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The Iron Dragon's Daughter #1
袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪
袦邪泄泻谢 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 /1950 褉.薪./ 鈥� 胁褨写芯屑懈泄 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褋褜泻懈泄 锌懈褋褜屑械薪薪懈泻, 褖芯 锌褉邪褑褞褦 薪邪 锌械褉械褌懈薪褨 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯褏 卸邪薪褉褨胁, 蟹芯泻褉械屑邪 锌芯褋褌屑芯写械褉薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻褍, 邪谢褜褌械褉薪邪褌懈胁薪芯褩 褨褋褌芯褉褨褩 褌邪 薪邪褍泻芯胁芯褩 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈泻懈.
孝胁芯褉褔邪 屑邪薪械褉邪 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 褋邪屑芯斜褍褌薪褟 褨 薪械芯褉写懈薪邪褉薪邪, 褌芯卸 锌芯褉褨胁薪褞胁邪褌懈 泄芯谐芯 蟹 褨薪褕懈屑懈 鈥� 屑邪褉薪邪 褋锌褉邪胁邪. 袩褉芯 褖芯 斜 胁褨薪 薪械 斜褉邪胁褋褟 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褌懈 鈥� 锌褉芯 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪械 褨 薪褍写薪械 褔懈薪芯胁薪懈褑褜泻械 胁褨写褉褟写卸械薪薪褟 薪邪 褨薪褕褍 锌谢邪薪械褌褍 褔懈 锌褉芯 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟 胁懈泻褉邪写械薪芯褩 褎械泄褉褨 写褨胁褔懈薪泻懈, 鈥� 泄芯谐芯 芯锌芯胁褨写褜 蟹褉芯斜懈褌褜 薪械 芯写懈薪 卸邪薪褉芯胁懈泄 褌邪 褨写械泄薪芯-泻芯薪褑械锌褌褍邪谢褜薪懈泄 泻褍谢褜斜褨褌, 邪 褎褨薪邪谢 芯斜芯胁鈥櫻徯沸盒拘残� 斜褍写械 薪械褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪懈屑.
小械褉械写 薪邪谐芯褉芯写 袦邪泄泻谢邪 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 褌邪泻褨 锌褉械褋褌懈卸薪褨 谐邪谢褍蟹械胁褨 锌褉械屑褨褩, 褟泻 芦袚鈥櫻幮承韭�, 芦袧械斜褜褞谢邪禄, 芦袥芯泻褍褋禄, 芦袙褋械褋胁褨褌薪褟 锌褉械屑褨褟 褎械薪褌械蟹褨禄 褌邪 褨薪褕褨. 袟-锌芯屑褨卸 写械褋褟褌泻邪 褉芯屑邪薪褨胁 褨 锌芯薪邪写 胁褨褋褨屑写械褋褟褌懈 芯锌芯胁褨写邪薪褜 薪邪泄胁褨写芯屑褨褕褨 鈥� 褉芯屑邪薪懈 褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褩 芦袟邪谢褨蟹薪褨 写褉邪泻芯薪懈禄, 锌械褉褕懈泄 蟹 褟泻懈褏 芦袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 鈥� 褋褞卸械褌薪芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕械薪懈泄, 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪懈泄 褌邪 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褜薪懈泄 蟹褉邪蟹芯泻 褎褨谢芯褋芯褎褋褜泻芯谐芯 锌芯褋褌屑芯写械褉薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褟泻懈泄 写芯褋褨 谢懈褕邪褦褌褜褋褟 械褌邪谢芯薪芯屑 卸邪薪褉褍.
校褟胁褨褌褜 褋胁褨褌 褍屑芯胁薪芯谐芯 褌芯谢泻褨薪褨胁褋褜泻芯谐芯 小械褉械写蟹械屑鈥櫻�, 褖芯 褔邪褩褌褜褋褟 褍 锌邪褉邪谢械谢褜薪懈褏 胁懈屑褨褉邪褏 锌谢褍褌邪薪芯谐芯 屑褍谢褜褌懈胁褋械褋胁褨褌褍. 小胁褨褌, 褖芯 褉芯蟹胁懈胁邪胁褋褟 锌褉懈斜谢懈蟹薪芯 褌邪泻 褋邪屑芯, 褟泻 薪邪褕, 邪谢械 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 谢懈褕懈谢懈褋褟 褔邪褉懈, 褉懈褌褍邪谢懈 泄 褔邪褉褨胁薪褨 褨褋褌芯褌懈, 褟泻褨 褌械锌械褉 斜褍写械薪薪芯 卸懈胁褍褌褜 褍 蟹薪邪泄芯屑懈褏 薪邪屑 胁械谢懈褔械蟹薪懈褏 屑械谐邪锌芯谢褨褋邪褏. 袛械褋褜 褌褉懈胁邪褞褌褜 胁褨泄薪懈, 写谢褟 褟泻懈褏 蟹邪胁芯写懈 褋褌胁芯褉褞褞褌褜 屑械褏邪薪褨褔薪懈褏 写褉邪泻芯薪褨胁 鈥� 锌芯褌褍卸薪褨 斜芯泄芯胁褨 屑邪褕懈薪懈, 薪邪写褨谢械薪褨 褕褌褍褔薪懈屑 褨薪褌械谢械泻褌芯屑, 褏芯谢芯写薪懈屑 褨 锌褨写褋褌褍锌薪懈屑, 胁 芯褋薪芯胁褨 褟泻芯谐芯 谢械卸懈褌褜 谢懈褕械 卸邪谐邪 写芯 褉褍泄薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 褨 褏邪芯褋褍. 袛褉邪泻芯薪邪屑 写谢褟 褎褍薪泻褑褨芯薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪褨 锌褨谢芯褌懈 鈥� 谢褞写褋褜泻褨 薪邪锌褨胁泻褉芯胁泻懈, 谢懈褕械 蟹 薪懈屑懈 写褉邪泻芯薪 屑芯卸械 蟹写褨泄薪褟褌懈褋褟 胁 锌芯胁褨褌褉褟 褨 蟹邪褋褌芯褋褍胁邪褌懈 褍胁械褋褜 褋胁褨泄 薪懈褖褨胁薪懈泄 邪褉褋械薪邪谢.
袗谢械 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 泻芯谢懈 芯写懈薪 褌邪泻懈泄 褋锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 薪邪 屑械褌邪谢芯斜褉褍褏褌 写褉邪泻芯薪 蟹邪褏芯褔械 锌芯屑褋褌懈褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 褋胁芯褦 锌芯蟹斜邪胁谢械薪械 褋械薪褋褍 褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋邪屑懈屑 锌械褉褕芯芯褋薪芯胁邪屑 褋胁褨褌褍, 褟泻懈泄 泄芯谐芯 锌芯褉芯写懈胁? 袉 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 泻芯谢懈 胁褨薪 蟹薪邪泄写械 写芯褋褌芯泄薪芯谐芯 锌褨谢芯褌邪 写谢褟 胁褌褨谢械薪薪褟 蟹邪写褍屑褍 鈥� 写褨胁褔懈薪泻褍-锌褨写屑褨薪泻邪, 褟泻褍 褋邪屑芯 薪褨褏褌芯 薪械 锌懈褌邪胁, 锌械褉械薪芯褋褟褔懈 褍 褑械泄 褏懈屑械褉薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌 蟹 泄芯谐芯 写懈胁薪懈屑懈 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪屑懈 褨 薪械褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁懈屑懈 蟹邪泻芯薪邪屑懈? 孝芯写褨 褋褌褉褍褋薪褍褌褜褋褟 褋邪屑褨 芯褋薪芯胁懈 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁懈, 邪 褉械邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜 锌芯褋褌邪薪械 胁 褍褋褨泄 褋胁芯褩泄 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨泄 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪褨泄 褋褍褌褨, 锌褉懈谐芯谢芯屑褕褍褞褔懈, 写懈胁褍褞褔懈, 卸邪褏邪褞褔懈鈥�
芦袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 鈥� 胁械褉褕懈薪薪懈泄 蟹褉邪蟹芯泻 锌芯褋褌屑芯写械褉薪芯谐芯 褌械褏薪芯褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褎械泄褉褨锌邪薪泻, 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 袦邪泄泻谢 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌芯胁薪芯褞 屑褨褉芯褞 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦 褍胁械褋褜 褋胁褨泄 邪褉褋械薪邪谢 薪械褌褉邪写懈褑褨泄薪芯谐芯 锌芯谐谢褟写褍 薪邪 褌褉邪写懈褑褨泄薪褨 卸邪薪褉懈 褨 锌械褉械胁械褉褌邪褦 蟹 薪褨谐 薪邪 谐芯谢芯胁褍 薪邪褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 褍褟胁谢械薪薪褟.
孝胁芯褉褔邪 屑邪薪械褉邪 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 褋邪屑芯斜褍褌薪褟 褨 薪械芯褉写懈薪邪褉薪邪, 褌芯卸 锌芯褉褨胁薪褞胁邪褌懈 泄芯谐芯 蟹 褨薪褕懈屑懈 鈥� 屑邪褉薪邪 褋锌褉邪胁邪. 袩褉芯 褖芯 斜 胁褨薪 薪械 斜褉邪胁褋褟 褉芯蟹锌芯胁褨写邪褌懈 鈥� 锌褉芯 蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪械 褨 薪褍写薪械 褔懈薪芯胁薪懈褑褜泻械 胁褨写褉褟写卸械薪薪褟 薪邪 褨薪褕褍 锌谢邪薪械褌褍 褔懈 锌褉芯 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟 胁懈泻褉邪写械薪芯褩 褎械泄褉褨 写褨胁褔懈薪泻懈, 鈥� 泄芯谐芯 芯锌芯胁褨写褜 蟹褉芯斜懈褌褜 薪械 芯写懈薪 卸邪薪褉芯胁懈泄 褌邪 褨写械泄薪芯-泻芯薪褑械锌褌褍邪谢褜薪懈泄 泻褍谢褜斜褨褌, 邪 褎褨薪邪谢 芯斜芯胁鈥櫻徯沸盒拘残� 斜褍写械 薪械褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪懈屑.
小械褉械写 薪邪谐芯褉芯写 袦邪泄泻谢邪 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 褌邪泻褨 锌褉械褋褌懈卸薪褨 谐邪谢褍蟹械胁褨 锌褉械屑褨褩, 褟泻 芦袚鈥櫻幮承韭�, 芦袧械斜褜褞谢邪禄, 芦袥芯泻褍褋禄, 芦袙褋械褋胁褨褌薪褟 锌褉械屑褨褟 褎械薪褌械蟹褨禄 褌邪 褨薪褕褨. 袟-锌芯屑褨卸 写械褋褟褌泻邪 褉芯屑邪薪褨胁 褨 锌芯薪邪写 胁褨褋褨屑写械褋褟褌懈 芯锌芯胁褨写邪薪褜 薪邪泄胁褨写芯屑褨褕褨 鈥� 褉芯屑邪薪懈 褌褉懈谢芯谐褨褩 芦袟邪谢褨蟹薪褨 写褉邪泻芯薪懈禄, 锌械褉褕懈泄 蟹 褟泻懈褏 芦袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 鈥� 褋褞卸械褌薪芯 蟹邪胁械褉褕械薪懈泄, 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪懈泄 褌邪 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褜薪懈泄 蟹褉邪蟹芯泻 褎褨谢芯褋芯褎褋褜泻芯谐芯 锌芯褋褌屑芯写械褉薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褟泻懈泄 写芯褋褨 谢懈褕邪褦褌褜褋褟 械褌邪谢芯薪芯屑 卸邪薪褉褍.
校褟胁褨褌褜 褋胁褨褌 褍屑芯胁薪芯谐芯 褌芯谢泻褨薪褨胁褋褜泻芯谐芯 小械褉械写蟹械屑鈥櫻�, 褖芯 褔邪褩褌褜褋褟 褍 锌邪褉邪谢械谢褜薪懈褏 胁懈屑褨褉邪褏 锌谢褍褌邪薪芯谐芯 屑褍谢褜褌懈胁褋械褋胁褨褌褍. 小胁褨褌, 褖芯 褉芯蟹胁懈胁邪胁褋褟 锌褉懈斜谢懈蟹薪芯 褌邪泻 褋邪屑芯, 褟泻 薪邪褕, 邪谢械 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 谢懈褕懈谢懈褋褟 褔邪褉懈, 褉懈褌褍邪谢懈 泄 褔邪褉褨胁薪褨 褨褋褌芯褌懈, 褟泻褨 褌械锌械褉 斜褍写械薪薪芯 卸懈胁褍褌褜 褍 蟹薪邪泄芯屑懈褏 薪邪屑 胁械谢懈褔械蟹薪懈褏 屑械谐邪锌芯谢褨褋邪褏. 袛械褋褜 褌褉懈胁邪褞褌褜 胁褨泄薪懈, 写谢褟 褟泻懈褏 蟹邪胁芯写懈 褋褌胁芯褉褞褞褌褜 屑械褏邪薪褨褔薪懈褏 写褉邪泻芯薪褨胁 鈥� 锌芯褌褍卸薪褨 斜芯泄芯胁褨 屑邪褕懈薪懈, 薪邪写褨谢械薪褨 褕褌褍褔薪懈屑 褨薪褌械谢械泻褌芯屑, 褏芯谢芯写薪懈屑 褨 锌褨写褋褌褍锌薪懈屑, 胁 芯褋薪芯胁褨 褟泻芯谐芯 谢械卸懈褌褜 谢懈褕械 卸邪谐邪 写芯 褉褍泄薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 褨 褏邪芯褋褍. 袛褉邪泻芯薪邪屑 写谢褟 褎褍薪泻褑褨芯薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪褨 锌褨谢芯褌懈 鈥� 谢褞写褋褜泻褨 薪邪锌褨胁泻褉芯胁泻懈, 谢懈褕械 蟹 薪懈屑懈 写褉邪泻芯薪 屑芯卸械 蟹写褨泄薪褟褌懈褋褟 胁 锌芯胁褨褌褉褟 褨 蟹邪褋褌芯褋褍胁邪褌懈 褍胁械褋褜 褋胁褨泄 薪懈褖褨胁薪懈泄 邪褉褋械薪邪谢.
袗谢械 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 泻芯谢懈 芯写懈薪 褌邪泻懈泄 褋锌懈褋邪薪懈泄 薪邪 屑械褌邪谢芯斜褉褍褏褌 写褉邪泻芯薪 蟹邪褏芯褔械 锌芯屑褋褌懈褌懈褋褟 蟹邪 褋胁芯褦 锌芯蟹斜邪胁谢械薪械 褋械薪褋褍 褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋邪屑懈屑 锌械褉褕芯芯褋薪芯胁邪屑 褋胁褨褌褍, 褟泻懈泄 泄芯谐芯 锌芯褉芯写懈胁? 袉 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 泻芯谢懈 胁褨薪 蟹薪邪泄写械 写芯褋褌芯泄薪芯谐芯 锌褨谢芯褌邪 写谢褟 胁褌褨谢械薪薪褟 蟹邪写褍屑褍 鈥� 写褨胁褔懈薪泻褍-锌褨写屑褨薪泻邪, 褟泻褍 褋邪屑芯 薪褨褏褌芯 薪械 锌懈褌邪胁, 锌械褉械薪芯褋褟褔懈 褍 褑械泄 褏懈屑械褉薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌 蟹 泄芯谐芯 写懈胁薪懈屑懈 锌褉邪胁懈谢邪屑懈 褨 薪械褋锌褉邪胁械写谢懈胁懈屑懈 蟹邪泻芯薪邪屑懈? 孝芯写褨 褋褌褉褍褋薪褍褌褜褋褟 褋邪屑褨 芯褋薪芯胁懈 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁懈, 邪 褉械邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜 锌芯褋褌邪薪械 胁 褍褋褨泄 褋胁芯褩泄 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨泄 薪械泄屑芯胁褨褉薪褨泄 褋褍褌褨, 锌褉懈谐芯谢芯屑褕褍褞褔懈, 写懈胁褍褞褔懈, 卸邪褏邪褞褔懈鈥�
芦袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 鈥� 胁械褉褕懈薪薪懈泄 蟹褉邪蟹芯泻 锌芯褋褌屑芯写械褉薪芯谐芯 褌械褏薪芯褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褎械泄褉褨锌邪薪泻, 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 袦邪泄泻谢 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌芯胁薪芯褞 屑褨褉芯褞 褉芯蟹泻褉懈胁邪褦 褍胁械褋褜 褋胁褨泄 邪褉褋械薪邪谢 薪械褌褉邪写懈褑褨泄薪芯谐芯 锌芯谐谢褟写褍 薪邪 褌褉邪写懈褑褨泄薪褨 卸邪薪褉懈 褨 锌械褉械胁械褉褌邪褦 蟹 薪褨谐 薪邪 谐芯谢芯胁褍 薪邪褕械 锌褉芯 薪懈褏 褍褟胁谢械薪薪褟.
488 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1993
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May 18, 2009
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT .
Some people don't like to admit that they didn't "get" a book, but I'm secure enough with myself to say that I didn't get this one.
The Iron Dragon's Daughter started off well. Jane is a human changeling who works in a Faerie factory that makes flying iron dragons for weapons. Jane and the other child slave laborers (who are a mix of strange creatures) are entertaining and bring to mind Lord of the Flies and that scene in Sid's room from Pixar's Toy Story. Michael Swanwick's writing style is fluid and faultless. There are flashes of -esque creativity: a timeclock with a temper, a meryon (whatever that is) civilization similar to that in A Bug's Life, a conniving jar-bound homunculus, gryphons who dive for thrown beer cans. I truly enjoyed these parts of the book and understand why Mr. Swanwick has won so many prestigious awards.
But, after Jane escapes from the dragon factory, the whole thing plummets like a lead dragon and it never returns to its former glory. The writing style is still lovely, but the plot is 鈥� I don't think I've ever used this word in a review before 鈥� awful. I hated it.
Jane was never a sympathetic heroine, but after her escape she turns into a remorseless foul-mouthed thief, drug-user, slut, and murderer. I didn't like her or any of her acquaintances. The plot had no order, the world had no rules, everything that happened seemed random, chaotic, and senseless.
