The privilege of the sword

[sqbr]

(This is a rambletastic entry since I am sick today but have a feeling I'll be sicker tomorrow and write it even worse. I am in a posty mood)

EDIT: This is a squee, not an objective review :) Also the book may be triggery for some people, though not as much as a lot of fantasy (I say as a non-triggery person).

So, people, when I said I was sad that I would never find another "Fairytale about rescuing a princess where both protagonists are women and there's lots of stabbing of arrogant misogynistic men with swords", what y'all should have said was "Read 'the Privilege of the sword' by Ellen Kushner"(*). Well, ok, the story doesn't focus mainly on the bond between the two girls (and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had). And it's alternate-universe-regency-ish rather than fairytale... but that just means extra swashbucking! It was a lot of fun, and to round out the "aimed straight at me"ness it even has a snarky woman mathematician (She does not hit anyone with swords, but that's ok) I found "Swordspoint" (the precursor to this book, though you could get away without reading it) confusing and simply couldn't bring myself to care much about the protagonists or their political wranglings, and felt pretty much the same way about those sections of this book from the POV of Swordspoint's protagonist, but since these were short and not too frequent didn't mind.

Thinking about why I liked this book I realised that I only tend to enjoy fantasy which subverts or questions the underlying tropes and power structures of the setting and genre, which cuts out 99% of it (especially the light fluffy stuff, which is what I'm mainly after from fantasy(**)). I think that's the reason I didn't get the same kick out of the Lioness Quartet: yes, Allana dresses as a boy and hits things with swords, but it's all in aid of the status quo and there's no sense that the expected gender roles are oppressive in general, just that there needs to be space for the odd exception like her.

I find it amusing that I am drawn to stories of swashbuckling women rescuing damsels in distress, while my gay/bi/otherwise-not-straight female friends seem to prefer slash :)

Next on my lost of reserved books to read would be "Fledgling" by Octavia Butler, but it turns out that it's a bad idea to try to start a serious vampire novel just after reading these snarky Twilight synopses :)

(*)and if you have any other stories like that up your sleeves I would like them please. Or I'll have to write one myself or give unexpected prompts to drabble requests or something, and nobody wants that
(**)Yes, that's right, I want light fluffy fantasy which subverts the genre and questions the underlying power structures. This is why I tend to make things simple and say "I don't like fantasy" :)

Comments

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

I preferred Swordspoint. You didn't like the St Cloud / Alec relationship? It was much more interesting than anything in Privilege of the Sword, in my opinion.

"I only tend to enjoy fantasy which subverts or questions the underlying tropes and power structures of the setting and genre"

Is there any other kind these days? It's the questions that need subverting ... or at the very least, it's not enough merely to subvert.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Well, there is plenty of bad fantasy that doesn't subvert or question.

And she did ask specifically for light and fluffy -- there is also dark and nasty fantasy that subverts the tropes and power structures, for example Joe Abercrombie.

[ataxi.livejournal.com]

"The workmanlike plot, marred by repetitive writing and an excess of torture and pain"

Ouch -- nasty editorial review of "The Blade Itself" on Amazon :-)

Is it any good in your opinion? I'm afraid I can't take a puff from Scott Lynch as a great recommendation.

You're right, there's plenty of fantasy that doesn't subvert or question, but there's also a broad selection of novels based around "fresh twists" on the genre, and that selection itself is in danger of becoming a bit hackneyed already. IMO. Once it was ground-breaking to write a fantasy novel without morality inhering to race, after all.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Well, I liked them enough to read them and I'm certainly going to finish the series.But its not astonishing either. If you want to read a fantasy trilogy, I think it is a pretty good choice, but its not the sort of thing that transcends the limits of the sub-genre entirely like Wolfe. I though they were fun, though not deep.

It does do a good job of kicking at a few fantasy tropes. I liked that the other characters reacted to the standard arrogant, pompous, controlling archmage type as if he was arrogant, pompous, controlling, etc, rather than with deference. I liked that the barbarian warlord was portrayed as socially inept in any situation not involving leading murderous barbarians. And so on.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, I get the feeling "Swordspoint" is a better book, I just didn't enjoy it as much (I was going to add a disclaimer that this is not an objective review of the books quality, just squee, but I forgot) YMMV if you don't have a thing for women hitting nasty men with swords :)

I have a very limited capacity for intrigue/politics before I get bored and stop caring. I had the same problem with "Kushiel's Dart", I think I'm just not the market for fantasy set in pseudo-france unless it makes up for the the intrigue with things that make me squee.

Is there any other kind these days? It's the questions that need subverting ... or at the very least, it's not enough merely to subvert.

Oh, there's plenty that doesn't, it's just not likely to ping on your "book I might consider reading" radar (I get recced a lot of crap). But yes, subversion in and of itself is not a marker of quality or interestingness. And with regards to your comment below: if a "twist on the genre" is so common it's become hackneyed, it's not a twist any more :)

(nb, am posting without preview because lj is playing up. So I hope it's not full of typos!)

[lilysea.livejournal.com]

I loved The Priviliege of the Sword!

In fact, I can't believe I didn't enthuthiastically recommend it to you!

[alias_sqbr]

It's possible you did and I thought "Meh, it's a sequel to a book I didn't like". I know I got recced it from somewhere, or I wouldn't have reserved it.

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

Some other recommendations you might find interesting:

Anything by Robin McKinley - she is not so much of the girl on girl thing, but all about the questioning underlying power structures, and having what seem like defenseless women be quite resolute and strong

Personal faves - The Blue Sword, Beauty, Spindles End, Chalice

College of Magics and Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer - again with the semi regency alternate history/fantasy but not with swords - and girls rescuing girls in some ways

The Enchanted Chocolate Pot/Grand Tour/ Mislaid Magician - Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede - based in possibly the same world as above - about two cousins who get entangled in magic and magicians. Witty, fluffy and funny and snarky.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, thankyou! The only one of those I've read is "Beauty", which I quite enjoyed. The others sound great.

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

Some other recommendations you might find interesting:

Anything by Robin McKinley - she is not so much of the girl on girl thing, but all about the questioning underlying power structures, and having what seem like defenseless women be quite resolute and strong

Personal faves - The Blue Sword, Beauty, Spindles End, Chalice

College of Magics and Scholar of Magics by Caroline Stevermer - again with the semi regency alternate history/fantasy but not with swords - and girls rescuing girls in some ways

The Enchanted Chocolate Pot/Grand Tour/ Mislaid Magician - Caroline Stevermer and Patricia Wrede - based in possibly the same world as above - about two cousins who get entangled in magic and magicians. Witty, fluffy and funny and snarky.

[alias_sqbr]

Oh, thankyou! The only one of those I've read is "Beauty", which I quite enjoyed. The others sound great.