SAPPHO'S Name taken in Vain

 

According to the publisher:

Diana McLellan reveals the complex and intimate connections that roiled behind the public personae of Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, and the women who loved them. Private correspondence, long-secret FBI files, and troves of unpublished documents reveal a chain of lesbian affairs that moved from the theater world of New York, through the heights of chic society, to embed itself in the power structure of the movie business. The Girls serves up a rich stew of film, politics, sexuality, psychology, and stardom.

While the title may sound intriguing, and the book may have generated a bit of buzz, this writer takes issue with the hype given to Diana McLellan's book, The Girls: Sappho Goes to Hollywood.

Discussions of Old Hollywood, especially when fraught with the cultural turmoil of the early twentieth century, tend to lure me away from my predilection for fiction for a while.  The pull of a title suggesting that Sappho would be somehow present in Hollywood, drew me in for a closer look.  Unfortunately, what this reader discovered was a misguided, if not altogether heterosexist, skewed presentation of history. The book, sadly, seemed more like history according to publishers of a Hollywood rag rather than a believable version of history.  I found it unconscionable to use rumored romances between women, that have no verification outside of second hand reports, as evidence.   The "sources" attempted little more than to develop an allure of the provocative. Beyond that, the text seems akin to outing celebrities.  Outing people who cannot respond to the claims seems rather meanspirited.

Bringing up Sappho alludes to love between women, thus setting the stage for a discussion of sexuality.  Whether the sexuality is sapphic in nature, the intention appeared to direct the discussion to sex among famous women.  Discussing the sex lives of actresses is not new; furthermore, it is a facet of gossip.  Within the context context of women and film, sexualizing women has been a a fundamental aspect of Hollywood from its inception.  Typically, it is the masculine gaze that creates the sexual tone and the reduction of actress to object.  As for lesbianism, when a male eye casts upon lesbianism, it tends to make lesbianism sexually arousing (for the male) or as a means to some masculine designed end (e.g., sex without pregnancy).  McLellan casts a similar gaze upon women.  She perpetuates the notion that woman focal relationships of actresses were designed by Hollywood producers or merely temporary relationships in situ of the contract because she did nothing to prove otherwise other than to re-enforce gossip.

Sadly, better portrayals of Old Hollywood and the relationships between women, the industry, and social mores appear in texts that never claim to be anything beyond researched fiction.  Certainly this assessment may appear harsh; however, promoting a text as history while being little more than a fictionalized, cum rumored account of famous lovers, just continues to skew the hidden histories of lesbians.

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Review of "Ladysmith," by Rhavensfyre

The publisher's blurb, "Sometimes stories are more than myth and legend. What has been forgotten cannot be suppressed, and nightmares can come alive in your dreams," hints that the story of Ladysmith surpasses the largess of legend and the scope of myth.  Certainly such a claim seems a tall orer for any author to fill.  While the novel was intrepid, it could not move into the stratosphere of legend, or even legendary writes within the fantasy genre suc as Anne McCaffery.  However, hyperbole aside, Rhavensfyre's Ladysmith proved to be a satisfying read, in many respects.

Good fantasy fiction bold enough to nod in the direction of Irish and European tapestry of folklore by employing elements of fairy, should avoid any overwrought, insipid use of the folkloric archetypes, in order to develop a unique plot. A first rate story must be able to hold its own within the tradition, and, Ladysmith, achieves that status.  It can hold its own.

Rhavensfyre adeptly maneuvers the plot through a rich, colorful, multi-layered fantasy-scape without becoming bogged down in syrupy sweetness, triteness, and otherbtrappings, which often accompany works deemed “fantasy” where “fantasy” actually means “romance with fairies.” The romance of Ladysmith blossomed in the world-within-world construct of fantasy while the elements of the folkloric made sense as well.

What moved this reviewer most, was the incredible depth of description which seemed more like paintings shaped by words than paragraphs – each syllable casts its own, unique shadow, emotion, and shape within the scene. The mind’s eye could “see” the facial expressions of the characters, “feel” the dampness of the grass, the chill of the stonework. Needless to say, the descriptions and imagery were breathtaking. Each page was vibrantly captivating, allowing the reader to wander beside the characters in a lush, rich landscape: generating veracity and complexity of emotion, masterfully articulated by characters via physical description and in voice.

Rhavensfyre offers the reader an excellent escape from the mundane world from cover to cover. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction – especially fantasy fiction within a traditional, archetypal framework.

Review of "Deep Merge," by Linda North

 Two women, from different worlds, will join together in a profound and unique way that will herald the start of a new path for their planets and a promising future for themselves.