Knowing that other people have praised this novel and that it's sequel (The Dragons of Babel) was nominated for a Locus award, I pressed on. About two-thirds of the way through, I figured out that there was a method to the madness, but the chaotic nihilism was so disturbing that even though I realized it contributed to the entire philosophy of the novel, I still hated it. I think perhaps if I'd dropped some acid, the plot would have arranged itself better in my mind, but alas, I had none to hand.
I think Michael Swanwick is a great writer, but The Iron Dragon's Daughter was weird, disjointed, obtuse, and inaccessibly bizarre.
Originally published at .
Some people don't like to admit that they didn't "get" a book, but I'm secure enough with myself to say that I didn't get this one.
The Iron Dragon's Daughter started off well. Jane is a human changeling who works in a Faerie factory that makes flying iron dragons for weapons. Jane and the other child slave laborers (who are a mix of strange creatures) are entertaining and bring to mind Lord of the Flies and that scene in Sid's room from Pixar's Toy Story. Michael Swanwick's writing style is fluid and faultless. There are flashes of -esque creativity: a timeclock with a temper, a meryon (whatever that is) civilization similar to that in A Bug's Life, a conniving jar-bound homunculus, gryphons who dive for thrown beer cans. I truly enjoyed these parts of the book and understand why Mr. Swanwick has won so many prestigious awards.
But, after Jane escapes from the dragon factory, the whole thing plummets like a lead dragon and it never returns to its former glory. The writing style is still lovely, but the plot is 鈥� I don't think I've ever used this word in a review before 鈥� awful. I hated it.
Jane was never a sympathetic heroine, but after her escape she turns into a remorseless foul-mouthed thief, drug-user, slut, and murderer. I didn't like her or any of her acquaintances. The plot had no order, the world had no rules, everything that happened seemed random, chaotic, and senseless.
Knowing that other people have praised this novel and that it's sequel (The Dragons of Babel) was nominated for a Locus award, I pressed on. About two-thirds of the way through, I figured out that there was a method to the madness, but the chaotic nihilism was so disturbing that even though I realized it contributed to the entire philosophy of the novel, I still hated it. I think perhaps if I'd dropped some acid, the plot would have arranged itself better in my mind, but alas, I had none to hand.
I think Michael Swanwick is a great writer, but The Iron Dragon's Daughter was weird, disjointed, obtuse, and inaccessibly bizarre.
Originally published at .
February 9, 2017
This is a very impressive and work of imagination, and while I've read better Swanwick, it's *still* Swanwick, and that means it's head-and-shoulders better than almost anything out there.
This novel gives the illusion that it might be a YA, with a lot of impressive and delightful adventure elements, but it eventually turns into an adult romp full of sex, drugs, and stardom, only to eventually return to its adventure roots. So what makes this piece stand out? Jane is a great character with lots of sides to her, not just exploring what it means to be a woman in a thoroughly Misogynic Elf society, trying to find a piece of herself, her dreams, her sexuality, while all the while struggling against two great gods of the Steampunk/High Fantasy world.
What's the Iron Dragon? An AI in a steampunk airship with cybernetic interfaces. Nicely SF.
Are there Dwarves and Elves and Changelings throughout this University-Dominated setting? Why yes, yes, there is. :) Complex society, too. Very nicely Fantasy.
Does the plot and the themes begin as a slow spiral only to end up in the center of all the conflict in a wild explosion of action? Why yes, yes it does.
I really like this novel, and it really shines well in craft and characters, but to be perfectly honest, I didn't know where a lot of it was going until much later and it just seemed like it was drifting in dissolution. A lot of the plot events, including the mob scenes, play out the same feeling, of course, as well as the immense sense of loss, and while the reality of the author's intent was clear, our actual payoff feels far from clear. I get a few good impressions, and the visual imagery is grand, but then I wonder if this was still all about Jane's growth or not.
I assume it is, and not the played-out grand conflict of gods. :)
This novel gives the illusion that it might be a YA, with a lot of impressive and delightful adventure elements, but it eventually turns into an adult romp full of sex, drugs, and stardom, only to eventually return to its adventure roots. So what makes this piece stand out? Jane is a great character with lots of sides to her, not just exploring what it means to be a woman in a thoroughly Misogynic Elf society, trying to find a piece of herself, her dreams, her sexuality, while all the while struggling against two great gods of the Steampunk/High Fantasy world.
What's the Iron Dragon? An AI in a steampunk airship with cybernetic interfaces. Nicely SF.
Are there Dwarves and Elves and Changelings throughout this University-Dominated setting? Why yes, yes, there is. :) Complex society, too. Very nicely Fantasy.
Does the plot and the themes begin as a slow spiral only to end up in the center of all the conflict in a wild explosion of action? Why yes, yes it does.
I really like this novel, and it really shines well in craft and characters, but to be perfectly honest, I didn't know where a lot of it was going until much later and it just seemed like it was drifting in dissolution. A lot of the plot events, including the mob scenes, play out the same feeling, of course, as well as the immense sense of loss, and while the reality of the author's intent was clear, our actual payoff feels far from clear. I get a few good impressions, and the visual imagery is grand, but then I wonder if this was still all about Jane's growth or not.
I assume it is, and not the played-out grand conflict of gods. :)
January 20, 2022
袨褍泻械泄. 孝褍褌械褔泻懈, 锌褨褋谢褟 胁褔芯褉邪褕薪褜芯谐芯 邪薪芯薪褋褍 锌械褉械写蟹邪屑芯胁谢械薪薪褟 芦袛芯薪褜泻懈 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 胁懈褟胁懈谢芯褋褟, 褖芯 褔懈屑邪谢芯 谢褞写械泄 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褋械褉械写 锌芯褑褨薪芯胁褍胁邪褔褨胁 卸邪薪褉褍, 薪械 蟹薪邪褞褌褜, 褖芯 褑械 蟹邪 泻薪懈谐邪. 校 褌芯屑褍 薪械屑邪褦 谐褉褨褏邪 鈥� 薪械屑芯卸谢懈胁芯 蟹薪邪褌懈 锌褉芯 胁褋褨 泻薪懈谐懈 薪邪 褋胁褨褌褨, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 锌褉芯 胁褋褨 泻薪懈谐懈 胁 芯泻褉械屑芯屑褍 卸邪薪褉褨, 薪邪胁褨褌褜, 褟泻褖芯 褌懈 褑械泄 卸邪薪褉 蟹薪邪褦褕 褌邪 谢褞斜懈褕 蟹 写懈褌懈薪褋褌胁邪. 携, 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 锌褉芯 褨褋薪褍胁邪薪薪褟 袪芯斜械褉褌邪 袛卸芯褉写邪薪邪 褌邪 泄芯谐芯 芦袣芯谢械褋邪 褔邪褋褍禄 写褨蟹薪邪胁褋褟 褌褨谢褜泻懈 褍 2015 褉芯褑褨 (褨, 斜褍写械屑芯 褔械褋薪褨, 胁锌褍褋褌懈胁 屑芯屑械薪褌, 泻芯谢懈 屑褨谐 斜懈 泄芯谐芯 锌芯谢褞斜懈褌懈 鈥� 薪邪写褌芯 胁械谢懈泻懈泄 胁卸械 斜褍胁 屑褨泄 斜邪谐邪卸 褔懈褌邪褑褜泻芯谐芯 写芯褋胁褨写褍). 芦袛芯薪褜泻褍禄 褟 胁锌械褉褕械 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁 薪械 薪邪斜邪谐邪褌芯 褉邪薪褨褕械 鈥� 褍 2011-屑褍, 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟. 袉 褟 薪械 蟹薪邪褞, 褟泻懈屑 斜褍谢芯 斜 屑芯褦 褋锌褉懈泄薪褟褌褌褟 褑褨褦褩 泻薪懈谐懈, 褟泻斜懈 胁芯薪邪 褌褉邪锌懈谢邪褋褟 屑械薪褨 胁 斜褨谢褜褕 褞薪芯屑褍 胁褨褑褨. 袘芯 泻薪懈谐邪 薪褨褑 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌邪. 袙谢邪褋薪械, 薪邪 屑褨泄 (褨 薪械 褌褨谢褜泻懈 薪邪 屑褨泄) 锌芯谐谢褟写, 芦袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 褦 芯写薪懈屑 蟹 胁懈蟹薪邪褔薪懈褏 褌胁芯褉褨胁 褍 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褟泻邪 褋褌胁芯褉懈谢邪 泄 蟹邪泻谢邪谢邪 泻邪薪芯薪懈 褌邪泻懈褏 褋褍斜卸邪薪褉褨胁, 褟泻 屑褨褋褜泻械 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 褌械褏薪芯褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 薪褜褞-胁褨褉写 屑邪泄卸械 写芯 褌芯谐芯, 褟泻 胁芯薪懈 芯褌褉懈屑邪谢懈 褋胁芯褩 薪邪蟹胁懈. 袗谢械, 褖芯斜 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈, 褟泻 褌邪泻械 褋褌邪谢芯褋褟, 褌褉械斜邪 锌芯写懈胁懈褌懈褋褟 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪 褌褉芯褕泻懈 褕懈褉褕械 褋邪屑芯谐芯 褌械泻褋褌褍.
芦袛芯褔泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 锌芯斜邪褔懈谢邪 褋胁褨褌 褍 1993-屑褍 褉芯褑褨. 袧邪 褌芯泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 袦邪泄泻谢 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 胁卸械 屑邪胁 蟹邪 锌谢械褔邪屑懈 褌褉懈 褉芯屑邪薪懈, 芯写懈薪 蟹 褟泻懈褏 鈥� 芦袙邪泻褍褍屑薪褨 泻胁褨褌懈禄 褋褌邪胁 芯写薪懈屑 蟹褨 褋褌芯胁锌褨胁 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻褍, 邪 褨薪褕懈泄, 芦袩褉懈谢懈胁薪褨 褋褌邪薪褑褨褩禄, 斜褍胁 薪芯屑褨薪芯胁邪薪懈泄 袧械斜鈥櫻幮谎� 褌邪 锌褉械屑褨褞 袣械屑锌斜械谢谢邪. 孝芯卸, 褟泻 胁懈 屑芯谐谢懈 蟹写芯谐邪写邪褌懈褋褟, 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌懈褋邪胁 锌芯褏屑褍褉褍 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻-袧肖, 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋谢褨写褍褞褔懈 蟹邪锌芯胁褨写褨 芦谐邪泄 褌械泻-谢芯褍 谢邪泄褎禄 - 胁褨薪 斜褍胁 芯写薪懈屑 褨蟹 褌懈褏, 褏褌芯 褋褌胁芯褉懈胁 褑械泄 泻邪薪芯薪 褋胁芯褩屑懈 泻薪懈卸泻邪屑懈.
袉 褑械 锌械褉褕械, 褖芯 褌褉械斜邪 屑邪褌懈 薪邪 写褍屑褑褨, 斜械褉褍褔懈褋褜 蟹邪 芦袛芯薪褜泻褍禄. 笑械, 斜械蟹锌械褉械褔薪芯, 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 邪谢械 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻 褌褍褌 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 胁 泻芯卸薪芯屑褍 写褉褍谐芯屑褍 褉褟写泻褍. 袙懈褋芯泻褨 褌械褏薪芯谢芯谐褨褩 褌褍褌 斜械蟹锌械褉械褔薪芯 屑邪褞褌褜 屑邪谐褨褔薪械 写械卸褉械谢芯, 邪 褋泻谢邪写薪褨 胁懈褉芯斜薪懈褔褨 锌褉芯褑械褋懈 锌芯胁鈥櫻徯沸靶窖� 蟹 褌械屑薪懈屑懈 蟹邪斜芯斜芯薪邪屑懈; 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褋褌邪薪写邪褉褌邪屑 袣袩 褨 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪 鈥� 屑邪泻褋懈屑邪谢褜薪芯 褉褨蟹泻械 褉芯蟹褕邪褉褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪, 写械褋锌芯褌懈褔薪懈泄 写械褉卸邪胁薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄, 褋锌芯胁薪械薪械 蟹谢懈写薪褨胁 褌邪 蟹谢芯褔懈薪褨胁 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪械 写薪芯. 芦袛芯褔泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 - 褑械 褌械 褔褌懈胁芯, 锌褨褋谢褟 褟泻芯谐芯 胁褨写 蟹邪褟胁 褌懈锌褍 芦袙褨写褜屑邪泻/袩械褉褕懈泄 蟹邪泻芯薪/效芯褉薪懈泄 蟹邪谐褨薪 鈥� 褑械 褌械屑薪械 褎械薪褌械蟹褨禄 胁懈 蟹屑芯卸械褌械 褏褨斜邪 褖芯 锌芯褋屑褨褟褌懈褋褟. 校褌褨屑, 褑械 薪械 褌芯泄 胁懈锌邪写芯泻 泻芯谢懈 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦褌褜褋褟 芦褔芯褉薪褍褏邪 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褔芯褉薪褍褏懈禄 - 泻芯卸薪懈泄 屑械褉蟹械薪薪懈泄 械谢械屑械薪褌 褋谢褍谐褍褦 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯屑 邪褋锌械泻褌邪屑 褌械泻褋褌褍 褌邪 褦 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁锌谢械褌械薪懈屑 褍 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪褨 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌懈.
袛褉褍谐懈泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 鈥� 褑械 薪械褌褉懈胁褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 锌褨写褏褨写 写芯 褋褞卸械褌薪芯褩 泻邪薪胁懈. 袨褋薪芯胁芯褞 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯谐芯 泻谢邪褋懈褔薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褦 袩芯写芯褉芯卸 谐械褉芯褟. 袙芯薪邪 屑芯卸械 斜褍褌懈 斜褍泻胁邪谢褜薪芯褞, 褟泻 褍 芦袙芯谢芯写邪褉褨 锌械褉褋褌薪褨胁禄, 芦锌褨褋薪褨 袥褜芯写褍 褨 袩芯谢褍屑鈥櫻徛� 褔懈 胁卸械 蟹谐邪写邪薪懈屑 胁懈褖械 泻薪懈谐邪屑, 屑芯卸械 褌邪泻芯卸 斜褍褌懈 斜褨谢褜褕 褎褨谐褍褉邪谢褜薪懈屑. 袗谢械 褑械 蟹邪胁卸写懈 袣胁械褋褌 鈥� 褕谢褟褏 褟泻懈泄 写芯谢邪褞褌褜 谐械褉芯褩, 褖芯 薪邪锌褉懈泻褨薪褑褨 蟹屑褨薪褞褦 褩褏 褌邪 褋胁褨褌 蟹邪谐邪谢芯屑. 袉 芦袛芯薪褜泻邪禄 褌褍褌 薪械 胁懈泻谢褞褔械薪薪褟 鈥� 蟹 褌褨褦褞 褉褨蟹薪懈褑械褞, 褖芯 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌芯写邪褦 褑褞 锌芯写芯褉芯卸 薪械 褍 锌褉芯褋褌芯褉褨, 邪 褍 褔邪褋褨, 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 锌芯褦写薪褍褞褔懈 褎械薪褌械蟹褨泄薪懈泄 袣胁械褋褌 蟹 褉芯屑邪薪芯屑 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟. 效懈褌邪褔 锌褉芯泄写械 蟹 谐械褉芯褩薪械褞 褕谢褟褏 胁褨写 写懈褌懈薪懈 写芯 写芯褉芯褋谢芯褩, 褟褋泻褉邪胁芯 写械屑芯薪褋褌褉褍褞褔懈 泻芯卸械薪 械褌邪锌 褩褩 卸懈褌褌褟 泄 褌褨 蟹屑褨薪懈, 褟泻褨 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 薪械褞, 褨 蟹屑褨薪懈, 褟泻褨 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 薪邪胁泻芯谢懈褕薪褨屑 褋胁褨褌芯屑.
孝褉械褌褨泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 鈥� 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁邪. 袣芯卸械薪 薪邪锌械胁薪械 褏芯褔 褉邪蟹 褌邪 泄 蟹邪屑懈褋谢褞胁邪胁褋褟, 褟泻懈屑 斜褍胁 斜懈 褋胁褨褌 孝芯谢泻褨薪邪, 褟泻褖芯 斜 胁褨薪 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯 写芯褋褟谐 薪邪褕芯谐芯 褉褨胁薪褟 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻褍, 邪谢械 屑邪谐褨褟 薪械 锌芯泻懈薪褍谢邪 泄芯谐芯? 小胁褨褌 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 鈥� 褑械 薪械 褋胁褨褌 孝芯谢泻褨薪邪. 袪邪写褕械 褑械 褋胁褨褌 褎械泄褉褨, 褟泻懈屑 褌芯泄 斜褍胁 褍 褋胁芯褩泄 薪邪褉芯写薪褨泄 褌褉邪写懈褑褨褩. 袙褨薪 胁锌械胁薪械薪芯 斜械褉械 邪褉褏械褌懈锌懈 褔邪褉褨胁薪懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌 褨 胁锌懈褋褍褦 褩褏 胁 褋褍褔邪褋薪褨 褉械邪谢褨褩, 屑芯写械谢褞褞褔懈, 褟泻 斜懈 胁芯薪懈 褨褋薪褍胁邪谢懈 褌邪 锌芯胁芯写懈谢懈褋褟 胁 褉芯蟹胁懈薪褍褌芯屑褍 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁褨. 笑械 屑芯写械谢褞胁邪薪薪褟 锌芯屑褨褌薪械 薪邪 胁褋褨褏 褉褨胁薪褟褏, 胁褨写 斜褍写械薪薪芯-锌芯斜褍褌芯胁芯谐芯 写芯 泻芯褋屑芯谐芯薪褨褔薪芯谐芯. 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 写邪褦 褔懈褌邪褔械胁褨 褕邪薪褋 锌芯蟹薪邪泄芯屑懈褌懈褋褟 蟹 芯褋胁褨褌芯褞, 械泻芯薪芯屑褨泻芯褞, 斜褞褉芯泻褉邪褌褨褦褞, 褋胁褨褌褋褜泻懈屑 卸懈褌褌褟屑, 褨薪写褍褋褌褉褨褦褞 褉芯蟹胁邪谐, 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈屑 褍褋褌褉芯褦屑, 蟹谢芯褔懈薪薪懈屑 褋胁褨褌芯屑, 锌褉芯屑懈褋谢芯胁褨褋褌褞 鈥� 泻芯褉芯褌褕械 谢械写褜 薪械 蟹 褍褋褨屑, 蟹 褔懈屑 屑懈 褋褌懈泻邪褦屑芯褋褟 胁 薪邪褕芯屑褍 锌芯胁褋褟泻写械薪薪芯屑褍 卸懈褌褌褨. 孝褨谢褜泻懈 胁 褉械邪谢褨褟褏 褎械泄褉褨, 褏懈屑械褉薪懈褏 褌邪 芯斜谢褍写薪懈褏, 胁屑芯褌懈胁芯胁邪薪懈褏 褨 蟹胁鈥櫻徯沸靶叫秆� 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈屑懈 蟹邪斜芯斜芯薪邪屑懈 褌邪 薪械锌懈褋邪薪懈屑懈 蟹邪泻芯薪邪屑懈.
