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Thanks to the kindness of ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aamcnamara in loaning a copy so I did not have to fight through the library line, I read The Stone Sky - third in N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, following up on The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate - last weekend.
I don't think Essun destroyed any cities at all this book! I'm so proud!
I like Hoa and all, but I found the backstory with its extensive magical infodumps less compelling than the ongoing present-story of Essun and to a lesser extent Nassun, and to an even greater extent the glimpses of hope represented by Castrima and its community. That said, is Syl Anagist science fiction's first solarpunk dystopia? I think it might be.
I find myself wondering, with the reveal of who's narrating the story, whether there's any sense in which we're meant to take Hoa as unreliable as far as his interpretation of Essun and Nassun's experiences and emotions throughout the story. I don't think so; I think probably we're meant to take Hoa pretty much at his word when he says he knows Essun well enough to tell her back to herself. But I do wonder, especially when it comes to Hoa's description of Essun's feelings towards and interactions with Hoa himself. One of these days in the next couple years I'll reread the whole series through, and try to watch for this.
Jemisin's writing frequently emphasizes the idea that sometimes things -- people, relationships, societies -- are broken beyond repair. I didn't like the way this played out in the Dreamblood duology. I think it works better here. There are no answers; there's only the chance to do it all one more time, and hope it turns out better. I wonder what happens to a pregnant Stone Eater. (I mean, I think textually what probably happens is 'eternal tiny stone baby bump', but another answer could be interesting and also thematic too.)
aamcnamara in loaning a copy so I did not have to fight through the library line, I read The Stone Sky - third in N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, following up on The Fifth Season and The Obelisk Gate - last weekend. I don't think Essun destroyed any cities at all this book! I'm so proud!
I like Hoa and all, but I found the backstory with its extensive magical infodumps less compelling than the ongoing present-story of Essun and to a lesser extent Nassun, and to an even greater extent the glimpses of hope represented by Castrima and its community. That said, is Syl Anagist science fiction's first solarpunk dystopia? I think it might be.
I find myself wondering, with the reveal of who's narrating the story, whether there's any sense in which we're meant to take Hoa as unreliable as far as his interpretation of Essun and Nassun's experiences and emotions throughout the story. I don't think so; I think probably we're meant to take Hoa pretty much at his word when he says he knows Essun well enough to tell her back to herself. But I do wonder, especially when it comes to Hoa's description of Essun's feelings towards and interactions with Hoa himself. One of these days in the next couple years I'll reread the whole series through, and try to watch for this.
Jemisin's writing frequently emphasizes the idea that sometimes things -- people, relationships, societies -- are broken beyond repair. I didn't like the way this played out in the Dreamblood duology. I think it works better here. There are no answers; there's only the chance to do it all one more time, and hope it turns out better. I wonder what happens to a pregnant Stone Eater. (I mean, I think textually what probably happens is 'eternal tiny stone baby bump', but another answer could be interesting and also thematic too.)