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A review by rhodered
The Empress of Earth by Melissa Scott
3.0
The final section of this book is so powerful in my imagination that it dominated my memory of the book from whenever I read it last (at least a couple of times since its first publication date). I was surprised to find, on rereading this time, that that section wasn't 2/3 of the book, but really just maybe 15 pages.
The premise is confusing, I never really understand the politics behind the plot - why the Rose Worlds have been hiding Earth from everyone else. Earth itself, harmonic resonances and metaphors aside, does not come off terribly impressively. And despite the main character's backgrounds as rebels against the Hegemon, they seem improbably comfortable now with being its chiefest allies. This is especially unpleasant when you consider how much more sexist the Hegemon is compared to other political options.
Most of the book is close to dull...the Earth population are fairly stock characters - back-to-land folks, factory workers, inner city gang members. We progress through train rides, various confrontations with natives, bits of magi business, all leading up to the final scenes I remembered so well.
In this book, the heroine becomes so dominant that her two husbands/companions are reduced to the status of an occasionally handy entourage. I like a kick ass heroine, but I prefer a strong partnership of equals. I've become fond of both men through the series and didn't understand why Silence has to be the point person for everything. Sure, she's a magi, but why does that mean she has to be the one who figures out how to buy train tickets?
Lastly, it seems very improbable that with less than a year's worth of formal magi schooling, that she would be as knowledgable and skilled as she is. Talent is one thing, those chops seem like they would require more years of experience.
The premise is confusing, I never really understand the politics behind the plot - why the Rose Worlds have been hiding Earth from everyone else. Earth itself, harmonic resonances and metaphors aside, does not come off terribly impressively. And despite the main character's backgrounds as rebels against the Hegemon, they seem improbably comfortable now with being its chiefest allies. This is especially unpleasant when you consider how much more sexist the Hegemon is compared to other political options.
Most of the book is close to dull...the Earth population are fairly stock characters - back-to-land folks, factory workers, inner city gang members. We progress through train rides, various confrontations with natives, bits of magi business, all leading up to the final scenes I remembered so well.
In this book, the heroine becomes so dominant that her two husbands/companions are reduced to the status of an occasionally handy entourage. I like a kick ass heroine, but I prefer a strong partnership of equals. I've become fond of both men through the series and didn't understand why Silence has to be the point person for everything. Sure, she's a magi, but why does that mean she has to be the one who figures out how to buy train tickets?
Lastly, it seems very improbable that with less than a year's worth of formal magi schooling, that she would be as knowledgable and skilled as she is. Talent is one thing, those chops seem like they would require more years of experience.