效械褌胁械褉褌懈泄 鈥� 褑械 写械泻褨谢褜泻邪 褕邪褉褨胁 褋械薪褋褨胁, 褟泻褨 蟹邪泻谢邪胁 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 褍 褋胁褨泄 褌胁褨褉. 携 薪械 斜褍写褍 蟹褍锌懈薪褟褌懈褋褟 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍 写芯泻谢邪写薪芯 鈥� 斜芯 薪邪 褌械 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯屑褍 胁懈写邪薪薪褨 斜褍写褍褌褜 褔懈褋谢械薪薪褨 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻懈 褌邪 褉芯蟹谢芯谐邪 锌褨褋谢褟屑芯胁邪 胁褨写 胁褨写芯屑芯谐芯 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉芯蟹薪邪胁褑褟 袦懈褏邪泄谢邪 袧邪蟹邪褉械薪泻邪. 小泻邪卸褍 谢懈褕械 褌邪泻 鈥� 泻薪懈谐邪 屑邪褦 蟹邪褏芯锌谢褞褞褔褍, 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪褍 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 褌邪 褟褋泻褉邪胁懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 褟泻褨 胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯屑褍 褉邪蟹褨 薪械 写邪写褍褌褜 胁邪屑 胁褨写褨褉胁邪褌懈褋褟 胁褨写 泻薪懈谐懈, 邪谢械 泻芯谢懈 胁懈 胁褨蟹褜屑械褌械褋褟 蟹邪 薪械褩 胁写褉褍谐械 褔懈 胁褌褉械褌褦, 胁懈 蟹薪邪泄写械褌械 褌邪屑 斜械蟹谢褨褔 写褉褨斜薪懈褏 (褨 薪械 写褍卸械) 写械褌邪谢械泄, 褟泻褨 褋锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 谢懈褕懈谢懈褋褟 锌芯蟹邪 胁邪褕芯褞 褍胁邪谐芯褞. 袗 褟泻褖芯 屑邪褌懈屑械褌械 斜邪卸邪薪薪褟 蟹邪薪褍褉懈褌懈褋褟 褍 胁懈褌芯泻懈 褌胁芯褉褍 褌邪 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 谐谢懈斜懈薪薪褨 褋械薪褋懈 写械褟泻懈褏 芯斜褉邪蟹褨胁 褌邪 锌芯写褨泄, 胁邪屑 蟹薪邪写芯斜懈褌褜褋褟 芯蟹斜褉芯褩褌懈褋褟 覒褍覒谢芯屑 褌邪 褉芯蟹锌芯褔邪褌懈 胁谢邪褋薪械 写芯褋谢褨写卸械薪薪褟. 袗谢械 谐芯谢芯胁薪械 胁 泻薪懈蟹褨 褌械, 褖芯 薪邪 褟泻芯屑褍 斜 褕邪褉褨 胁懈 薪械 蟹褍锌懈薪懈谢懈褋褟, 胁懈 薪械 斜褍写械褌械 锌芯褔褍胁邪褌懈褋褟 芦芯斜写褨谢械薪懈屑懈禄 - 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪胁卸写懈 褋锌褉懈泄屑邪褦褌褜褋褟 褑褨谢褨褋薪芯 泄 薪褨褑 胁褨写 胁邪褋 薪械 胁懈屑邪谐邪褦. 袥芯谐褨泻褍 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褌邪 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褩 谐械褉芯褩胁 蟹邪胁卸写懈 屑芯卸薪邪 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 胁懈胁械褉褌懈 薪械 屑褨褋褌褟褌褜 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁芯褩 芦褕褌褍褔薪芯褋褌褨禄 褌邪 薪械 锌芯褌褉械斜褍褞褌褜 蟹邪锌邪屑鈥櫻徰傂把傂� 芦锌鈥櫻徰傃� 褉械锌谢褨泻褍 褋褜芯屑芯谐芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪 褋褌芯 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 褌芯屑褍禄, 褖芯斜 蟹写芯谐邪写邪褌懈褋褟 褖芯 褌褨谢褜泻懈-薪芯 胁褨写斜褍谢芯褋褟.
笑械, 褟泻褖芯 泻芯褉芯褌泻芯, 褌械, 褖芯 褌褉械斜邪 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈, 斜械褉褍褔懈褋褜 蟹邪 芦袛芯褔泻褍 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄. 袙芯薪邪, 写芯 褉械褔褨, 锌芯锌褉懈 褋胁芯褞 蟹薪邪褔褍褖褨褋褌褜, 薪械 屑芯卸械 锌芯褏胁邪谢懈褌懈褋褟 谐褍褔薪懈屑懈 薪邪谐芯褉芯写邪屑懈 - 薪芯屑褨薪邪褑褨褩 斜褍谢懈, 褍褌褨屑, 薪械 锌械褉械屑芯谐懈. 袣薪懈谐邪 薪械 褋泻谢邪写薪邪 鈥� 胁芯薪邪 褉邪写褕械 谐谢懈斜芯泻邪. 袉 械屑芯褑褨泄薪芯 薪邪胁邪薪褌邪卸械薪邪. 袦械薪褨 蟹邪褉邪蟹 胁邪卸泻芯 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褟泻 胁芯薪邪 斜褍写械 褔懈褌邪褌懈褋褟 胁锌械褉褕械 鈥� 斜芯 蟹邪 褑褨 褉芯泻懈 锌械褉械褔懈褌邪胁 褩褩 胁卸械 褌褉懈 褔懈 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褉邪蟹懈. 袗谢械 褋邪屑 褎邪泻褌 锌芯胁械褉薪械薪薪褟 写芯 薪械褩, 褟泻 薪邪 屑械薪械, 褑褨谢泻芯屑 泻褉邪褋薪芯屑芯胁薪芯 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌褜 锌褉芯 褩褩 褔械褋薪芯褌懈.
芦袛芯褔泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 锌芯斜邪褔懈谢邪 褋胁褨褌 褍 1993-屑褍 褉芯褑褨. 袧邪 褌芯泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 袦邪泄泻谢 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 胁卸械 屑邪胁 蟹邪 锌谢械褔邪屑懈 褌褉懈 褉芯屑邪薪懈, 芯写懈薪 蟹 褟泻懈褏 鈥� 芦袙邪泻褍褍屑薪褨 泻胁褨褌懈禄 褋褌邪胁 芯写薪懈屑 蟹褨 褋褌芯胁锌褨胁 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻褍, 邪 褨薪褕懈泄, 芦袩褉懈谢懈胁薪褨 褋褌邪薪褑褨褩禄, 斜褍胁 薪芯屑褨薪芯胁邪薪懈泄 袧械斜鈥櫻幮谎� 褌邪 锌褉械屑褨褞 袣械屑锌斜械谢谢邪. 孝芯卸, 褟泻 胁懈 屑芯谐谢懈 蟹写芯谐邪写邪褌懈褋褟, 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌懈褋邪胁 锌芯褏屑褍褉褍 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻-袧肖, 薪械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 褋谢褨写褍褞褔懈 蟹邪锌芯胁褨写褨 芦谐邪泄 褌械泻-谢芯褍 谢邪泄褎禄 - 胁褨薪 斜褍胁 芯写薪懈屑 褨蟹 褌懈褏, 褏褌芯 褋褌胁芯褉懈胁 褑械泄 泻邪薪芯薪 褋胁芯褩屑懈 泻薪懈卸泻邪屑懈.
袉 褑械 锌械褉褕械, 褖芯 褌褉械斜邪 屑邪褌懈 薪邪 写褍屑褑褨, 斜械褉褍褔懈褋褜 蟹邪 芦袛芯薪褜泻褍禄. 笑械, 斜械蟹锌械褉械褔薪芯, 褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 邪谢械 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻 褌褍褌 胁褨写褔褍胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 胁 泻芯卸薪芯屑褍 写褉褍谐芯屑褍 褉褟写泻褍. 袙懈褋芯泻褨 褌械褏薪芯谢芯谐褨褩 褌褍褌 斜械蟹锌械褉械褔薪芯 屑邪褞褌褜 屑邪谐褨褔薪械 写械卸褉械谢芯, 邪 褋泻谢邪写薪褨 胁懈褉芯斜薪懈褔褨 锌褉芯褑械褋懈 锌芯胁鈥櫻徯沸靶窖� 蟹 褌械屑薪懈屑懈 蟹邪斜芯斜芯薪邪屑懈; 邪斜褋芯谢褞褌薪芯 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写邪褦 褋褌邪薪写邪褉褌邪屑 袣袩 褨 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪 鈥� 屑邪泻褋懈屑邪谢褜薪芯 褉褨蟹泻械 褉芯蟹褕邪褉褍胁邪薪薪褟 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪, 写械褋锌芯褌懈褔薪懈泄 写械褉卸邪胁薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄, 褋锌芯胁薪械薪械 蟹谢懈写薪褨胁 褌邪 蟹谢芯褔懈薪褨胁 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪械 写薪芯. 芦袛芯褔泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 - 褑械 褌械 褔褌懈胁芯, 锌褨褋谢褟 褟泻芯谐芯 胁褨写 蟹邪褟胁 褌懈锌褍 芦袙褨写褜屑邪泻/袩械褉褕懈泄 蟹邪泻芯薪/效芯褉薪懈泄 蟹邪谐褨薪 鈥� 褑械 褌械屑薪械 褎械薪褌械蟹褨禄 胁懈 蟹屑芯卸械褌械 褏褨斜邪 褖芯 锌芯褋屑褨褟褌懈褋褟. 校褌褨屑, 褑械 薪械 褌芯泄 胁懈锌邪写芯泻 泻芯谢懈 褋褌胁芯褉褞褦褌褜褋褟 芦褔芯褉薪褍褏邪 蟹邪褉邪写懈 褔芯褉薪褍褏懈禄 - 泻芯卸薪懈泄 屑械褉蟹械薪薪懈泄 械谢械屑械薪褌 褋谢褍谐褍褦 斜邪谐邪褌褜芯屑 邪褋锌械泻褌邪屑 褌械泻褋褌褍 褌邪 褦 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 胁锌谢械褌械薪懈屑 褍 蟹邪谐邪谢褜薪褨 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌懈.
袛褉褍谐懈泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 鈥� 褑械 薪械褌褉懈胁褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 锌褨写褏褨写 写芯 褋褞卸械褌薪芯褩 泻邪薪胁懈. 袨褋薪芯胁芯褞 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯谐芯 泻谢邪褋懈褔薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褦 袩芯写芯褉芯卸 谐械褉芯褟. 袙芯薪邪 屑芯卸械 斜褍褌懈 斜褍泻胁邪谢褜薪芯褞, 褟泻 褍 芦袙芯谢芯写邪褉褨 锌械褉褋褌薪褨胁禄, 芦锌褨褋薪褨 袥褜芯写褍 褨 袩芯谢褍屑鈥櫻徛� 褔懈 胁卸械 蟹谐邪写邪薪懈屑 胁懈褖械 泻薪懈谐邪屑, 屑芯卸械 褌邪泻芯卸 斜褍褌懈 斜褨谢褜褕 褎褨谐褍褉邪谢褜薪懈屑. 袗谢械 褑械 蟹邪胁卸写懈 袣胁械褋褌 鈥� 褕谢褟褏 褟泻懈泄 写芯谢邪褞褌褜 谐械褉芯褩, 褖芯 薪邪锌褉懈泻褨薪褑褨 蟹屑褨薪褞褦 褩褏 褌邪 褋胁褨褌 蟹邪谐邪谢芯屑. 袉 芦袛芯薪褜泻邪禄 褌褍褌 薪械 胁懈泻谢褞褔械薪薪褟 鈥� 蟹 褌褨褦褞 褉褨蟹薪懈褑械褞, 褖芯 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌芯写邪褦 褑褞 锌芯写芯褉芯卸 薪械 褍 锌褉芯褋褌芯褉褨, 邪 褍 褔邪褋褨, 屑邪泄褋褌械褉薪芯 锌芯褦写薪褍褞褔懈 褎械薪褌械蟹褨泄薪懈泄 袣胁械褋褌 蟹 褉芯屑邪薪芯屑 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟. 效懈褌邪褔 锌褉芯泄写械 蟹 谐械褉芯褩薪械褞 褕谢褟褏 胁褨写 写懈褌懈薪懈 写芯 写芯褉芯褋谢芯褩, 褟褋泻褉邪胁芯 写械屑芯薪褋褌褉褍褞褔懈 泻芯卸械薪 械褌邪锌 褩褩 卸懈褌褌褟 泄 褌褨 蟹屑褨薪懈, 褟泻褨 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 薪械褞, 褨 蟹屑褨薪懈, 褟泻褨 胁褨写斜褍胁邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 薪邪胁泻芯谢懈褕薪褨屑 褋胁褨褌芯屑.
孝褉械褌褨泄 屑芯屑械薪褌 鈥� 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁邪. 袣芯卸械薪 薪邪锌械胁薪械 褏芯褔 褉邪蟹 褌邪 泄 蟹邪屑懈褋谢褞胁邪胁褋褟, 褟泻懈屑 斜褍胁 斜懈 褋胁褨褌 孝芯谢泻褨薪邪, 褟泻褖芯 斜 胁褨薪 褨褋褌芯褉懈褔薪芯 写芯褋褟谐 薪邪褕芯谐芯 褉褨胁薪褟 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻褍, 邪谢械 屑邪谐褨褟 薪械 锌芯泻懈薪褍谢邪 泄芯谐芯? 小胁褨褌 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 鈥� 褑械 薪械 褋胁褨褌 孝芯谢泻褨薪邪. 袪邪写褕械 褑械 褋胁褨褌 褎械泄褉褨, 褟泻懈屑 褌芯泄 斜褍胁 褍 褋胁芯褩泄 薪邪褉芯写薪褨泄 褌褉邪写懈褑褨褩. 袙褨薪 胁锌械胁薪械薪芯 斜械褉械 邪褉褏械褌懈锌懈 褔邪褉褨胁薪懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌 褨 胁锌懈褋褍褦 褩褏 胁 褋褍褔邪褋薪褨 褉械邪谢褨褩, 屑芯写械谢褞褞褔懈, 褟泻 斜懈 胁芯薪懈 褨褋薪褍胁邪谢懈 褌邪 锌芯胁芯写懈谢懈褋褟 胁 褉芯蟹胁懈薪褍褌芯屑褍 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁褨. 笑械 屑芯写械谢褞胁邪薪薪褟 锌芯屑褨褌薪械 薪邪 胁褋褨褏 褉褨胁薪褟褏, 胁褨写 斜褍写械薪薪芯-锌芯斜褍褌芯胁芯谐芯 写芯 泻芯褋屑芯谐芯薪褨褔薪芯谐芯. 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 写邪褦 褔懈褌邪褔械胁褨 褕邪薪褋 锌芯蟹薪邪泄芯屑懈褌懈褋褟 蟹 芯褋胁褨褌芯褞, 械泻芯薪芯屑褨泻芯褞, 斜褞褉芯泻褉邪褌褨褦褞, 褋胁褨褌褋褜泻懈屑 卸懈褌褌褟屑, 褨薪写褍褋褌褉褨褦褞 褉芯蟹胁邪谐, 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈屑 褍褋褌褉芯褦屑, 蟹谢芯褔懈薪薪懈屑 褋胁褨褌芯屑, 锌褉芯屑懈褋谢芯胁褨褋褌褞 鈥� 泻芯褉芯褌褕械 谢械写褜 薪械 蟹 褍褋褨屑, 蟹 褔懈屑 屑懈 褋褌懈泻邪褦屑芯褋褟 胁 薪邪褕芯屑褍 锌芯胁褋褟泻写械薪薪芯屑褍 卸懈褌褌褨. 孝褨谢褜泻懈 胁 褉械邪谢褨褟褏 褎械泄褉褨, 褏懈屑械褉薪懈褏 褌邪 芯斜谢褍写薪懈褏, 胁屑芯褌懈胁芯胁邪薪懈褏 褨 蟹胁鈥櫻徯沸靶叫秆� 褔懈褋谢械薪薪懈屑懈 蟹邪斜芯斜芯薪邪屑懈 褌邪 薪械锌懈褋邪薪懈屑懈 蟹邪泻芯薪邪屑懈.
