Destination Alara: SY Thompson's Great New Novel

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.

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.

 

 

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