J.S. Fields

Author & Scientist

Review: The Adventure of the Dux Bellorum by Cynthia Ward

This is book two in a series. Read the review for book one here.

Genre: science fiction, pulp

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: asexual, cis gay male, cis lesbian

Warnings: period terms for ethnic groups and racist ideology (confronted in narrative, but belonging to characters)

 

Review

Half-vampire, all lesbian Lucy Harker is back for another British spy adventure. This time, Lucy is sent to the front to protect Winston Churchill, who insists on being with his ‘men’ in the field. He has to be protected not just from war, of course, but also wolf-men and the occasional pterodactyl.

Yes, there are dinosaurs in this book.

Relive all the campy pulpy fun of THE ADVENTURES OF THE INCOGNITA COUNTESS with added mole men and dinosaurs. If that doesn’t sell you on it I don’t know what will.

Specifically…

There’s a lot more gore in this one, and Lucy ‘dies’ a number of times (always coming back, of course). Her relationship with full vampire Carmilla plays more of a central role, and the two remain steamy without any on-page sex. They’re just that compatible.

The evil villain/lair plot at the end is very well constructed and quick, yet described enough, that it’s easy to pretend you are watching a fantastically B movie in a theater instead of reading one in a book. Every moment is in full technicolor, from the Martian ray guns to the clunky mind control bonnets.

Now about that warning…

The series continues to examine biases as well. Lucy challenges biases against women but holds her own deeply seated racism, even when challenged (and the authorial voice is clear that these elements are problems, but lets the characters come to that realization on their own). Villains sometimes are more forward thinking than the heroes when it comes to marginalization. And through it all, the tiny world elements that made original pulp sci fi so problematic are rectified–for instance, France and Germany have plenty of people of color in them, and when young women are being abducted to be fed to dinosaurs (of course), we see women of all skin tones, not just blonde German women.

To discuss much else would give away key pulpy plot points so we will leave with noting that Cynthia Ward’s pulp sci fi series remains a fun favorite. To save yourself from the flesh-eating werewolves and terrifying dinosaurs, or maybe find yourself a lesbian vampire lover, purchase THE ADVENTURE OF THE DUX BELLORUM in paperback here or ebook here.

 

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Review: The Stars are Legion by Kameron Hurley

Genre: military fantasy

Pairings: f/f

Queer Representation: cis lesbian (literally no gender other than cis female)

Warnings: none

Rating: eleventy billion stars (but no living planets because they’re creepy AF)

 

Review

Zan has no memory of her past. She awakes on a ship (also a planet) with a mass of injuries and a deep attraction to a woman who may have betrayed her. All she knows is that she once threw away a child, and she must penetrate the membrane of world known as ‘Mokshi’ so that her mother can take control of its resources to save their own dying planet. But as Zan’s memories slowly return, she is haunted not only by her growing feelings for Jayd, but snippets of her past life, her dying world, and a hidden plan to save the Legion.

General

Just…wow. I am not a fan of military sci fi but this book picked me up by the collar on page one and did not let me go until the very end. Forget everything you know about military sci fi. This isn’t Battlestar Galactica, this is female military sci fi, which means a lot less… well, men. The lack of men and their (stereotypical) goals and obsessions makes this book an exploration of community and war, of birth and gore. It’s amazing.

Plot

Fast paced without being rushed. Even in the middle of the book, where it shifts from military to ‘journey’ book, the plot did not lag. Every chapter had relevance and character building, and following Zan through the layers of the world as she regains her memory was a delight. The tension stemming from not knowing the in-world plot really drove my interest, to the point where I almost mourned the end of the book.

In contrast to Hurley’s THE MIRROR EMPIRE, LEGION delivers a solid, tight plot without the wandering and massive POV list. Where MIRROR was a slog with occasional tension, LEGION is polished to a high gloss.

The ending was perfect. Too often with books I love I feel let down when the ending lacks punch, or resolution, or leaves me with a syrupy sweetness that makes me want to brush my teeth. The ending to LEGION wrapped the book and the emotions up but left me with that melancholy happiness I need to really feel fulfilled .

Characters

Although we have two POV characters–Jayd and Zan, Zan really drives the narrative. Jayd serves as more of a device (both as a character and for the plot). The mothers/rulers of the two warring worlds have an interesting dynamic as well, and Rasida was one of my favorite characters (the warlord ruler of the ‘antagonist’ planet who more or less buys Jayd for her childbearing capabilities) along with Das Muni, the woman who gives birth to some sort of healing squid creatures. Read the book for Das Muni if for no other reason. She’s been recycled too many times. She deserves it.

 

You can experience THE STARS ARE LEGION (and hopefully not give birth to a healing squid creature as a result) in paperback here and ebook here.

 

 

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