效械褌胁械褉褌懈泄 鈥� 褑械 写械泻褨谢褜泻邪 褕邪褉褨胁 褋械薪褋褨胁, 褟泻褨 蟹邪泻谢邪胁 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 褍 褋胁褨泄 褌胁褨褉. 携 薪械 斜褍写褍 蟹褍锌懈薪褟褌懈褋褟 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍 写芯泻谢邪写薪芯 鈥� 斜芯 薪邪 褌械 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褋褜泻芯屑褍 胁懈写邪薪薪褨 斜褍写褍褌褜 褔懈褋谢械薪薪褨 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻懈 褌邪 褉芯蟹谢芯谐邪 锌褨褋谢褟屑芯胁邪 胁褨写 胁褨写芯屑芯谐芯 谢褨褌械褉邪褌褍褉芯蟹薪邪胁褑褟 袦懈褏邪泄谢邪 袧邪蟹邪褉械薪泻邪. 小泻邪卸褍 谢懈褕械 褌邪泻 鈥� 泻薪懈谐邪 屑邪褦 蟹邪褏芯锌谢褞褞褔褍, 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪褍 褨褋褌芯褉褨褞 褌邪 褟褋泻褉邪胁懈褏 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 褟泻褨 胁 斜褍写褜-褟泻芯屑褍 褉邪蟹褨 薪械 写邪写褍褌褜 胁邪屑 胁褨写褨褉胁邪褌懈褋褟 胁褨写 泻薪懈谐懈, 邪谢械 泻芯谢懈 胁懈 胁褨蟹褜屑械褌械褋褟 蟹邪 薪械褩 胁写褉褍谐械 褔懈 胁褌褉械褌褦, 胁懈 蟹薪邪泄写械褌械 褌邪屑 斜械蟹谢褨褔 写褉褨斜薪懈褏 (褨 薪械 写褍卸械) 写械褌邪谢械泄, 褟泻褨 褋锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 谢懈褕懈谢懈褋褟 锌芯蟹邪 胁邪褕芯褞 褍胁邪谐芯褞. 袗 褟泻褖芯 屑邪褌懈屑械褌械 斜邪卸邪薪薪褟 蟹邪薪褍褉懈褌懈褋褟 褍 胁懈褌芯泻懈 褌胁芯褉褍 褌邪 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈 谐谢懈斜懈薪薪褨 褋械薪褋懈 写械褟泻懈褏 芯斜褉邪蟹褨胁 褌邪 锌芯写褨泄, 胁邪屑 蟹薪邪写芯斜懈褌褜褋褟 芯蟹斜褉芯褩褌懈褋褟 覒褍覒谢芯屑 褌邪 褉芯蟹锌芯褔邪褌懈 胁谢邪褋薪械 写芯褋谢褨写卸械薪薪褟. 袗谢械 谐芯谢芯胁薪械 胁 泻薪懈蟹褨 褌械, 褖芯 薪邪 褟泻芯屑褍 斜 褕邪褉褨 胁懈 薪械 蟹褍锌懈薪懈谢懈褋褟, 胁懈 薪械 斜褍写械褌械 锌芯褔褍胁邪褌懈褋褟 芦芯斜写褨谢械薪懈屑懈禄 - 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪胁卸写懈 褋锌褉懈泄屑邪褦褌褜褋褟 褑褨谢褨褋薪芯 泄 薪褨褑 胁褨写 胁邪褋 薪械 胁懈屑邪谐邪褦. 袥芯谐褨泻褍 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褌邪 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褩 谐械褉芯褩胁 蟹邪胁卸写懈 屑芯卸薪邪 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈, 薪邪胁褨褌褜 褋褞卸械褌薪褨 胁懈胁械褉褌懈 薪械 屑褨褋褌褟褌褜 泻薪懈卸泻芯胁芯褩 芦褕褌褍褔薪芯褋褌褨禄 褌邪 薪械 锌芯褌褉械斜褍褞褌褜 蟹邪锌邪屑鈥櫻徰傂把傂� 芦锌鈥櫻徰傃� 褉械锌谢褨泻褍 褋褜芯屑芯谐芯 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪 褋褌芯 褋褌芯褉褨薪芯泻 褌芯屑褍禄, 褖芯斜 蟹写芯谐邪写邪褌懈褋褟 褖芯 褌褨谢褜泻懈-薪芯 胁褨写斜褍谢芯褋褟.
笑械, 褟泻褖芯 泻芯褉芯褌泻芯, 褌械, 褖芯 褌褉械斜邪 褉芯蟹褍屑褨褌懈, 斜械褉褍褔懈褋褜 蟹邪 芦袛芯褔泻褍 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄. 袙芯薪邪, 写芯 褉械褔褨, 锌芯锌褉懈 褋胁芯褞 蟹薪邪褔褍褖褨褋褌褜, 薪械 屑芯卸械 锌芯褏胁邪谢懈褌懈褋褟 谐褍褔薪懈屑懈 薪邪谐芯褉芯写邪屑懈 - 薪芯屑褨薪邪褑褨褩 斜褍谢懈, 褍褌褨屑, 薪械 锌械褉械屑芯谐懈. 袣薪懈谐邪 薪械 褋泻谢邪写薪邪 鈥� 胁芯薪邪 褉邪写褕械 谐谢懈斜芯泻邪. 袉 械屑芯褑褨泄薪芯 薪邪胁邪薪褌邪卸械薪邪. 袦械薪褨 蟹邪褉邪蟹 胁邪卸泻芯 褋泻邪蟹邪褌懈, 褟泻 胁芯薪邪 斜褍写械 褔懈褌邪褌懈褋褟 胁锌械褉褕械 鈥� 斜芯 蟹邪 褑褨 褉芯泻懈 锌械褉械褔懈褌邪胁 褩褩 胁卸械 褌褉懈 褔懈 褔芯褌懈褉懈 褉邪蟹懈. 袗谢械 褋邪屑 褎邪泻褌 锌芯胁械褉薪械薪薪褟 写芯 薪械褩, 褟泻 薪邪 屑械薪械, 褑褨谢泻芯屑 泻褉邪褋薪芯屑芯胁薪芯 谐芯胁芯褉懈褌褜 锌褉芯 褩褩 褔械褋薪芯褌懈.
March 7, 2013
One of the books on Mieville's list of 50 Scifi and Fantasy Books for Socialists, he tells you that it "completely destroys the sentimental aspects of genre fiction". And holy hell, please do take that warning seriously. Jane is a child-worker in a factory which is building treacherously aware warmachines made of cold iron. These "dragons" are enslaved to their pilots, wills broken by technology and magic, as Jane is essentially a slave to the factory. Until one of the dragons starts whispering to her of escape.
This is a difficult book, and no mistake. It's endlessly surprising and inventive, deeply shocking, especially if you bring to it the expectations of genre fiction - it reminds me of a much older strain of speculative fiction; charged, full of ideas, unexpected, perhaps slightly more interested in plot and situation and its effects on character than in the characters themselves. But it's not an old-fashioned book. Technology exists alongside the magic of the Faerie (a disturbing vision of colleges of alchemy existing alongside air-conditioned malls, stealth dragons made of cold-iron fitted out with radar-jamming tech), our own mundane world is an acknowledged but separate plane of existence - Jane is a changeling stolen from our world and into the faerie, and her abduction isn't a romanticised transplantation into Faerie courts, but rather part of a healthy trade in child-trafficking and slave labour.
Personally, I thought Jane was an excellent protagonist: resourceful, intelligent, but also deeply flawed. By turns compassionate and ruthless. The book is about her attempts to live her life, perhaps try to return to her mother and her blank-eyed physical body on "our plane", while navigating the political, social and economic world of Faerie that seems systematically determined to corner, manipulate, and lessen her. In this world, there are no last-minute saves, or unexamined heroics. Jane is far from noble, but endlessly human.
If you're willing to give yourself to Swanwick's twisting narrative, Iron Dragon's Daughter is a rewarding, thoughtful, deeply engaging book that will stay with you.
This is a difficult book, and no mistake. It's endlessly surprising and inventive, deeply shocking, especially if you bring to it the expectations of genre fiction - it reminds me of a much older strain of speculative fiction; charged, full of ideas, unexpected, perhaps slightly more interested in plot and situation and its effects on character than in the characters themselves. But it's not an old-fashioned book. Technology exists alongside the magic of the Faerie (a disturbing vision of colleges of alchemy existing alongside air-conditioned malls, stealth dragons made of cold-iron fitted out with radar-jamming tech), our own mundane world is an acknowledged but separate plane of existence - Jane is a changeling stolen from our world and into the faerie, and her abduction isn't a romanticised transplantation into Faerie courts, but rather part of a healthy trade in child-trafficking and slave labour.
Personally, I thought Jane was an excellent protagonist: resourceful, intelligent, but also deeply flawed. By turns compassionate and ruthless. The book is about her attempts to live her life, perhaps try to return to her mother and her blank-eyed physical body on "our plane", while navigating the political, social and economic world of Faerie that seems systematically determined to corner, manipulate, and lessen her. In this world, there are no last-minute saves, or unexamined heroics. Jane is far from noble, but endlessly human.
If you're willing to give yourself to Swanwick's twisting narrative, Iron Dragon's Daughter is a rewarding, thoughtful, deeply engaging book that will stay with you.
November 8, 2011
Faerie cyberpunk. Jane is a changeling, working as slave labour in the dragon factory. Her life is planned out for her, and it's not particularly pleasant path. Then she meets an iron dragon, and decides to rebel.
This is a FANTASTIC book. The world is incredibly detailed and very well thought out.
The only trouble is, it's about two books in one. We start off with Jane in childhood, and go through to her adulthood. Jane is wonderful. Smart, stubborn, not always especially moral and very, very angry.
SPOILERS
There is sex in this book. Jane has sex and enjoys it and doesn't get punished for it (other than having guys who she doesn't particularly WANT a lengthy relationship with hanging round. And that happens!). Some will see it as nihilistic and it's certainly very dark. She doesn't treat people well. She actually kills some blameless people to give her the means to escape. It's calculated, as well. It's certainly acknowledged as being morally wrong and Jane does feel guilty, but like most survivors she has the attitude of "I will think about that later".
However, I found a theme of--dark hope, or acknowledgement of the human-ness of anger and defiance. Jane is trapped and stuck and she enjoys herself along the way, but she's always angry about it. And come the penultimate part of the book, in the Spiral Castle where she could very easily acquiesce and say "No, you're right, I'm nothing and I submit." she doesn't. She sticks her chin up and says "NEVER", fully expecting to be annhiliated.
If you take the penultimate part of the book as the ending, it's actually a pretty powerful atheist statement. That anthropomorphising the cosmos is useless because it doesn't care about us. This rather bleak message is undermined by the very end.
The ending is something that almost subverts the message of the entire book. The book is about--surviving, muddling through. Doing the best you can in a world which doesn't give you rules and has no purpose. But we see recurring characters in Jane's life. The same souls turn up again and again. The "goddess" in the spiral castle actually explicitly says that they're part of Jane's purpose and she just disregards them.
The final part of the book reinforces that an individual's destiny is largely what they make of it themselves, but that other people and our treatment of them is the most important thing. It's gorgeous writing on from Swanwick, to see things that are foreshadowed and take forever to build up fall into place in the final chapter.
In conclusion, a fantastic book. Highly recommended.
This is a FANTASTIC book. The world is incredibly detailed and very well thought out.
The only trouble is, it's about two books in one. We start off with Jane in childhood, and go through to her adulthood. Jane is wonderful. Smart, stubborn, not always especially moral and very, very angry.
SPOILERS
There is sex in this book. Jane has sex and enjoys it and doesn't get punished for it (other than having guys who she doesn't particularly WANT a lengthy relationship with hanging round. And that happens!). Some will see it as nihilistic and it's certainly very dark. She doesn't treat people well. She actually kills some blameless people to give her the means to escape. It's calculated, as well. It's certainly acknowledged as being morally wrong and Jane does feel guilty, but like most survivors she has the attitude of "I will think about that later".
However, I found a theme of--dark hope, or acknowledgement of the human-ness of anger and defiance. Jane is trapped and stuck and she enjoys herself along the way, but she's always angry about it. And come the penultimate part of the book, in the Spiral Castle where she could very easily acquiesce and say "No, you're right, I'm nothing and I submit." she doesn't. She sticks her chin up and says "NEVER", fully expecting to be annhiliated.
If you take the penultimate part of the book as the ending, it's actually a pretty powerful atheist statement. That anthropomorphising the cosmos is useless because it doesn't care about us. This rather bleak message is undermined by the very end.
The ending is something that almost subverts the message of the entire book. The book is about--surviving, muddling through. Doing the best you can in a world which doesn't give you rules and has no purpose. But we see recurring characters in Jane's life. The same souls turn up again and again. The "goddess" in the spiral castle actually explicitly says that they're part of Jane's purpose and she just disregards them.
The final part of the book reinforces that an individual's destiny is largely what they make of it themselves, but that other people and our treatment of them is the most important thing. It's gorgeous writing on from Swanwick, to see things that are foreshadowed and take forever to build up fall into place in the final chapter.
In conclusion, a fantastic book. Highly recommended.
August 29, 2022
小锌谢懈谢邪, 褟泻 谢褨褌薪褟 薪褨褔 "袛芯薪褜泻邪 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪" 袦邪泄泻谢邪 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 褨 褑械 褖芯褋褜 蟹芯胁褋褨屑 褨薪邪泻褕械, 薪褨褔芯谐芯 锌芯写褨斜薪芯谐芯 褟 褉邪薪褨褕械 薪械 褔懈褌邪胁.
袧邪褋邪屑锌械褉械写 胁褉邪蟹懈谢邪 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪邪 蟹写邪褌薪褨褋褌褜 邪胁褌芯褉邪 屑褨泻褋褍胁邪褌懈, 薪邪 锌械褉褕懈泄 锌芯谐谢褟写, 褑褨谢泻芯胁懈褌芯 薪械锌芯褦写薪褍胁邪薪褨 褉褨蟹薪芯卸邪薪褉芯胁褨 械谢械屑械薪褌懈. 袙褨薪 薪褨褋泻褨谢械褔泻懈 薪械 褋芯褉芯屑谢褟褔懈褋褜 斜械褉械 邪褉褏械褌懈锌懈 屑褨褌懈褔薪懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌, 褨 锌褉懈褋泻褨锌谢懈胁芯 锌褉芯锌懈褋褍褦 褩褏薪褞 屑芯写械谢褜 锌芯胁械写褨薪泻懈 薪邪 胁褋褨褏 褉褨胁薪褟褏 胁蟹邪褦屑芯写褨褩 蟹褨 胁褋械褋胁褨褌芯屑, 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 锌芯斜褍褌芯胁懈褏 写褉褨斜薪懈褑褜 褨 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍褞褔懈 锌褉芯屑懈褋谢芯胁褨褋褌褞 褌邪 械泻芯薪芯屑褨褔薪芯褞 褋泻谢邪写芯胁芯褞. 袉 胁褋械 褑械 蟹 褌邪泻芯褞 谢械谐泻褨褋褌褞 褌邪 胁褨褉褌褍芯蟹薪褨褋褌褞, 褖芯 薪械 芯写褉邪蟹褍 锌芯屑褨褔邪褦褕 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜 锌褨写谐芯褌芯胁泻懈, 褟泻褍 邪胁褌芯褉 锌褉芯褉芯斜懈胁.
袟 蟹邪褏胁邪褌芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪胁 褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪褨褋褌褜 褌邪 斜邪谐邪褌芯锌谢邪薪芯胁褨褋褌褜 褋械薪褋褨胁, 褖芯 锌械褉械锌谢褨褌邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 褕懈泻邪褉薪懈屑懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪屑懈, 褟泻褨 胁 褋胁芯褞 褔械褉谐褍 胁褉邪卸邪褞褌褜 谐谢懈斜懈薪芯褞 褌邪 锌邪谢褨褌褉芯褞 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉褨胁. 孝邪 薪械蟹胁邪卸邪褞褔懈 薪邪 胁械褋褜 褋泻谢邪写薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌 褌邪 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪懈泄 写胁褨卸, 谢芯谐褨泻邪 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褌邪 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褟 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 蟹邪胁卸写懈 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢邪 褨 薪械 锌芯褌褉械斜褍褦 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪芯谐芯 褌褉懈屑邪薪薪褟 胁 谐芯谢芯胁褨 写械褋褟褌泻褨胁 褨屑械薪, 写褨邪谢芯谐褨胁 褌邪 褋褞卸械褌薪懈褏 褌褉芯锌褨胁.
袛芯 褌芯谐芯 卸 泻薪懈谐邪, 锌芯锌褉懈 谐谢懈斜懈薪褍, 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪芯 械屑芯褑褨泄薪邪 褨 褑械泄 邪褋锌械泻褌 薪械 写邪褦 蟹薪褍写懈褌懈褋褟 褌邪 蟹邪谐褉褍蟹薪褍褌懈 胁 褋芯褌薪褟褏 锌褉懈屑褨褌芯泻, 褖芯 褉褟褋薪褨褞褌褜 褔懈 薪械 薪邪 泻芯卸薪褨泄 褋褌芯褉褨薪褑褨.
袪芯屑邪薪 锌褉芯褋褌芯 斜褨屑斜邪-谐褉邪薪邪褌邪, 卸褍泻-褋邪屑邪谢褜芯褌, 褌褨褕褍褋褟, 褖芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁 泄芯谐芯 蟹邪褉邪蟹 褨 芯斜芯胁'褟蟹泻芯胁芯, 蟹 褔邪褋芯屑, 锌械褉械褔懈褌邪褞 蟹薪芯胁褍.
袧邪褋邪屑锌械褉械写 胁褉邪蟹懈谢邪 写懈胁芯胁懈卸薪邪 蟹写邪褌薪褨褋褌褜 邪胁褌芯褉邪 屑褨泻褋褍胁邪褌懈, 薪邪 锌械褉褕懈泄 锌芯谐谢褟写, 褑褨谢泻芯胁懈褌芯 薪械锌芯褦写薪褍胁邪薪褨 褉褨蟹薪芯卸邪薪褉芯胁褨 械谢械屑械薪褌懈. 袙褨薪 薪褨褋泻褨谢械褔泻懈 薪械 褋芯褉芯屑谢褟褔懈褋褜 斜械褉械 邪褉褏械褌懈锌懈 屑褨褌懈褔薪懈褏 褨褋褌芯褌, 褨 锌褉懈褋泻褨锌谢懈胁芯 锌褉芯锌懈褋褍褦 褩褏薪褞 屑芯写械谢褜 锌芯胁械写褨薪泻懈 薪邪 胁褋褨褏 褉褨胁薪褟褏 胁蟹邪褦屑芯写褨褩 蟹褨 胁褋械褋胁褨褌芯屑, 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 锌芯斜褍褌芯胁懈褏 写褉褨斜薪懈褑褜 褨 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍褞褔懈 锌褉芯屑懈褋谢芯胁褨褋褌褞 褌邪 械泻芯薪芯屑褨褔薪芯褞 褋泻谢邪写芯胁芯褞. 袉 胁褋械 褑械 蟹 褌邪泻芯褞 谢械谐泻褨褋褌褞 褌邪 胁褨褉褌褍芯蟹薪褨褋褌褞, 褖芯 薪械 芯写褉邪蟹褍 锌芯屑褨褔邪褦褕 屑邪褋褕褌邪斜 锌褨写谐芯褌芯胁泻懈, 褟泻褍 邪胁褌芯褉 锌褉芯褉芯斜懈胁.
