Book Review:
Destination Alara, SY Thompson
SY Thompson’s newest novel, Destination
Alara, transports readers to a science fiction plot replete with nearly
everything for which an aficionado of such books could: the creation of a
unique galactic world with its own historical backstory unique to this story,
strong female protagonists, a romance which enhances the plot rather than
overwhelming it, sophisticated political intrigue, and a vivid, descriptive
settings which are richly sensory in nature.
It isn’t supervising that Thompson delivers a novel in the tradition of
Ursula Le Guin, with a bit of Elizabeth Lynn, and Mercedes Lackey, tossed in
for good measure. Thompson creates a
unique world, with incredibly nuanced characters, and a view of a matriarchal
social structure that is not overly simplified or stereotypical, but
possible. Needless to say, I loved this
book. Thompson brought a bit of glee to
my sci-fi soul.
Thompson creates a rather
post-apocalyptic setting with its own historical backstory (not just a few
years prior, but layers/generations of societies prior, not completely unlike
that of Star Trek or Star Wars, but unique unto itself). That history is useful in that it helps stage
the current a political struggle, cast, (aptly), with gender, class,
imperialist issues. If Thompson had
simply inserted a matriarchal society in place of the patriarchal one in which
we live, the tale would be simplistic.
Instead, the use of matriarchy allows for a tension between the antagonists
in such a way that demonstrates the oppressive nature of male centered culture
toward women; particularly with respect to women in power, the means that rape
culture would attempt to strip the power from any woman, as well as the disdain
patriarchal societies hold for lesbians.
These themes play out well in the dynamic character of Admiral Meryan as
a daughter of the ruling family and the circumstances in which she is placed
within the plot, as well as how Van, the other protagonist, military hero, and
love interest works within that dynamic.
Certainly, I could go on for
pages about the themes at work in Destination Alara, it seems more
appropriate for this review to clue the reader into the incredibly, no,
sensuously vivid descriptions that Thompson provides the reader. Each scene can be felt, heard, visualized
completely, as if the reader is along side the character. If one
has ever watched an episode of Star Trek, then take that visualization and
double it – that’s how visually intense the descriptors are written. With respect to dialogue, each character has
a unique phrasing, accent, emotional range that comes out each time, even with
respect to minor characters. Thompson
renders such a rich complexity to each moment of the plot, that it seems
genuine – an excellent rendering of a possible world.
All in all, SY Thompson
delivers outstanding science fiction with a lesbian fiction focus. The lesbian focal aspect should not dissuade
non-lesbians from picking up this book, because it is outstanding and
transcends gender identity. It is simply
put, wonderfully written science fiction.
I highly recommend this book.
