I know it's taboo to review a book before you're done with it, but I just wanted to give a quick shout-out to one of the best fantasy/sci-fi books I have ever read. China Mieville's The Scar is not only a fantastic piece of literature, but it has one of my favorite female protagonists in a fantasy/sci-fi book so far.Let me tell you some of my favorite things. The protagonist is a middle-aged female linguist named Bellis Coldwine. She is somewhat detached, very guarded and highly intelligent. She has several lovers throughout the book and has no intention of marrying or falling in love. She is a normal human, no super powers. She is not beautiful, in fact she is barely even physically described. Are you in love yet? God, I am.
Also, Mieville drops these fabulously subtle hints about gender inequalities in the city of her birth. She publishes her work as B. Coldwine, a move that she calls a "harmless little piece of obfuscation" so that people won't judge her work by her gender. Another character, Uther Doul, describes gender relations in Bellis' home city of New Crobuzon as "A certain sacralization of women. A contempt masked as adoration." Of course, Mieville is commenting on the status of gender relations in his home city of London, the model for the steampunk New Crobuzon. These statements make Bellis's character so much more intriguing for me, now that I know that she comes from a society like mine in which women aren't exactly given a fair shake. They also garner more respect for Mr. Mieville, as it lets me know that he is in touch with some of the subtleties of my issues.
The fact that Mieville even writes of gender issues in a book not entirely about gender issues has me in love. I wasn't expecting a particularly feminist read here, and I was oh so pleasantly surprised. There are many other reasons to check out this book even beside the female protagonist. Mieville is a highly inventive writer, a master at race creation and civilization building (he has an MA in social anthropology) and knows how to construct a great plot. Also there's a character in there with tentacles and gills, so I'd probably be reading this if it were a treatise on chauvinism. I can't help it, I just love me some octopuses. Over and out!
2 comments:
Gender theory is an interesting lens to critique the world with. I, for one, am interested in knowing what a radical Feminist such as yourself would make of the Frustrated Cheetah Lady. Even if there's no conscious rebellion against the patriarchy, is her desire for domesticity on her own terms a form of it?
Now, as far the book is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised the character of Bellis Coldwine is partially inspired by Anne Bonny, the famous 18th century lady pirate. Anne Bonny, for her part, was quite efficient at her vocation. She too had a voracious sexual appetite.
Finally, I think your blog has an interesting subject. My girlfriend, though she would not identify herself as a feminist, is a very self determined lady who is the geekiest girl I know. She is a badminton coach and also loves video games. Best of all, since she is originally from Hong Kong, she's got vast knowledge of Kung Fu cinema, and can probably teach me a thing or two about self defense!
Anyway, take care and keep it up.
I just went and added this to my amazon wishlist but I would rather b a cheap ass and borrow it from you. (whenever you finish that is)
:D
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