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yarnycharlie's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Genocide, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Transphobia
noemi's review
3.0
The stories in this book varied wildly in quality, from "that was an hour of my life I'll never get back" ("Birth Days" by Geoff Ryman - they had to put it first and scare off a lot of potential readers with this all-agenda, minimal-plot, unrealistic/unlikable characters and graphic unrealistic plot devices) to the amazing Snow Queen trio (the original by Hans Christian Andersen and two beautiful and creative versions by Kara Dalkey and Kelly Link). Most of the stories were pretty good, but they really saved the best for last, so if you've just got it from the library, don't feel bad about skipping to the Snow Queen stories. I also liked "The Ghost Girls of Rumney Mill," "Boys," "Looking Through Lace" and "What I Didn't See."
lordofthemoon's review
3.0
This anthology brings together short fiction that was nominated for, and some that won, the James Tiptree Award for "science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender". As well as that, there are a number of essays both relating to the award itself and the wider genre. There were a number of stories here that I enjoyed a lot, and some less so.
Looking Through Lace, by [a: Ruth Nestvold|2110155|Ruth Nestvold|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1325893721p2/2110155.jpg], was probably my favourite story in the collection. This is about a young xenolinguist trying to understand the complexities of an alien language while also having to overcome the prejudices of her superior. This one reminded me of some of [a: Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg]'s anthropological stories and I liked the characterisation and deft worldbuilding.
I also enjoyed both the retellings of The Snow Queen (itself also included in the collection) preferring the modern Travels with the Snow Queen over the Japanese-set The Lady of the Ice Garden.
I was less keen on The Catgirl Manifesto: An Introduction by [a: Richard Calder|253327|Richard Calder|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328816963p2/253327.jpg]. This was written as an academic-style introduction to a fictional work that seemed to have a few layers of fiction to it. Perhaps I would get more out of it on a second reading, but as it stood I found it difficult to follow and somewhat incoherent.
So a good collection if you're interested in exploring gender or just want some challenging SF.
Looking Through Lace, by [a: Ruth Nestvold|2110155|Ruth Nestvold|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1325893721p2/2110155.jpg], was probably my favourite story in the collection. This is about a young xenolinguist trying to understand the complexities of an alien language while also having to overcome the prejudices of her superior. This one reminded me of some of [a: Ursula K. Le Guin|874602|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1244291425p2/874602.jpg]'s anthropological stories and I liked the characterisation and deft worldbuilding.
I also enjoyed both the retellings of The Snow Queen (itself also included in the collection) preferring the modern Travels with the Snow Queen over the Japanese-set The Lady of the Ice Garden.
I was less keen on The Catgirl Manifesto: An Introduction by [a: Richard Calder|253327|Richard Calder|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328816963p2/253327.jpg]. This was written as an academic-style introduction to a fictional work that seemed to have a few layers of fiction to it. Perhaps I would get more out of it on a second reading, but as it stood I found it difficult to follow and somewhat incoherent.
So a good collection if you're interested in exploring gender or just want some challenging SF.
trin's review
3.0
A somewhat random collection of past Tiptree Award winners, most of these stories were at least somewhat interesting. One bored me to tears; one, [a:Ruth Nestvold|12052|Gardner R. Dozois|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]'s "Looking Through Lace," absolutely blew me away; and one contained assbabies. Like, seriously, hardcore assbabies, gestated IN THE ASS. [a:Geoff Ryman|50408|Geoff Ryman|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1217410348p2/50408.jpg] looks at fandom and goes, "Beat that, punks!"
Anyway, this was mostly a really interesting and worthwhile collection. I hope I can get my hands on the next two volumes.
Anyway, this was mostly a really interesting and worthwhile collection. I hope I can get my hands on the next two volumes.
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