袟 蟹邪褏胁邪褌芯屑 褋锌芯褋褌械褉褨谐邪胁 褉褨蟹薪芯屑邪薪褨褌薪褨褋褌褜 褌邪 斜邪谐邪褌芯锌谢邪薪芯胁褨褋褌褜 褋械薪褋褨胁, 褖芯 锌械褉械锌谢褨褌邪褞褌褜褋褟 蟹 褕懈泻邪褉薪懈屑懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸邪屑懈, 褟泻褨 胁 褋胁芯褞 褔械褉谐褍 胁褉邪卸邪褞褌褜 谐谢懈斜懈薪芯褞 褌邪 锌邪谢褨褌褉芯褞 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉褨胁. 孝邪 薪械蟹胁邪卸邪褞褔懈 薪邪 胁械褋褜 褋泻谢邪写薪懈泄 褋胁褨褌 褌邪 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪懈泄 写胁褨卸, 谢芯谐褨泻邪 芯锌芯胁褨写褨 褌邪 屑芯褌懈胁邪褑褨褟 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁 蟹邪胁卸写懈 蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢邪 褨 薪械 锌芯褌褉械斜褍褦 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪芯谐芯 褌褉懈屑邪薪薪褟 胁 谐芯谢芯胁褨 写械褋褟褌泻褨胁 褨屑械薪, 写褨邪谢芯谐褨胁 褌邪 褋褞卸械褌薪懈褏 褌褉芯锌褨胁.
袛芯 褌芯谐芯 卸 泻薪懈谐邪, 锌芯锌褉懈 谐谢懈斜懈薪褍, 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪芯 械屑芯褑褨泄薪邪 褨 褑械泄 邪褋锌械泻褌 薪械 写邪褦 蟹薪褍写懈褌懈褋褟 褌邪 蟹邪谐褉褍蟹薪褍褌懈 胁 褋芯褌薪褟褏 锌褉懈屑褨褌芯泻, 褖芯 褉褟褋薪褨褞褌褜 褔懈 薪械 薪邪 泻芯卸薪褨泄 褋褌芯褉褨薪褑褨.
袪芯屑邪薪 锌褉芯褋褌芯 斜褨屑斜邪-谐褉邪薪邪褌邪, 卸褍泻-褋邪屑邪谢褜芯褌, 褌褨褕褍褋褟, 褖芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪胁 泄芯谐芯 蟹邪褉邪蟹 褨 芯斜芯胁'褟蟹泻芯胁芯, 蟹 褔邪褋芯屑, 锌械褉械褔懈褌邪褞 蟹薪芯胁褍.
April 15, 2012
So, you know the feeling you get when you encounter a difficult piece of artwork in a contemporary art museum? Maybe it's a small box left alone on a table. Maybe it's a cake made of plaster. Maybe it's a series of lights shone on a wall. You can pick up on a few clues as to what concept is being explored and what aesthetic is being showcased, but you get the sense that you might just not be intelligent or cultured enough to grasp the big, profound entirety of it all. And then it strikes you: maybe the artist is just fucking with you. You leave the museum in a disoriented state, wondering if you had finally experienced true art and whether you hated it or not. You decide it deserves three stars.
May 18, 2013
I鈥檇 read some of the other reviews of The Iron Dragon鈥檚 Daughter on 欧宝娱乐, so I was forewarned that the author pulls a nasty trick on us around page 80. That still didn鈥檛 prepare me for how angry this book was going to make me.
I picked up this book because it鈥檚 noteworthy for deconstructing a lot of stock fantasy tropes. It was published in 1993, when fantasy was deep in the ghetto of Tolkien knockoffs. A few years later, A Game of Thrones would start pulling the genre out of Tolkien鈥檚 shadow, and then Harry Potter would really get fantasy going again. But The Iron Dragon鈥檚 Daughter was a start. For one thing, this book has technology 颅鈥� at a time when most people had not heard of the word 鈥渟teampunk.鈥�
Jane is a young human who鈥檚 been kidnapped by the Unseelie Court and forced to live in Fairyland. She works as a child laborer in a robot dragon factory (they work like sentient fighter jets). One day, one of the dragons begins speaking to her. It offers to help her escape if she repairs it. This dragon is quite evil, but they strike an uneasy bargain and they get out.
At this point, you鈥檇 expect the story to be about Jane trying to get home while trying to cope with this dragon she can鈥檛 trust. You would be wrong. Over the course of a page or two, Jane becomes a miserable little crook bent on cheating, stealing, and fornicating* her way to the top of Unseelie society. She manipulates people. She lets her friends die to save herself. All of this would make for a fascinating villain if only there were any heroes in the story. There aren鈥檛. All of the other characters are loathesome except for this one dude who keeps dying over and over and over again.
It鈥檚 not bad writing. In fact, it鈥檚 quite good (Swanwick has won awards for some of his other works). What we have here is a talented writer who is deliberately trolling his readers. The theme of the book is that life is pointless and meaningless, though it stops to poke some cruel humor at yuppie culture along the way.
I skipped ahead to see if Jane ever winds up in jail, which she so richly deserves. She does not.
Swanwick, you don鈥檛 have to be like this. You don鈥檛 have to rip your subject to bloody shreds to write effective satire. Take Terry Pratchett, for example. This guy pokes holes in everything, literally everything. He鈥檚 done dwarves quaffing mead in taverns to lost heirs to the throne to the post office to image compression algorithms to Robocop. But no matter where the books go, they always circle back to two main messages: 1. You will die eventually. 2. The human spirit (or dwarven or vampire or what have you) is worth something.
And frankly, that鈥檚 the sort of satire I鈥檇 rather read.
* Sex magic. She doesn鈥檛 care for her partners, but she does use them to acquire power.
I picked up this book because it鈥檚 noteworthy for deconstructing a lot of stock fantasy tropes. It was published in 1993, when fantasy was deep in the ghetto of Tolkien knockoffs. A few years later, A Game of Thrones would start pulling the genre out of Tolkien鈥檚 shadow, and then Harry Potter would really get fantasy going again. But The Iron Dragon鈥檚 Daughter was a start. For one thing, this book has technology 颅鈥� at a time when most people had not heard of the word 鈥渟teampunk.鈥�
Jane is a young human who鈥檚 been kidnapped by the Unseelie Court and forced to live in Fairyland. She works as a child laborer in a robot dragon factory (they work like sentient fighter jets). One day, one of the dragons begins speaking to her. It offers to help her escape if she repairs it. This dragon is quite evil, but they strike an uneasy bargain and they get out.
At this point, you鈥檇 expect the story to be about Jane trying to get home while trying to cope with this dragon she can鈥檛 trust. You would be wrong. Over the course of a page or two, Jane becomes a miserable little crook bent on cheating, stealing, and fornicating* her way to the top of Unseelie society. She manipulates people. She lets her friends die to save herself. All of this would make for a fascinating villain if only there were any heroes in the story. There aren鈥檛. All of the other characters are loathesome except for this one dude who keeps dying over and over and over again.
It鈥檚 not bad writing. In fact, it鈥檚 quite good (Swanwick has won awards for some of his other works). What we have here is a talented writer who is deliberately trolling his readers. The theme of the book is that life is pointless and meaningless, though it stops to poke some cruel humor at yuppie culture along the way.
I skipped ahead to see if Jane ever winds up in jail, which she so richly deserves. She does not.
Swanwick, you don鈥檛 have to be like this. You don鈥檛 have to rip your subject to bloody shreds to write effective satire. Take Terry Pratchett, for example. This guy pokes holes in everything, literally everything. He鈥檚 done dwarves quaffing mead in taverns to lost heirs to the throne to the post office to image compression algorithms to Robocop. But no matter where the books go, they always circle back to two main messages: 1. You will die eventually. 2. The human spirit (or dwarven or vampire or what have you) is worth something.
And frankly, that鈥檚 the sort of satire I鈥檇 rather read.
* Sex magic. She doesn鈥檛 care for her partners, but she does use them to acquire power.
April 23, 2015
This book made me stabby.
Feels of rage when I was done.
Bad ending was bad.
Feels of rage when I was done.
Bad ending was bad.
Read
November 27, 2022袚芯谢芯胁薪邪 谐械褉芯褩薪褟 - 袛卸械泄薪 - 褑械 谢褞写褋褜泻邪 锌褨写屑褨薪邪 褍 褋胁褨褌褨 蟹谢褨褋薪懈褏 褎械泄褉褨, 褟泻邪 屑褍褋懈褌褜 锌褉邪褑褞胁邪褌懈 薪邪 蟹邪胁芯写褨 蟹 胁懈褉芯斜薪懈褑褌胁邪 写褉邪泻芯薪褨胁 (褌褍褌 褍 屑械薪械 斜褍谢懈 邪褋芯褑褨邪褑褨褩 蟹 "袨袥褨胁械褉芯屑 孝胁褨褋褌芯屑" 褨 褔械褉械蟹 褩褩 写褉褍谐邪-褎械泄褉褨 褖械 泄 袩褨褌械褉芯屑 袩械薪芯屑). 小胁褨褌 褎械泄褉褨 - 卸芯褉褋褌芯泻懈泄 褨 胁懈泄褕芯胁 泻褉褍褌褨褕懈屑, 薪褨卸 褍 袚芯谢谢褨 袘谢械泻, 斜芯 褎械泄褉褨 薪械 褌褨谢褜泻懈 卸芯褉褋褌芯泻褨, 邪 褖械 泄 薪邪写 褋胁褨褌芯屑 小胁芯薪胁褨泻邪 谢褨褌邪褦 写褍褕芯泻 邪斜褋褍褉写褍, 褟泻懈泄 泄芯屑褍 写褍卸械 锌邪褋褍褦, 斜芯 胁懈斜懈胁邪褦 蟹 "谢褞写褋褜泻芯褩" 谢芯谐褨泻懈. 袦械薪褨 写褍卸械 锌芯写芯斜邪谢懈褋褟 褌械褏薪褨褔薪褨 写械褌邪谢褨 锌褉芯 胁懈褉芯斜薪懈褑褌胁芯 泄 卸懈褌褌褟 蟹邪胁芯写褍, 芯褎褨谐械薪薪懈泄 锌褉懈泻谢邪写 褌械褏薪芯褎械薪褌械蟹褨, 写械 蟹 锌褉芯褑械褋褍 胁懈褉芯斜薪懈褑褌胁邪 锌芯褋褌邪褦 卸懈胁邪 褨褋褌芯褌邪 - 写褉邪泻芯薪, 胁褨薪 芯写薪芯褔邪褋薪芯 蟹斜褉芯褟 褨 褔褍写芯胁懈褋褜泻芯 蟹褨 褋胁褨写芯屑褨褋褌褞.
些械 斜褍谢芯 斜械蟹谢褨褔 泻褉褍褌懈褏 蟹薪邪褏褨写芯泻: 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 泻芯屑邪薪写懈 写谢褟 写褉邪泻芯薪邪, 褖芯 褋泻谢邪写邪谢懈褋褟 蟹 泻芯写褨胁 褌械锌谢芯胁芯蟹褨胁? (褟 蟹邪斜褍谢邪, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 褌邪屑 斜褍谢芯, 邪谢械 褑械 泻褉褍褌芯). 肖械泄褉褨 褍 褌褉邪薪褋褨 胁懈谐芯谢芯褕褍褞褌褜 褕屑邪褌泻懈 蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻懈褏 薪芯胁懈薪 褨 锌褉芯屑芯胁 锌芯谢褨褌懈泻褨胁, 薪邪蟹胁懈 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪褨 蟹 屑褨褎芯谢芯谐褨褦褞 (锌褉懈褔芯屑褍 写褍卸械 斜邪谐邪褌芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯 薪邪屑褍褌懈谢芯褋褟).
小谢芯胁芯屑, 胁褨写 锌械褉褕芯褩 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈 泻薪懈谐懈 褟 斜褍谢邪 褍 胁械谢懈泻芯屑褍 蟹邪褏胁邪褌褨, 邪 锌芯褌褨屑 袛卸械泄薪 锌芯写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪谢邪, 褋褌邪谢邪 褔械褉锌邪褌懈 屑邪谐褨褞 蟹 褋械泻褋褍 - 褨 褑械 斜褍谢芯 斜 芯泻, 邪谢械 锌芯褋褌褨谢褜薪褨 褋褑械薪懈 斜褍谢懈 锌械褉械胁邪卸薪芯 斜褉懈写泻褍胁邪褌褨 (芯泻褉褨屑 褩褩 屑邪褋褌褍褉斜邪褑褨褩, 褑械 斜褍胁 褔懈褋褌懈泄 芯褉, 褟泻 褍 袦邪邪褋 - 褑褟 写褍褉薪褍胁邪褌邪 屑械褌邪褎芯褉邪 谢褨褋褍. 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 胁芯薪邪 褕褍泻邪谢邪 褋胁褨泄 "覒褍写蟹懈泻"). 袪械褕褌邪 卸 锌芯褋褌褨谢褜薪懈褏 褋褑械薪 蟹屑褍褕褍胁邪谢懈 屑芯褉褖懈褌懈 薪芯褋邪 - 薪械 斜褍谢懈 邪薪褨 薪械写芯谢褍谐芯 褋屑褨褕薪懈屑懈, 邪薪褨 "谐邪褉褟褔懈屑懈". 袧褍 褨 薪邪胁泻芯谢芯 泻褍锌邪 褏谢芯锌褑褨胁 斜械蟹泻褨薪械褔薪芯 褏邪锌邪谢懈 褋械斜械 蟹邪 褟泄褑褟 褔懈 写械屑芯薪褋褌褉褍胁邪谢懈 褩泄 褔谢械薪懈, 褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪褨 屑邪谐褍 蟹 褎褨泻褋邪褑褨褩 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍.
袩谢褞褋 写械褋褜 锌芯褋械褉械写懈薪褨 褩褩 薪邪胁褔邪薪薪褟 胁 褍薪褨胁械褉褨 锌褉芯褋褨谢邪 写懈薪邪屑褨泻邪, 芯褑褟 胁褋褟 胁芯蟹薪褟 蟹 覑邪谢'褟覒邪薪褌械 薪械 写褍卸械 褟褋薪芯 写谢褟 褔芯谐芯 斜褍谢邪, 褟泻 褨 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈泄 褨 写褍卸械 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褜薪懈泄 写褨屑 袉薪泻芯谢芯褉械, 褟泻懈泄 蟹邪谐邪谢芯屑 薪邪褖芯 褌邪屑 斜褍胁?
袣褨薪褑褨胁泻邪 斜褍谢邪 褑褨泻邪胁邪, 邪谢械 薪械 锌懈褋邪褌懈屑褍, 褖芯 褌邪屑 斜褍谢芯. 袙褉邪卸械薪薪褟 胁褋械 芯写薪芯 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪芯 褌邪泻 锌褨写锌褋褍胁邪谢懈 锌械褉械褉邪褏芯胁邪薪褨 胁懈褖械 屑芯屑械薪褌懈
些械 斜褍谢芯 斜械蟹谢褨褔 泻褉褍褌懈褏 蟹薪邪褏褨写芯泻: 薪邪锌褉懈泻谢邪写, 泻芯屑邪薪写懈 写谢褟 写褉邪泻芯薪邪, 褖芯 褋泻谢邪写邪谢懈褋褟 蟹 泻芯写褨胁 褌械锌谢芯胁芯蟹褨胁? (褟 蟹邪斜褍谢邪, 褖芯 褋邪屑械 褌邪屑 斜褍谢芯, 邪谢械 褑械 泻褉褍褌芯). 肖械泄褉褨 褍 褌褉邪薪褋褨 胁懈谐芯谢芯褕褍褞褌褜 褕屑邪褌泻懈 蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻懈褏 薪芯胁懈薪 褨 锌褉芯屑芯胁 锌芯谢褨褌懈泻褨胁, 薪邪蟹胁懈 锌芯胁'褟蟹邪薪褨 蟹 屑褨褎芯谢芯谐褨褦褞 (锌褉懈褔芯屑褍 写褍卸械 斜邪谐邪褌芯 胁褋褜芯谐芯 薪邪屑褍褌懈谢芯褋褟).
小谢芯胁芯屑, 胁褨写 锌械褉褕芯褩 褔邪褋褌懈薪懈 泻薪懈谐懈 褟 斜褍谢邪 褍 胁械谢懈泻芯屑褍 蟹邪褏胁邪褌褨, 邪 锌芯褌褨屑 袛卸械泄薪 锌芯写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪谢邪, 褋褌邪谢邪 褔械褉锌邪褌懈 屑邪谐褨褞 蟹 褋械泻褋褍 - 褨 褑械 斜褍谢芯 斜 芯泻, 邪谢械 锌芯褋褌褨谢褜薪褨 褋褑械薪懈 斜褍谢懈 锌械褉械胁邪卸薪芯 斜褉懈写泻褍胁邪褌褨 (芯泻褉褨屑 褩褩 屑邪褋褌褍褉斜邪褑褨褩, 褑械 斜褍胁 褔懈褋褌懈泄 芯褉, 褟泻 褍 袦邪邪褋 - 褑褟 写褍褉薪褍胁邪褌邪 屑械褌邪褎芯褉邪 谢褨褋褍. 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 胁芯薪邪 褕褍泻邪谢邪 褋胁褨泄 "覒褍写蟹懈泻"). 袪械褕褌邪 卸 锌芯褋褌褨谢褜薪懈褏 褋褑械薪 蟹屑褍褕褍胁邪谢懈 屑芯褉褖懈褌懈 薪芯褋邪 - 薪械 斜褍谢懈 邪薪褨 薪械写芯谢褍谐芯 褋屑褨褕薪懈屑懈, 邪薪褨 "谐邪褉褟褔懈屑懈". 袧褍 褨 薪邪胁泻芯谢芯 泻褍锌邪 褏谢芯锌褑褨胁 斜械蟹泻褨薪械褔薪芯 褏邪锌邪谢懈 褋械斜械 蟹邪 褟泄褑褟 褔懈 写械屑芯薪褋褌褉褍胁邪谢懈 褩泄 褔谢械薪懈, 褟 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪褨 屑邪谐褍 蟹 褎褨泻褋邪褑褨褩 薪邪 褑褜芯屑褍.
