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markcummings's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
essinink's review
4.0
At an indeterminate point on the Alliance-Union timeline, the Lady Dela, her lover Griffin, and her Azi servants (Elaine, Lance, Lynnette, Percival, Vivian, Modred, and Gawain) are preparing to voyage aboard Dela's luxury ship The Maid of Astolat when they are pulled in by a wandering instability in space-time. Trapped in the folds between time and space, the crew confronts the possibility of eternity separate from everything they have known.
This is Cherryh's self-indugence: a mock-Arthurian romantic space thriller, with each chapter headed by a quote from Tennyson's Idylls of the King. While the chattel-status of Elaine and her fellow Azi is a chilling undercurrent, the mood avoids the oppressive claustrophobia that Cherryh is known for. Instead, there's a softness about it all, like a dream gone slightly sideways.
And there are dreams. It's clear early on that the Lady Dela has cultivated a careful fantasy for her household, and the unreality of their present circumstance makes the trappings of that fantasy increasingly real, the crew of The Maid latching on to what stability they can, because outside something is lurking...
Read if you like Alliance-Union, but want something a bit less oppressive than the norm for that 'verse.
This is Cherryh's self-indugence: a mock-Arthurian romantic space thriller, with each chapter headed by a quote from Tennyson's Idylls of the King. While the chattel-status of Elaine and her fellow Azi is a chilling undercurrent, the mood avoids the oppressive claustrophobia that Cherryh is known for. Instead, there's a softness about it all, like a dream gone slightly sideways.
And there are dreams. It's clear early on that the Lady Dela has cultivated a careful fantasy for her household, and the unreality of their present circumstance makes the trappings of that fantasy increasingly real, the crew of The Maid latching on to what stability they can, because outside something is lurking...
Read if you like Alliance-Union, but want something a bit less oppressive than the norm for that 'verse.
phial's review
5.0
As noted in other reviews this is definitely a strange book that suits a particular mood.
I found enjoyable if melancholy, and it left me with the mild discontent that there's probably something in my life I should be working harder to improve.
I found enjoyable if melancholy, and it left me with the mild discontent that there's probably something in my life I should be working harder to improve.
tome15's review
4.0
This book reminds me a lot of Cordwainer Smith. Psychologically indoctrinated staff of the maroon spaceship resemble his under people. It does seem to end in medias res, though.
joeyh's review
3.0
Apparently forgettable, since my records say I originally read it in 1998.
The Arthurian stuff didn't work for me, so mostly was interested in this as a precursor to the better known Cherryh stuff. Can see some echos of 40,000 in this too.
The Arthurian stuff didn't work for me, so mostly was interested in this as a precursor to the better known Cherryh stuff. Can see some echos of 40,000 in this too.
myxomycetes's review
4.0
Short and enjoyable SF novel, that interestingly mixes Arthurian legend with SF. Well done.
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