Linda North, in her novel, Deep Merge, transcends the mundane aspects of many works of science fiction by adeptly exploring the relationship between technology, society, and the individual. In doing so, social issues extant within modern, techno focal culture became both fundamental and integral to the plot.   In doing so,  Linda North created an intricately crafted, excellent science fiction novel.

Deep Merge is a captivating work of contemporary science fiction reminiscent of the styles of Heinlein, Le Guin or, perhaps even Orson Scott Card.  Certainly each of the aforementioned classic authors fall into varied waves of the sci-fi tradition, yet they each bring attention to the atrophy of the individual within an overly technological, centralized government, the plausibility of scientific and biological changes set within the plot, while also presenting characters possessing a high level of scientific sophistication.  North achieved this feat as well.  

Deep Merge managages to avoid the obliqueness often associated with poor science fiction writing.  Such obliqueness manifests whenever ignoring the of imperative requisite of plausibility: the plausibility of the science and of the human condition.  In those works, the "science" in science fiction is anything but plausible, rendering the tale facile or childish.  In Deep Merge, North completely  avoids such pitfalls by developing a space technological backdrop, compleat with discription, that is meaningful, intellectually consistent, and relevant.  It not only makes sense, but it works with rather than against the characters.  

North successfully integrates the best aspects of the second and third wave of science fiction themes by weaving contemporary struggles of homophobia, bigotry, and xenophobia harmoniously into her fictional setting.  Ultimately, North presents an engaging sci-fi tale which hits many of this reader's favorite chords, space travel, genetics, and strong female characters in loving, exciting relationships.  

I'm ready to find other of North's books The dream-scape that she creates for the reader is vibrant, multi-faceted, and extremely intriguing.   I look forward to reading more of works in the future.

 

 

"Switching Gears," by Rhavensfyre, 2014 Goldie Award Winner

Switching Gears, Rhavensfyre

 

I admit, the title snagged this cyclists attention. However, the creation of an analogy which, although unspoken, yet increasingly relevant, is not an easy feat for most writers. Such things are too often either heavy handed or trite, and in Rhavensfyre's case, the author managed to avoid the pitfalls and create something that allows the reader to feel for herself, exactly in the way that the reader interprets the story - uniquely, personally. No leading by the nose, just quiet, beautiful plot development.

The chemistry between Olivia and Micah felt visceral, true, and absolutely reasonable. The exploration of the tension that most experience upon first recognizing desire and then trying to figure out how to act, captivated memory. More than the mere recognition of desire, but the insecurities at play when pursuing someone outside of assumed class/profession/circle, seemed spot on. Wonderfully developed through the internal dialogue of Olivia and Micah, the interplay between main characters and others within their varied circles, made me laugh, wistfully, remembering my own journeys. In order for a book to achieve such resonance in me, the plot had to be well crafted, enough that it seemed as though my own tale was being told. 

 

 

Switching Gears

Review of "Fractured Futures," by SY Thompson

 FRACTURED FUTURES,  SY THOMPSON

     Detective Ronan Lee has just solved the crime of the century. Or, has she?   

 

As a hard-core Dark Urban Fantasy fan, it takes a clever plot to surprise me any more. It seems as though every story harkens back to one prior, often as near miss to plagiarism, if not accidental homage. So, when I opened Fractured Futures, I was prepared to be disappointed. Happily, what I discovered was a strong dark urban fantasy, complete with intense female protagonists and romance that was rich, inviting, and sexy (oh, and between woman! SY Thompson takes a futuristic landscape, reminiscent of a blending of Orwell and Ridley Scott, dark, centralized, and fraught with layers of discord and corruption, yet she reaches further into that realm, casting a glance at the oppression of women service workers via the near cyborg effect cast upon Ronan as a police officer, serves as tool both owned and employed by the state.  This reductionism becomes further enhanced by her connection to technology, especially intriguing as the technological component leads to an even darker and complex plot line. Further, Thompson explores sexuality, via intense dialogue and an interplay of provocative themes of class -- within both regime and intimacy. Additionally, as the plot revolves around serial killing, violence against women provides another important social element. It is the complexity of this interplay that ultimately strengthens the romantic relationship.

Certainly, I could easily say that I loved the book and call it a day. However, Thompson deserves recognition for how well she fused aspects of social justice into a police drama cum DUF cum lesbian fiction book. I highly recommend it. Hand down, this book will be re-read multiple times.

Fractured Futures by SY Thompson Link: http://amzn.com/B00GIFY020