袩谢褞褋 写械褋褜 锌芯褋械褉械写懈薪褨 褩褩 薪邪胁褔邪薪薪褟 胁 褍薪褨胁械褉褨 锌褉芯褋褨谢邪 写懈薪邪屑褨泻邪, 芯褑褟 胁褋褟 胁芯蟹薪褟 蟹 覑邪谢'褟覒邪薪褌械 薪械 写褍卸械 褟褋薪芯 写谢褟 褔芯谐芯 斜褍谢邪, 褟泻 褨 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈泄 褨 写褍卸械 芯褉懈谐褨薪邪谢褜薪懈泄 写褨屑 袉薪泻芯谢芯褉械, 褟泻懈泄 蟹邪谐邪谢芯屑 薪邪褖芯 褌邪屑 斜褍胁?
袣褨薪褑褨胁泻邪 斜褍谢邪 褑褨泻邪胁邪, 邪谢械 薪械 锌懈褋邪褌懈屑褍, 褖芯 褌邪屑 斜褍谢芯. 袙褉邪卸械薪薪褟 胁褋械 芯写薪芯 薪芯褉屑邪谢褜薪芯 褌邪泻 锌褨写锌褋褍胁邪谢懈 锌械褉械褉邪褏芯胁邪薪褨 胁懈褖械 屑芯屑械薪褌懈
December 2, 2014
I read this book years ago, and it's one of those that really stick with you and rattle around in your head.
If you've ever read classic, well respected literature, you know that the author is telling a raw and original story, and cares nothing about the reader's comfort along the way. That, to me, is the sign of a truly well-written book. You experience the human condition through the writing, and a good part of the human condition is NOT comfortable, pretty, or easy to face.
The genius here (and why this book became such a phenomenon in the 90s), is that Swanwick took a genre that is notorious for NOT challenging the reader, for being overly comfortable, and not well respected, and elevated it.
He uses a harsh world with class issues, and an imperfect main character (really, you expect a child slave with revenge issues to be a paragon of morality?), to emotionally exercise the reader in a manner usually expected when you sit down with a copy of Heart of Darkness, or Lord of the Flies. It will elevate you, it will floor you, and it will make you upset with the main character (because she's not perfect).
Most of all, it will stay with you and change how you view a genre.
If you've ever read classic, well respected literature, you know that the author is telling a raw and original story, and cares nothing about the reader's comfort along the way. That, to me, is the sign of a truly well-written book. You experience the human condition through the writing, and a good part of the human condition is NOT comfortable, pretty, or easy to face.
The genius here (and why this book became such a phenomenon in the 90s), is that Swanwick took a genre that is notorious for NOT challenging the reader, for being overly comfortable, and not well respected, and elevated it.
He uses a harsh world with class issues, and an imperfect main character (really, you expect a child slave with revenge issues to be a paragon of morality?), to emotionally exercise the reader in a manner usually expected when you sit down with a copy of Heart of Darkness, or Lord of the Flies. It will elevate you, it will floor you, and it will make you upset with the main character (because she's not perfect).
Most of all, it will stay with you and change how you view a genre.
August 27, 2022
袟 褏邪芯褌懈褔薪懈屑 褋褞卸械褌芯屑, 褟泻懈泄 泻芯胁褌邪褦 褨 胁懈锌谢褜芯胁褍褦 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸褨胁, 薪邪褔械 褋芯薪褟褕薪懈泻芯胁械 薪邪褋褨薪薪褟 褖械 屑芯卸薪邪 斜褍谢芯 斜 蟹屑懈褉懈褌懈褋褜. 袗谢械 蟹 芯谐懈写薪褨褋褌褞 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 谐械褉芯褩薪褨 - 薪褨褟泻.
袨褌 薪械 屑芯卸褍 蟹斜邪谐薪褍褌懈, 褟泻 褌邪泻 胁懈泄褕谢芯, 褖芯 胁褨写 屑芯屑械薪褌褍 胁褌械褔褨 褨蟹 蟹邪胁芯写褍 褋褞卸械褌 锌械褉械褌胁芯褉懈胁褋褟 薪邪 屑邪褉械薪薪褟 薪邪褉泻芯屑邪薪邪.
袧邪 屑芯屑械薪褌褨, 泻芯谢懈 胁芯薪邪 蟹褨 褋锌械褉屑懈 褉芯斜懈褌褜 邪谢褏褨屑褨褔薪褨 写芯褋谢褨写懈 褟 蟹褍锌懈薪懈胁 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟.
袧械 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褕褍泻邪褌懈 写芯写邪褌泻芯胁褨 褋械薪褋懈 锌芯屑褨卸 薪邪褉泻芯褌懈泻邪屑懈, 邪谢泻芯谐芯谢械屑 褌邪 斜械蟹泻褨薪械褔薪懈屑懈 蟹谢褟谐邪薪薪褟屑懈 谐谐...
袛芯写邪屑 蟹褨褉芯褔泻褍 褋褍褌芯 蟹邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈褔薪褍 褉芯斜芯褌褍 薪邪写 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻邪屑懈.
袨褌 薪械 屑芯卸褍 蟹斜邪谐薪褍褌懈, 褟泻 褌邪泻 胁懈泄褕谢芯, 褖芯 胁褨写 屑芯屑械薪褌褍 胁褌械褔褨 褨蟹 蟹邪胁芯写褍 褋褞卸械褌 锌械褉械褌胁芯褉懈胁褋褟 薪邪 屑邪褉械薪薪褟 薪邪褉泻芯屑邪薪邪.
袧邪 屑芯屑械薪褌褨, 泻芯谢懈 胁芯薪邪 蟹褨 褋锌械褉屑懈 褉芯斜懈褌褜 邪谢褏褨屑褨褔薪褨 写芯褋谢褨写懈 褟 蟹褍锌懈薪懈胁 褔懈褌邪薪薪褟.
袧械 褑褨泻邪胁芯 褕褍泻邪褌懈 写芯写邪褌泻芯胁褨 褋械薪褋懈 锌芯屑褨卸 薪邪褉泻芯褌懈泻邪屑懈, 邪谢泻芯谐芯谢械屑 褌邪 斜械蟹泻褨薪械褔薪懈屑懈 蟹谢褟谐邪薪薪褟屑懈 谐谐...
袛芯写邪屑 蟹褨褉芯褔泻褍 褋褍褌芯 蟹邪 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈褔薪褍 褉芯斜芯褌褍 薪邪写 锌褉懈屑褨褌泻邪屑懈.
Read
January 1, 2025DNF Pag. 300 (58%)
October 7, 2024
This is a kind of dark Dystopian steampunk fantasy. It's elegantly written but would have been more enjoyable for me with a little more light or a little less length. It's a blue-collar vision of fantasy land, with most all of the fey beasties represented, and a heroine named Jane who works at a factory where dragons are constructed. She moves on to a magical existence, predicated on sex magic, but she doesn't become a fairy-tale heroine, instead spiraling into shifting scenes of darkness and despair before ending up institutionalized. There are no likable or sympathetic characters, and the book seems an attempt to subvert all of the tropes and archetypes and conventions of modern fantasy. It's a very well-written story, but a little bit went a long way.
February 2, 2024
What if you live through your entire life without any consolations? What if you escaped from a prison but still stuck in the reality which you are trying to escape from? This is the Iron Dragon鈥檚 Daughter about.
Jane is a human changeling, was imprisoned in an elf supervised prison; there has many races, ogres, fae, dwarf etc. It is hard to know they were captured by elfs or were serving their prison sentences. Jane was one of the prisoners until she accidentally discovered a grimoire, it is an instruction of Dragon pilots. It Led Jane a path to freedom from the cruel prison. Since Jane had discovered the Grimorie, she had been manipulating by the dragon which had been consistently whispering in her brain. After she got out of the prison, she would soon realize that it was just the Commence of her suffering. After Jane escaped from the prison, she became a student and want to have her chemical degree in University , until the call from her dragon that told her to destroy the universe鈥�
The story is profoundly interesting, many races and creatures in this book, they all had lived in a hierarchy under elves, beside Jane鈥檚 stories, there had some of short stories about those creatures like homunculu, man-like snake etc in this books, by those short stories we know some detail of this steampunk-like world with some advance technologies and archaic magic. The world building is quite intriguing, the tone of narrative gives the darker and more mysterious shape of the world which Jane escaped into.
This is a tragic story with Jane had witnessed her four lover鈥檚 death, they are reincarnations and are destined to meet Jane. Each time she tried to avoid seeing the man she was meant to love, the miserable fact is that she would face the crueler consequences. It is kind of invariably interminable cul-de-sac of seeing her heart broken; when she saw four times in different ways of her lovers died for her or because of her, It is hardly bearable for her, then she became indulgent of drugs, sex, alcohol. I think it is like a loop, repetitively experiencing the tragedy.
I think Iron Dragon鈥檚 daughter has a wonderful world building and numerous complex themes, but the story is incoherent, some explanations seem to be forced in the story progression. It easily confuses readers to comprehend the world and the story. In addition, the sci-if elements blend in the fantasy story quite jarring, It would be a bit bewildering that Am I reading a Sci-Fi or a fantasy novel.
Overall, this is a rich-world building, Steampunk fantasy. In this bleak world, all races are struggling in conflicts without any salivations. There is no heaven in the upper or lower world, just a barrier between the two worlds.
Jane is a human changeling, was imprisoned in an elf supervised prison; there has many races, ogres, fae, dwarf etc. It is hard to know they were captured by elfs or were serving their prison sentences. Jane was one of the prisoners until she accidentally discovered a grimoire, it is an instruction of Dragon pilots. It Led Jane a path to freedom from the cruel prison. Since Jane had discovered the Grimorie, she had been manipulating by the dragon which had been consistently whispering in her brain. After she got out of the prison, she would soon realize that it was just the Commence of her suffering. After Jane escaped from the prison, she became a student and want to have her chemical degree in University , until the call from her dragon that told her to destroy the universe鈥�
The story is profoundly interesting, many races and creatures in this book, they all had lived in a hierarchy under elves, beside Jane鈥檚 stories, there had some of short stories about those creatures like homunculu, man-like snake etc in this books, by those short stories we know some detail of this steampunk-like world with some advance technologies and archaic magic. The world building is quite intriguing, the tone of narrative gives the darker and more mysterious shape of the world which Jane escaped into.
This is a tragic story with Jane had witnessed her four lover鈥檚 death, they are reincarnations and are destined to meet Jane. Each time she tried to avoid seeing the man she was meant to love, the miserable fact is that she would face the crueler consequences. It is kind of invariably interminable cul-de-sac of seeing her heart broken; when she saw four times in different ways of her lovers died for her or because of her, It is hardly bearable for her, then she became indulgent of drugs, sex, alcohol. I think it is like a loop, repetitively experiencing the tragedy.
I think Iron Dragon鈥檚 daughter has a wonderful world building and numerous complex themes, but the story is incoherent, some explanations seem to be forced in the story progression. It easily confuses readers to comprehend the world and the story. In addition, the sci-if elements blend in the fantasy story quite jarring, It would be a bit bewildering that Am I reading a Sci-Fi or a fantasy novel.
Overall, this is a rich-world building, Steampunk fantasy. In this bleak world, all races are struggling in conflicts without any salivations. There is no heaven in the upper or lower world, just a barrier between the two worlds.
January 13, 2013
Not so long ago, I was reading a forum discussion talking about how fantasy worlds never seem to progress past a medieval level of technology; and whether or not it's possible to write a technological fantasy world that is clearly not science fiction.
This book does it, with its plethora of faerie creatures - and our protagonist, a changeling - working in factories and dealing with magical/robotic creations.
The book is complex, with strikingly original ideas, and a carefully plotted structure that at first seems pointlessly rambling. As the spiraling theme of the story is revealed, the reader realizes that the plot has also been following that spiral theme.
It's well done; even impressive. The book probably deserved to win at least one of the several awards it was nominated for.
However, I didn't love it, emotionally. Even though it deftly slipped out of the 'it was all just a dream, or mental illness' thing that I had a suspicion it was sliding toward, for a while. I feel like I appreciated this book - it just didn't become one of my favorites.
This book does it, with its plethora of faerie creatures - and our protagonist, a changeling - working in factories and dealing with magical/robotic creations.
The book is complex, with strikingly original ideas, and a carefully plotted structure that at first seems pointlessly rambling. As the spiraling theme of the story is revealed, the reader realizes that the plot has also been following that spiral theme.
It's well done; even impressive. The book probably deserved to win at least one of the several awards it was nominated for.
However, I didn't love it, emotionally. Even though it deftly slipped out of the 'it was all just a dream, or mental illness' thing that I had a suspicion it was sliding toward, for a while. I feel like I appreciated this book - it just didn't become one of my favorites.
October 13, 2019
This is very likely Swanwick's masterwork. I've read it at least three times, and got something new each time. Not to be missed.
Here's Dave Truesdale's comments on Iron Dragon鈥檚Daughter and the 2008 sort-of sequel, The Dragons of Babel:
"In 1994, Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter broke new ground and blew everyone away with its heady mix of dystopian dark Faerie and Dickensian machine-age steampunk. It was a truly one-of-a-kind work and I now think it fair to say a fantasy classic."
LInk to original [caution, SPOILERS]
I find Swanwick's comments on his book are fascinating. If you like this sort of thing, there's lots more at [caution, SPOILERS]
Here's Dave Truesdale's comments on Iron Dragon鈥檚Daughter and the 2008 sort-of sequel, The Dragons of Babel:
"In 1994, Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter broke new ground and blew everyone away with its heady mix of dystopian dark Faerie and Dickensian machine-age steampunk. It was a truly one-of-a-kind work and I now think it fair to say a fantasy classic."
LInk to original [caution, SPOILERS]
I find Swanwick's comments on his book are fascinating. If you like this sort of thing, there's lots more at [caution, SPOILERS]
August 27, 2024
袨褌卸械, 褟 褑械 写芯褔懈褌邪谢邪. 小胁芯薪胁褨泻 锌懈褕械 胁 褋褌懈谢褨, 褟泻芯谐芯 褟 薪褨泻芯谢懈 褉邪薪褨褕械 薪械 蟹褍褋褌褉褨褔邪谢邪 (锌芯褉褨胁薪褞褞褌褜 褨蟹 效邪泄薪邪 袦'褦胁褨谢褜, 邪谢械 写谢褟 屑械薪械 胁芯薪懈 薪械 褋褏芯卸褨). 袉褋褌芯褉褨褟 锌褉芯 卸邪褏谢懈胁褍 写褨胁褔懈薪褍, 褟泻邪 褉芯斜懈褌褜 卸邪褏谢懈胁褨 褉械褔褨, 蟹写械斜褨谢褜褕芯谐芯 褨蟹 卸邪褏谢懈胁懈屑懈 谢褞写褜屑懈. 袝谢褜褎懈 薪褞褏邪褞褌褜 褔邪褉褨胁薪懈泄 锌懈谢, 谐褉懈褎芯薪懈 斜芯褉褞褌褜褋褟 蟹邪 泻懈薪褍褌褍 斜邪薪泻褍 锌懈胁邪, 锌芯褋褌褨泄薪褨 褋械泻褋褍邪谢褜薪褨 褉懈褌褍邪谢懈 褨 写褉邪泻芯薪-胁懈薪懈褖褍胁邪褔. 小褞卸械褌 胁邪卸泻芯 锌褉芯褋褌械卸懈褌懈 褨 薪械 薪邪 胁褋褨 蟹邪锌懈褌邪薪薪褟 胁懈 芯褌褉懈屑邪褦褌械 胁褨写锌芯胁褨写褨. 袗谢械 褟泻褖芯 胁懈 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢懈 锌械褉褕褨 100 褋褌 褨 胁邪屑 薪械 蟹邪褏芯褌褨谢芯褋褜 胁懈泻懈薪褍褌懈 泻薪懈谐褍 褨蟹 胁褨泻薪邪, 褌芯 锌芯锌械褉械写褍 锌芯褏屑褍褉邪, 蟹邪锌谢褍褌邪薪邪, 褋锌芯胁薪械薪邪 斜褉褍写褍 褎邪薪褌邪褋褌懈褔薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 锌褉芯 卸懈褌褌褟 褌邪 锌芯谐邪薪褨 褉褨褕械薪薪褟.
效懈 褟 褉械泻芯屑械薪写褍褞 褑褞 泻薪懈谐褍? 袉蟹 100 谢褞写械泄 薪邪胁褉褟写褔懈 斜褨谢褜褕械 5 褩褩 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褞褌褜 褨 芯褑褨薪褟褌褜. 袙芯薪邪 写褍卸械 褋锌械褑懈褎褨褔薪邪, 褌芯屑褍 褟泻褖芯 薪械 胁锌械胁薪械薪褨, 褌芯 泻褉邪褖械 芯斜械褉褨褌褜 斜褨谢褜褕 蟹胁懈褔薪械 褨 泻谢邪褋懈褔薪械 褎械薪褌械蟹褨.
效懈 褟 褉械泻芯屑械薪写褍褞 褑褞 泻薪懈谐褍? 袉蟹 100 谢褞写械泄 薪邪胁褉褟写褔懈 斜褨谢褜褕械 5 褩褩 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪褞褌褜 褨 芯褑褨薪褟褌褜. 袙芯薪邪 写褍卸械 褋锌械褑懈褎褨褔薪邪, 褌芯屑褍 褟泻褖芯 薪械 胁锌械胁薪械薪褨, 褌芯 泻褉邪褖械 芯斜械褉褨褌褜 斜褨谢褜褕 蟹胁懈褔薪械 褨 泻谢邪褋懈褔薪械 褎械薪褌械蟹褨.
