are very small. But they are all won for Right, not Might, and often they are won for God (by whatever definition God is operating under at the time), and that is always, always something I adore. I am so glad, so, so glad, that Pierce has written these stories, and glad I finally got to read them.
9/10, for being so much of what I like.
My favourite story is actually a tie, but the two stories are connected to one another by common characters, so I don't think I'm cheating too badly. Remember that time Numair turned a bad guy into an apple tree and said, kind of as a throw-away line, that somewhere an apple tree and become a man? Well, "Elder Brother" is the story of that tree-turned-man, and it is SUPER cool. The story is tied to "The Hidden Girl", which also deals with religious oppression. What makes it SUPER COOL is that the protagonists in "Elder Brother" and "The Hidden Girl" approach their oppression differently, and actually come to a better understanding of their own powers while figuring out each other. It kind of broke my brain.
The other story I enjoyed was "Lost", which features a darking and a girl who is much smarter than anyone is willing to believe. And, of course, the tale about Nawat and Aly, who have triplets thanks to Nawat's unique ancestry. The story mostly focuses on Nawat himself, though Aly gets some excellent work, and how he deals with being a man who is also a crow (and seriously, at one point I thought I would have a heart attack, and that is all I'm saying).
Rounding out my favourites was "Plain Magic", because I have a weakness for stitchmages and "Student of Ostriches" which just blew my mind with its awesomeness (and reminded me that even though I can't stand Liam, I do love the Shang Warriors).
Reading this many little stories written by Pierce reminded me of why I like her work so much. Her heroines are not the quiet "win by being female" type. I don't get as angry about that sort of heroine as I used to (for instance, Molly Hooper pretty much won "Sherlock" this season for being decidedly unfabulous), but so help me, I like the heroines who kick ass and take names so. much. more.
There's been a trend for "realism" lately (see also: the end of the "Leviathan" trilogy, the end of "Mockingjay", "The Revenant", heck, even "Fringe"), by which I mean that the heroines end a bit more quietly than I'd like. They take the back seat. They "pay the price" for "all their deception", which they used to circumvent an unfair system. Sometimes, I just want HUGE SOCIAL CHANGE, and screw 'real' you know? That's why I'm reading a book. It gives me a break from all the depressing things I see in the news.
That said, none of Pierce's heroines fail to earn their victories, and some of those victories are very small. But they are all won for Right, not Might, and often they are won for God (by whatever definition God is operating under at the time), and that is always, always something I adore. I am so glad, so, so glad, that Pierce has written these stories, and glad I finally got to read them.
9/10, for being so much of what I like.
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Date: 2012-02-26 12:16 am (UTC)The quiet/unhappy ending thing is one I was debating on writing about later. I finally got a copy of "Gwynhwyfar" by Mercedes Lackey and while I absolutely loved the first 2/3s or so, the end was just flat depressing and more than a little rushed. Twas sad cuz I LOVE well done retellings of King Arthur tales and it started out so well.
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Date: 2012-02-26 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 12:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 12:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 12:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-26 12:40 am (UTC)