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rampaginglibrarian's review
4.0
I really like this novel set on a world long ago settled by Earth, then left on its own. It explores issues of gender and culture identity without providing any easy answers or being in any way pedantic.
rebeccacider's review
4.0
4.5 stars really. McHugh has such a gift for telling naturalistic, character-driven stories that are nevertheless intense and dramatic. Her books teach me so much about how to write SF.
Jan(na)'s story of loss and self-discovery on a colony world doesn't have a tidy plot or global stakes, but it is so memorable and rewarding—a study of character and culture in the tradition of Ursula K. Le Guin.
Jan(na)'s story of loss and self-discovery on a colony world doesn't have a tidy plot or global stakes, but it is so memorable and rewarding—a study of character and culture in the tradition of Ursula K. Le Guin.
jerseygrrrl's review
3.0
This is a fascinating book. It takes the perspective of Janna, who is raised in an appropriate technology mission, and follows her through her journeys. As someone who's grown up with a lot of technology, I found Janna's story useful for imagining how those not raised with similar technologies might perceive them. It also includes interesting ideas about gender and identity.
I wanted more from this book; the last chapter ended without a real conclusion or sense of finality.
I wanted more from this book; the last chapter ended without a real conclusion or sense of finality.
glassglassmadeof's review
5.0
mchugh just has the most impeccable vibes possible. gender commentary is very dear to me, but as a response to the le guin crowd of interplanetary contact, it’s a subtle and much needed rebuke of overworked tropes.
operafloozy's review
4.0
I just spent the day reading this, and while it's not tightly plotted, there was obviously something about it that compelled me to keep reading. McHugh's worlds feel real, as do the people in them, and the characters in Mission Child are no exception. The world is like the opposite of a Planet of Hats, in that McHugh remembers that even characters from similar cultural backgrounds might not speak the same language, and Jan/Janna passes through a number of other locations that are as alien to her as they are to us (or even moreso).
A good amount of the story is left in the margins: things the readers are supposed to pick up on, but the narrator doesn't. There's a lot of nuance there about what it's like to live in someone else's colony, by some other culture's unfathomable rules, and what outcomes are possible when an overwhelming power meets one that is barely holding on for survival.
The actual writing is rather sparse. Part of this is McHugh's usual style, and partly because around 60% of the conversations in this book happen in a language that the narrator is not fluent in.
A good amount of the story is left in the margins: things the readers are supposed to pick up on, but the narrator doesn't. There's a lot of nuance there about what it's like to live in someone else's colony, by some other culture's unfathomable rules, and what outcomes are possible when an overwhelming power meets one that is barely holding on for survival.
The actual writing is rather sparse. Part of this is McHugh's usual style, and partly because around 60% of the conversations in this book happen in a language that the narrator is not fluent in.
funcharge's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
libmeh's review
5.0
McHugh's writing in Mission Child reminds me so much of Ursula LeGuin (which is high praise from me). Like much of LeGuin's writing, this novel is about social science - that it is set on a different planet is not the most important thing. What is important are the ways people interact with each other and how social norms and pressures inform those interactions. It is also a sensitive and intelligent portrayal of a transgendered character. If any of this interests you, I recommend Mission Child highly.
untravel's review
4.0
Elegant. Flawed. Moving. Fun. Like a cover version of THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS, but more naturalistic and personal. A bit thin in places though, especially the latter sections. McHugh is a great writer and I wish she would publish more, but this is not her best work. It was good enough, though, to inspire me to re-read her other novels--to give you an idea of the scale I'm grading on.