June 8, 2010
You'd be surprised how amazingly awesome a book that consists largely of depressing elf sex can be.
May 6, 2009
This book is one of those rarities that make my brain a little bit numb from emotion storm. There is nothing coherent, just a storm of love, hatred, questions, guesses, objections, suggestions, alterations, admiration, amusement, dissatisfaction... I want more, but I know that there is no more and there must be no more - for all good things must end by their own will or be twisted into the MacDonald's-like things by others. Such books and the worlds they create is more like a glimpse in the dark. They flash before your eyes, they leave you with images, with seeds of desire, and they gone... they don't need our imagination, they are free from us.
August 12, 2010
This was one of the first books that I stumbled upon without anyone ever recommending it to me, and expected the normal fantasy-fare.
Imagine my surprise when this story turned out to be an entirely original tale about a girl trying to find her way in a strange, cruel, bold, ferocious world. I was used to reading about elves and dwarves; this world has giant metal dragons and invisible boys and anthropomorphic characters. And, as it were, elves as well.
I re-read this book every year, just for the magic it has, just for that breath of truly magnificent story-telling that really resonated with me. Perhaps it is because I still can't quite figure it all out, and I think that is the beauty of this book. It is as enigmatic as our iron dragon daughter, our Jane.
Recommended for established fantasy/sci-fi fans only.
Imagine my surprise when this story turned out to be an entirely original tale about a girl trying to find her way in a strange, cruel, bold, ferocious world. I was used to reading about elves and dwarves; this world has giant metal dragons and invisible boys and anthropomorphic characters. And, as it were, elves as well.
I re-read this book every year, just for the magic it has, just for that breath of truly magnificent story-telling that really resonated with me. Perhaps it is because I still can't quite figure it all out, and I think that is the beauty of this book. It is as enigmatic as our iron dragon daughter, our Jane.
Recommended for established fantasy/sci-fi fans only.
September 16, 2022
袙褌芯屑懈胁褋褟 写褉芯褔懈褌懈.
May 26, 2021
This is an experimental fantasy novel written as a cyberpunk. Ages ago I鈥檝e read it in translation and wasn鈥檛 impressed, but then I was young, I just discovered for myself a 鈥榗lassic鈥� fantasy and I haven鈥檛 read any cyberpunk, so for me it was just a wrong book back then.
There is an industrial world inhabited by fantasy creatures. The books starts at the factory that produces iron dragons (which are like hi-tech jet fighters) using child labor. The protagonist, Jane is the Changeling, which means (at least from what a reader initially understands) a human child kidnapped by fairy and transported to that world. Most magic creatures there, just like in western European folklore, don鈥檛 like to be near iron, so they need half-bloods to operate a lot of machinery, including the dragons. It is noteworthy that instead of going Tolkien-like and setting fantasy creatures as races/tribes, the author keeps more classical fairy tale assumptions, which don鈥檛 dwell on say elf's history or pantheon and the like. For example, here is a description of Jane鈥檚 co-worker / friend Rooster: 鈥淗e was a mongrel fey, the sort of creature who a century ago would have lived wild in the woods, emerging occasionally to tip over a milkmaid鈥檚 stool or loosen the stitching on bags of milled flour so they鈥檇 burst open when flung over a shoulder. His kind were shallow, perhaps, but quick to malice and tough as rats. He worked as a scrap iron boy, and nobody doubted he would survive his indenture.鈥�
From the start readers know that Jane plans to steal a dragon to leave the plant, but actually it is only part of the story. What the author does and what I guess made me dislike the book as a teen, is breaking all fantasy genre norms and instead of telling a journey or battles / adventures, he describes a (not so) ordinary life of a person, as she grows up.
I have to note that book, starting roughly in 1/3 has a lot to do about sex, and this doesn鈥檛 mean so much 鈥榮teamy scenes鈥� but the idea that magic and sex are linked: 鈥淪ex energy was most accessible at the moment of orgasm. This was why adepts were usually female. Where a witch might have a string, a series, an archipelago of orgasms to work with, the warlock was (usually) limited to one. Males tended to gravitate to the necromantic arts, it taking no special talent to kill things.鈥�
Another point that I disliked earlier and like now is that there are a lot of unanswered questions about why this or that happened the way it did.
Upon early re-read I enjoyed that way of making of a cyberpunk fantasy, where alchemic rules etc. actually work, but I think that a book could have been shortened, so from 5-star at the start it lowered to like 3-3.5 stars. Definitely an interesting text, but one ought to read a lot to really appreciate it.
There is an industrial world inhabited by fantasy creatures. The books starts at the factory that produces iron dragons (which are like hi-tech jet fighters) using child labor. The protagonist, Jane is the Changeling, which means (at least from what a reader initially understands) a human child kidnapped by fairy and transported to that world. Most magic creatures there, just like in western European folklore, don鈥檛 like to be near iron, so they need half-bloods to operate a lot of machinery, including the dragons. It is noteworthy that instead of going Tolkien-like and setting fantasy creatures as races/tribes, the author keeps more classical fairy tale assumptions, which don鈥檛 dwell on say elf's history or pantheon and the like. For example, here is a description of Jane鈥檚 co-worker / friend Rooster: 鈥淗e was a mongrel fey, the sort of creature who a century ago would have lived wild in the woods, emerging occasionally to tip over a milkmaid鈥檚 stool or loosen the stitching on bags of milled flour so they鈥檇 burst open when flung over a shoulder. His kind were shallow, perhaps, but quick to malice and tough as rats. He worked as a scrap iron boy, and nobody doubted he would survive his indenture.鈥�
From the start readers know that Jane plans to steal a dragon to leave the plant, but actually it is only part of the story. What the author does and what I guess made me dislike the book as a teen, is breaking all fantasy genre norms and instead of telling a journey or battles / adventures, he describes a (not so) ordinary life of a person, as she grows up.
I have to note that book, starting roughly in 1/3 has a lot to do about sex, and this doesn鈥檛 mean so much 鈥榮teamy scenes鈥� but the idea that magic and sex are linked: 鈥淪ex energy was most accessible at the moment of orgasm. This was why adepts were usually female. Where a witch might have a string, a series, an archipelago of orgasms to work with, the warlock was (usually) limited to one. Males tended to gravitate to the necromantic arts, it taking no special talent to kill things.鈥�
Another point that I disliked earlier and like now is that there are a lot of unanswered questions about why this or that happened the way it did.
Upon early re-read I enjoyed that way of making of a cyberpunk fantasy, where alchemic rules etc. actually work, but I think that a book could have been shortened, so from 5-star at the start it lowered to like 3-3.5 stars. Definitely an interesting text, but one ought to read a lot to really appreciate it.
January 2, 2009
(Sigh)...Another one of those cases where GR's star-rating system doesn't adequately express my reaction to a book. I'd give this one 2.5 to 3 stars (and, since it's the New Year & I'm feeling generous, I'm rounding up) - It's not bad; Swanwick is a decent writer. It's just not my "cup of tea."
The only reason I picked this book up was that it was 50 cents at a library sale. In general, I'm not a huge fan of urban fantasy so I was never drawn to the book when it first came out, despite the rave reviews it got (and gets). Now that I've read it, I'm still not a urban-fantasy fan and I'm not terribly impressed by Mr. Swanwick. Which doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading the book, just that it isn't that memorable an experience and I probably won't be reading any more Swanwick in the future outside of a trusted source raving about another one of his novels.
Actually, the character of Jane, the novel's hero, is quite well drawn and believable. I've noticed in some reviews here that readers complain that Jane is a thoroughly selfish and unlikable person, which is true enough as far as it goes but considering her "role models," I was surprised at the amount of empathy she did exhibit. For example, given the chance to betray some school acquaintances (not even friends, really) to save herself, Jane doesn't and very nearly gets exposed as a human changeling and escapee from the dragon works. In fact, I was very disturbed and not entirely convinced when she turned into a serial killer in order to supply the dragon of the title with the energy it needed to fulfill its purpose. But that situation raises the question of just how much influence the dragon has over Jane's actions. It is able to manipulate her subconsciously into breaking their initial pact and allwoing it to go off on its own.
As I've indicated, however, I was never interested enough in the setting or the characters to care all that much. It's a readable book with believable characters and situations but I personally wouldn't recommend it.
The only reason I picked this book up was that it was 50 cents at a library sale. In general, I'm not a huge fan of urban fantasy so I was never drawn to the book when it first came out, despite the rave reviews it got (and gets). Now that I've read it, I'm still not a urban-fantasy fan and I'm not terribly impressed by Mr. Swanwick. Which doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading the book, just that it isn't that memorable an experience and I probably won't be reading any more Swanwick in the future outside of a trusted source raving about another one of his novels.
Actually, the character of Jane, the novel's hero, is quite well drawn and believable. I've noticed in some reviews here that readers complain that Jane is a thoroughly selfish and unlikable person, which is true enough as far as it goes but considering her "role models," I was surprised at the amount of empathy she did exhibit. For example, given the chance to betray some school acquaintances (not even friends, really) to save herself, Jane doesn't and very nearly gets exposed as a human changeling and escapee from the dragon works. In fact, I was very disturbed and not entirely convinced when she turned into a serial killer in order to supply the dragon of the title with the energy it needed to fulfill its purpose. But that situation raises the question of just how much influence the dragon has over Jane's actions. It is able to manipulate her subconsciously into breaking their initial pact and allwoing it to go off on its own.
As I've indicated, however, I was never interested enough in the setting or the characters to care all that much. It's a readable book with believable characters and situations but I personally wouldn't recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2010
A Cracking little read, this one, bonkers and brave and brash. Totally slaps anyone who suspects 鈥榞ritty鈥� fantasy is a new thing. This book doesn鈥檛 shy away from adult language and themes (war, racism, sexism), and has a pleasing mish-mash of aesthetics, from the gentle veneer of the fae, to the harsh industrial landscape 鈥� all mixed with a spot of college antics and sex. Quite likely a deliberate attempt to upset some section of the genre readership 鈥� which you鈥檝e got to love, right?
July 10, 2015
What begins brilliantly and appears to have the makings of a steam punk classic, wanders off into an unholy mess of disagreeable characters and fantasy cliches existing in a world that is wholly incomprehensible. Had I not read it on holiday I would have binned it a third of the way through and as it was just flicked through the final chapters, by which time I didn't have a care for anyone or anything within its pages.
September 10, 2021
Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka pat艡铆 mezi knihy z on茅 podivn茅 拧katulky 鈥瀔ultovn铆, p艡evratn茅, podn臎tn茅, provokativn铆鈥�, ale taky se d谩 za艡adit mezi 鈥瀓e to ujet茅, 煤chyln茅, bizarn铆, perverzn铆, 拧pinav茅, hnusn茅, ale kr谩sn臎 napsan茅鈥� a rozhodn臎 pat艡铆 do kategorie 鈥瀗a 膷em to, sakra, autor jel, kdy啪 to psal (a kde to se啪enu)?鈥�.
Sv臎t technicky za艡铆zen茅 Faerie je vskutku origin谩ln铆. Michael Swanwick se ne拧t铆t铆 h谩zet vedle sebe re谩ln臎 existuj铆c铆 pojmy a nov谩, smy拧len谩 slova. Do jedn茅 艡ady za druhou stav铆 nep艡ebern茅 mno啪stv铆 r暖zn媒ch potvor, p艡i膷em啪 u n臎kter媒ch ani nev铆te, jak si je m谩te po艡谩dn臎 p艡edstavit. Popisy r暖zn媒ch technologi铆 jsou p暖sobiv茅 a ob膷as se st铆r谩 hranice mezi re谩ln臎 funguj铆c铆 v臎dou a 膷istou fabulac铆 鈥� ale v拧echno to zn铆 tak chyt艡e, 啪e v谩m to vlastn臎 bude jedno. Jeho kombinace rozli膷n媒ch sub啪谩nr暖, o nich啪 doposud nikdo neuva啪oval jako o 鈥瀦kombinovateln媒ch鈥�, je neot艡el谩, p暖sobiv谩 a neskute膷n臎 sv臎啪铆. Jen啪e i p艡es 煤啪asn媒 sv臎t, zaj铆mav茅 filozofick茅 煤vahy a nev拧edn铆 autorsk媒 styl m谩 Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka i odvr谩cenou tv谩艡.
Michael Swanwick v pr暖b臎hu vypr谩v臎n铆 vkl谩d谩 postav谩m do 煤st 艡adu mouder a hlubok媒ch my拧lenek. Zmi艌uje tak茅 fakt, 啪e ka啪d媒 膷asem otup铆 proti jak媒mkoliv hr暖z谩m. Jen啪e si nejsp铆拧 neuv臎domil, 啪e to plat铆 i pro jeho knihu. Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka toti啪 vrstv铆 jednu p艡铆拧ernost za druhou: p艡ek谩啪ky, 煤trapy, zklam谩n铆, vyko艡is钮ov谩n铆, zneu啪铆v谩n铆, smrt鈥� a nikdy tomu nen铆 konec. Knize v铆cem茅n臎 chyb铆 jak谩koliv emocion谩ln铆 k艡ivka 鈥� od ur膷it茅ho bodu se prost臎 no艡铆 jen hloub a hloub do ba啪iny v拧udyp艡铆tomn茅ho hnusu. Jen啪e kdy啪 chyb铆 kontrast, kter媒 aspo艌 z po膷谩tku vytv谩艡ela d臎tsk谩 naivita, tak i sebev臎t拧铆 hr暖zy po 膷ase prost臎 p艡estanou b媒t鈥� hr暖zn茅. Stanou se jen dal拧铆 polo啪kou v ka啪dodenn铆 v拧ednosti krut茅ho sv臎ta, kter媒 n谩m Swanwick p艡edkl谩d谩.
V tomto ohledu mi Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka m铆sty p艡ipom铆nala My d臎ti ze stanice ZOO. Bujar谩 ml谩de啪 bez vize sv臎tlej拧铆ch z铆t艡k暖 se ut谩p铆 v lacin茅 z谩bav臎, je拧t臎 lacin臎j拧铆m alkoholu, nev谩zan茅m sexu a drog谩ch鈥� a pak se div铆, 啪e ty sv臎tlej拧铆 z铆t艡ky v谩啪n臎 nep艡i拧ly.
Jane se jako啪to hlavn铆 hrdinka zd谩nliv臎 pl谩c谩 odnikud nikam, sna啪铆 se p艡e啪铆vat, jen啪e Swanwick v啪dycky odn臎kud vyt谩hne jak kr谩l铆ka z klobouku novou hrozbu, nov茅 p艡铆ko艡铆. A vy pak ztr谩c铆te v铆cem茅n臎 jakoukoliv motivaci j铆 fandit. On se toti啪 i ten slavn媒 nihilismus v kombinaci s p谩r zaj铆mav媒mi metafyzick媒mi 煤vahami po 膷ase zaj铆 鈥� obzvl谩拧钮 tv谩艡铆 v tv谩艡 tun谩m 拧p铆ny a kaln茅 b艡e膷ce, kter谩 zbyla z charakter暖 jednotliv媒ch postav a vy se v n铆 brod铆te a啪 po p谩s.
P艡铆li拧 tomu nenapom谩h谩 ani ur膷it谩 rozt艡铆拧t臎nost cel茅ho vypr谩v臎n铆. Swanwick m谩 neskute膷nou p艡edstavivost a jeho n谩pady jsou leckdy z谩vid臎n铆hodn茅. O r暖zn媒ch detailech v knize (jm茅ny po膷铆naje a jeho pojet铆m alchymie kon膷e) nemluv臎. Nicm茅n臎 to 膷asto p艡ipom铆n谩 samostatn臎 stoj铆c铆 sc茅ny, kter媒m chyb铆 kontext a vypadaj铆 nahodile. Nach谩zet mezi nimi spojitosti je ob膷as celkem slo啪it茅. Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka v谩m nic ned谩 zadarmo, a i kdy啪 v knize objev铆te jak媒si vzorec, stejn臎 se nejsp铆拧 nedok谩啪ete tak 煤pln臎 zbavit pocitu, 啪e v谩m okam啪ik fin谩ln铆ho proz艡en铆, kdy do sebe v拧echno zapadne a v臎ci najednou za膷nou d谩vat dokonal媒 smysl, po艡谩d prokluzuje mezi prsty.
V臎艡铆m, 啪e Swanwick to tak cht臎l, 啪e je v tom v拧em hlubok媒 z谩m臎r. Jen啪e ob膷as prost臎 p艡es v拧echnu tu snahu o kontroverzi nen铆 vid臎t. M铆sty to a啪 p暖sob铆 dojmem, jako by se autor sna啪il 膷ten谩艡e z谩m臎rn臎 odradit. Jako by za ka啪dou cenu provokoval a testoval hranice, kam a啪 m暖啪e zaj铆t. Nojo, je to p艡ece experiment谩ln铆 literatura, 艡eknete si. Jen啪e Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka je kv暖li tomu o chlup nesoudr啪n臎j拧铆, ne啪 by bylo t艡eba. T茅 拧p铆ny, hnusu a drog je o p谩r gram暖 v铆c, ne啪 je pro v臎t拧inu snesiteln茅. A sexu谩ln铆 sc茅ny jsou vulg谩rn铆 a pornofikovan茅 o kousek v铆c, ne啪 bylo pro p艡铆b臎h jako takov媒 nezbytn茅. Tyhle 鈥瀟ro拧ky鈥� v拧ak nakonec mohou misky vah p艡ev谩啪it na negativn铆 stranu.
Z谩v臎rem bych pro Michaela Swanwicka m臎la radu, kter谩 se k n臎mu nikdy nedostane: Pokud nechce vypadat jako autor d臎tsk茅 pornografie, m臎l by l茅pe pracovat s 膷asov媒m horizontem p艡铆b臎hu. Proto啪e pokud mezi sc茅nou, v n铆啪 to hlavn铆 hrdinka poprv茅 dostane, a v臎tou 鈥濲ane m臎la orgie r谩da.鈥� oto膷铆me pouh媒ch sto pades谩t stran, nemus铆 v拧em hned doj铆t, 啪e mezit铆m ub臎hlo v铆c ne啪 n臎jak媒 rok a p暖l, jeho啪 jsme byli sv臎dky. J谩 tedy aspo艌 douf谩m, 啪e tam opravdu ub臎hlo v铆c 膷asu, mnohem v铆c. Proto啪e jestli ne鈥�
Sv臎t technicky za艡铆zen茅 Faerie je vskutku origin谩ln铆. Michael Swanwick se ne拧t铆t铆 h谩zet vedle sebe re谩ln臎 existuj铆c铆 pojmy a nov谩, smy拧len谩 slova. Do jedn茅 艡ady za druhou stav铆 nep艡ebern茅 mno啪stv铆 r暖zn媒ch potvor, p艡i膷em啪 u n臎kter媒ch ani nev铆te, jak si je m谩te po艡谩dn臎 p艡edstavit. Popisy r暖zn媒ch technologi铆 jsou p暖sobiv茅 a ob膷as se st铆r谩 hranice mezi re谩ln臎 funguj铆c铆 v臎dou a 膷istou fabulac铆 鈥� ale v拧echno to zn铆 tak chyt艡e, 啪e v谩m to vlastn臎 bude jedno. Jeho kombinace rozli膷n媒ch sub啪谩nr暖, o nich啪 doposud nikdo neuva啪oval jako o 鈥瀦kombinovateln媒ch鈥�, je neot艡el谩, p暖sobiv谩 a neskute膷n臎 sv臎啪铆. Jen啪e i p艡es 煤啪asn媒 sv臎t, zaj铆mav茅 filozofick茅 煤vahy a nev拧edn铆 autorsk媒 styl m谩 Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka i odvr谩cenou tv谩艡.
Michael Swanwick v pr暖b臎hu vypr谩v臎n铆 vkl谩d谩 postav谩m do 煤st 艡adu mouder a hlubok媒ch my拧lenek. Zmi艌uje tak茅 fakt, 啪e ka啪d媒 膷asem otup铆 proti jak媒mkoliv hr暖z谩m. Jen啪e si nejsp铆拧 neuv臎domil, 啪e to plat铆 i pro jeho knihu. Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka toti啪 vrstv铆 jednu p艡铆拧ernost za druhou: p艡ek谩啪ky, 煤trapy, zklam谩n铆, vyko艡is钮ov谩n铆, zneu啪铆v谩n铆, smrt鈥� a nikdy tomu nen铆 konec. Knize v铆cem茅n臎 chyb铆 jak谩koliv emocion谩ln铆 k艡ivka 鈥� od ur膷it茅ho bodu se prost臎 no艡铆 jen hloub a hloub do ba啪iny v拧udyp艡铆tomn茅ho hnusu. Jen啪e kdy啪 chyb铆 kontrast, kter媒 aspo艌 z po膷谩tku vytv谩艡ela d臎tsk谩 naivita, tak i sebev臎t拧铆 hr暖zy po 膷ase prost臎 p艡estanou b媒t鈥� hr暖zn茅. Stanou se jen dal拧铆 polo啪kou v ka啪dodenn铆 v拧ednosti krut茅ho sv臎ta, kter媒 n谩m Swanwick p艡edkl谩d谩.
V tomto ohledu mi Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka m铆sty p艡ipom铆nala My d臎ti ze stanice ZOO. Bujar谩 ml谩de啪 bez vize sv臎tlej拧铆ch z铆t艡k暖 se ut谩p铆 v lacin茅 z谩bav臎, je拧t臎 lacin臎j拧铆m alkoholu, nev谩zan茅m sexu a drog谩ch鈥� a pak se div铆, 啪e ty sv臎tlej拧铆 z铆t艡ky v谩啪n臎 nep艡i拧ly.
Jane se jako啪to hlavn铆 hrdinka zd谩nliv臎 pl谩c谩 odnikud nikam, sna啪铆 se p艡e啪铆vat, jen啪e Swanwick v啪dycky odn臎kud vyt谩hne jak kr谩l铆ka z klobouku novou hrozbu, nov茅 p艡铆ko艡铆. A vy pak ztr谩c铆te v铆cem茅n臎 jakoukoliv motivaci j铆 fandit. On se toti啪 i ten slavn媒 nihilismus v kombinaci s p谩r zaj铆mav媒mi metafyzick媒mi 煤vahami po 膷ase zaj铆 鈥� obzvl谩拧钮 tv谩艡铆 v tv谩艡 tun谩m 拧p铆ny a kaln茅 b艡e膷ce, kter谩 zbyla z charakter暖 jednotliv媒ch postav a vy se v n铆 brod铆te a啪 po p谩s.
P艡铆li拧 tomu nenapom谩h谩 ani ur膷it谩 rozt艡铆拧t臎nost cel茅ho vypr谩v臎n铆. Swanwick m谩 neskute膷nou p艡edstavivost a jeho n谩pady jsou leckdy z谩vid臎n铆hodn茅. O r暖zn媒ch detailech v knize (jm茅ny po膷铆naje a jeho pojet铆m alchymie kon膷e) nemluv臎. Nicm茅n臎 to 膷asto p艡ipom铆n谩 samostatn臎 stoj铆c铆 sc茅ny, kter媒m chyb铆 kontext a vypadaj铆 nahodile. Nach谩zet mezi nimi spojitosti je ob膷as celkem slo啪it茅. Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka v谩m nic ned谩 zadarmo, a i kdy啪 v knize objev铆te jak媒si vzorec, stejn臎 se nejsp铆拧 nedok谩啪ete tak 煤pln臎 zbavit pocitu, 啪e v谩m okam啪ik fin谩ln铆ho proz艡en铆, kdy do sebe v拧echno zapadne a v臎ci najednou za膷nou d谩vat dokonal媒 smysl, po艡谩d prokluzuje mezi prsty.
V臎艡铆m, 啪e Swanwick to tak cht臎l, 啪e je v tom v拧em hlubok媒 z谩m臎r. Jen啪e ob膷as prost臎 p艡es v拧echnu tu snahu o kontroverzi nen铆 vid臎t. M铆sty to a啪 p暖sob铆 dojmem, jako by se autor sna啪il 膷ten谩艡e z谩m臎rn臎 odradit. Jako by za ka啪dou cenu provokoval a testoval hranice, kam a啪 m暖啪e zaj铆t. Nojo, je to p艡ece experiment谩ln铆 literatura, 艡eknete si. Jen啪e Dcera 啪elezn茅ho draka je kv暖li tomu o chlup nesoudr啪n臎j拧铆, ne啪 by bylo t艡eba. T茅 拧p铆ny, hnusu a drog je o p谩r gram暖 v铆c, ne啪 je pro v臎t拧inu snesiteln茅. A sexu谩ln铆 sc茅ny jsou vulg谩rn铆 a pornofikovan茅 o kousek v铆c, ne啪 bylo pro p艡铆b臎h jako takov媒 nezbytn茅. Tyhle 鈥瀟ro拧ky鈥� v拧ak nakonec mohou misky vah p艡ev谩啪it na negativn铆 stranu.
Z谩v臎rem bych pro Michaela Swanwicka m臎la radu, kter谩 se k n臎mu nikdy nedostane: Pokud nechce vypadat jako autor d臎tsk茅 pornografie, m臎l by l茅pe pracovat s 膷asov媒m horizontem p艡铆b臎hu. Proto啪e pokud mezi sc茅nou, v n铆啪 to hlavn铆 hrdinka poprv茅 dostane, a v臎tou 鈥濲ane m臎la orgie r谩da.鈥� oto膷铆me pouh媒ch sto pades谩t stran, nemus铆 v拧em hned doj铆t, 啪e mezit铆m ub臎hlo v铆c ne啪 n臎jak媒 rok a p暖l, jeho啪 jsme byli sv臎dky. J谩 tedy aspo艌 douf谩m, 啪e tam opravdu ub臎hlo v铆c 膷asu, mnohem v铆c. Proto啪e jestli ne鈥�
March 31, 2024
芦校褟胁褨褌褜 褋胁褨褌 褌芯谢泻褨薪褨胁褋褜芯谐芯 小械褉械写蟹械屑'褟, 褟泻懈泄 褉芯蟹胁懈胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 锌褉懈斜谢懈蟹薪芯 褌邪泻 褋邪屑芯 褟泻 褨 薪邪褕, 邪谢械 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 蟹邪谢懈褕懈谢懈褋褜 褔邪褉懈, 褉懈褌褍邪谢懈 褨 褔邪褉褨胁薪褨 褨褋褌芯褌懈, 褟泻褨 斜褍写械薪薪芯 卸懈胁褍褌褜 褍 蟹薪邪泄芯屑懈褏 薪邪屑 屑械谐邪锌芯谢褨褋邪褏禄
鈥� 袦芯褩 胁褉邪卸械薪薪褟: 斜褍谢芯 斜褉褍写薪芯, 屑褨褋褑褟屑懈 屑械褉蟹械薪薪芯, 写懈胁薪芯 褨 薪械蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢芯, 邪谢械 写褍卸械 蟹邪褏芯锌谢懈胁芯;
鈥� 小褞卸械褌: 屑芯写械褉薪褨蟹芯胁邪薪懈泄 (泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻芯胁懈泄) 褋胁褨褌 褎械泄褉褨, 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 褨褋薪褍褞褌褜 屑械褏邪薪褨褔薪褨 写褉邪泻芯薪懈 - 锌芯褌褍卸薪褨 斜芯泄芯胁褨 屑邪褕懈薪懈, 薪邪写褨谢械薪褨 褕褌褍褔薪懈屑 褨薪褌械谢械泻褌芯屑 胁 芯褋薪芯胁褨 褟泻芯谐芯 谢械卸懈褌褜 谢懈褕械 斜邪卸邪薪薪褟 褏邪芯褋褍 褌邪 褉褍泄薪褍胁邪薪薪褟. 孝邪泻懈屑懈 屑邪褕懈薪邪屑懈 屑芯卸褍褌褜 泻械褉褍胁邪褌懈 谢懈褕械 械谢褜褎懈-薪邪锌褨胁泻褉芯胁泻懈. 袗谢械 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 褟泻褖芯 写褨胁褔懈薪泻邪-锌褨写屑褨薪芯泻, 褟泻褍 胁懈泻褉邪谢邪 褨蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻芯谐芯 褋胁褨褌褍, 褋褟写械 蟹邪 褕褌褍褉胁邪谢 写邪胁薪芯 褋锌懈褋邪薪芯谐芯 薪邪 屑械褌邪谢芯斜褉褍褏褌 写褉邪泻芯薪邪, 褖芯 褏芯褔械 锌芯褏懈褌薪褍褌懈 芯褋薪芯胁懈 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁懈?
鈥� 携泻 谢褞斜懈褌械谢褜泻邪 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褨 锌邪谢泻邪 褕邪薪褍胁邪谢褜薪懈褑褟 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻褍 蟹褨蟹薪邪褞褋褜, 褖芯 写芯褋胁褨写 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 泻薪懈谐 褌邪泻芯谐芯 褕褌懈斜褍 屑邪褞 胁锌械褉褕械. 袉 写谢褟 屑械薪械 褑械 褋褌邪谢芯 胁械谢懈泻芯褞 薪械褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪泻芯褞. 芦袛芯薪褜泻褍 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 锌芯 锌褉邪胁褍 薪邪蟹懈胁邪褞褌褜 泻薪懈谐芯褞, 褖芯 蟹邪泻谢邪谢邪 泻邪薪芯薪懈 屑褨褋褜泻芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褌邪 褌械褏薪芯-褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褨 褔懈褌邪褞褔懈 褩褩 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 斜褍褌懈 谐芯褌芯胁懈屑 写褨泄褋薪芯 写芯 褌械屑薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨. 小胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁褍 褨 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄 邪胁褌芯褉 芯锌懈褋褍褦 胁 褍褋褨褏 写械褌邪谢褟褏 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜薪芯谐芯 褉芯蟹褕邪褉褍胁邪薪薪褟 褨 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍褞褔懈 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨屑 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈屑 写薪芯屑 褨蟹 斜邪谐邪褌褜屑邪 屑械褉蟹械薪薪懈屑懈 械谢械屑械薪褌邪屑懈, 写芯写邪褞褔懈 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 卸 写 褌芯谐芯 屑邪谐褨褞. 袙褨写 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 褨 写芯 泻褨薪褑褟 泻薪懈卸泻懈 锌褉芯褋褌械卸褍褞褌褜褋褟 褍褋褨 械褌邪锌懈 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸泻懈 (褉芯屑邪薪 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟). 袛卸械泄薪 褦 写褍卸械 斜邪谐邪褌芯谐褉邪薪薪芯褞 褨 褑褨泻邪胁芯褞 谐械褉芯褩薪械褞, 褟泻褨泄 写芯胁芯写懈褌褜褋褟 褟泻 卸褨薪褑褨 胁懈卸懈胁邪褌懈 胁 褍屑芯胁邪褏 屑褨蟹芯谐褨薪褨褋褌懈褔薪芯谐芯 褌邪 写械褋锌芯褌懈褔薪芯谐芯 械谢褜褎褨泄褋褜泻芯谐芯 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪. 袚械褉芯褩薪褟 蟹 褍褋褨褏 褋懈谢 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 写芯褋谢褨写懈谢懈 褋械斜械, 褋胁芯褞 褋械泻褋褍邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜, 褋胁芯褦 屑褨褋褑械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨 褨 褌写. 袧褍 褨 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 屑邪褦屑芯 写芯胁芯谢褨 薪械褌懈锌芯胁褍, 邪谢械 褑褨泻邪胁褍 "谢褞斜芯胁薪褍 谢褨薪褨褞".
孝褨褕褍褋褜, 褖芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪 褑械泄 褉芯屑邪薪 胁 褍褋胁褨写芯屑谢械薪芯屑褍 胁褨褑褨, 斜芯 胁褨薪 薪邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨 屑邪褦 胁 褋芯斜褨 斜褨谢褜褕械 褉褨胁薪褨胁, 薪褨卸 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪邪 锌械褉褕懈泄 锌芯谐谢褟写.
鈥� 袦芯褩 胁褉邪卸械薪薪褟: 斜褍谢芯 斜褉褍写薪芯, 屑褨褋褑褟屑懈 屑械褉蟹械薪薪芯, 写懈胁薪芯 褨 薪械蟹褉芯蟹褍屑褨谢芯, 邪谢械 写褍卸械 蟹邪褏芯锌谢懈胁芯;
鈥� 小褞卸械褌: 屑芯写械褉薪褨蟹芯胁邪薪懈泄 (泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻芯胁懈泄) 褋胁褨褌 褎械泄褉褨, 胁 褟泻芯屑褍 褨褋薪褍褞褌褜 屑械褏邪薪褨褔薪褨 写褉邪泻芯薪懈 - 锌芯褌褍卸薪褨 斜芯泄芯胁褨 屑邪褕懈薪懈, 薪邪写褨谢械薪褨 褕褌褍褔薪懈屑 褨薪褌械谢械泻褌芯屑 胁 芯褋薪芯胁褨 褟泻芯谐芯 谢械卸懈褌褜 谢懈褕械 斜邪卸邪薪薪褟 褏邪芯褋褍 褌邪 褉褍泄薪褍胁邪薪薪褟. 孝邪泻懈屑懈 屑邪褕懈薪邪屑懈 屑芯卸褍褌褜 泻械褉褍胁邪褌懈 谢懈褕械 械谢褜褎懈-薪邪锌褨胁泻褉芯胁泻懈. 袗谢械 褖芯 褋褌邪薪械褌褜褋褟, 褟泻褖芯 写褨胁褔懈薪泻邪-锌褨写屑褨薪芯泻, 褟泻褍 胁懈泻褉邪谢邪 褨蟹 谢褞写褋褜泻芯谐芯 褋胁褨褌褍, 褋褟写械 蟹邪 褕褌褍褉胁邪谢 写邪胁薪芯 褋锌懈褋邪薪芯谐芯 薪邪 屑械褌邪谢芯斜褉褍褏褌 写褉邪泻芯薪邪, 褖芯 褏芯褔械 锌芯褏懈褌薪褍褌懈 芯褋薪芯胁懈 褋胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁懈?
鈥� 携泻 谢褞斜懈褌械谢褜泻邪 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褨 锌邪谢泻邪 褕邪薪褍胁邪谢褜薪懈褑褟 泻褨斜械褉锌邪薪泻褍 蟹褨蟹薪邪褞褋褜, 褖芯 写芯褋胁褨写 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪薪薪褟 泻薪懈谐 褌邪泻芯谐芯 褕褌懈斜褍 屑邪褞 胁锌械褉褕械. 袉 写谢褟 屑械薪械 褑械 褋褌邪谢芯 胁械谢懈泻芯褞 薪械褋锌芯写褨胁邪薪泻芯褞. 芦袛芯薪褜泻褍 蟹邪谢褨蟹薪芯谐芯 写褉邪泻芯薪邪禄 锌芯 锌褉邪胁褍 薪邪蟹懈胁邪褞褌褜 泻薪懈谐芯褞, 褖芯 蟹邪泻谢邪谢邪 泻邪薪芯薪懈 屑褨褋褜泻芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褌邪 褌械褏薪芯-褎械薪褌械蟹褨 褨 褔懈褌邪褞褔懈 褩褩 锌芯褌褉褨斜薪芯 斜褍褌懈 谐芯褌芯胁懈屑 写褨泄褋薪芯 写芯 褌械屑薪芯谐芯 褎械薪褌械蟹褨. 小胁褨褌芯斜褍写芯胁褍 褨 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈泄 褍褋褌褉褨泄 邪胁褌芯褉 芯锌懈褋褍褦 胁 褍褋褨褏 写械褌邪谢褟褏 锌芯褔懈薪邪褞褔懈 胁褨写 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜薪芯谐芯 褉芯蟹褕邪褉褍胁邪薪薪褟 褨 蟹邪泻褨薪褔褍褞褔懈 褋锌褉邪胁卸薪褨屑 褋芯褑褨邪谢褜薪懈屑 写薪芯屑 褨蟹 斜邪谐邪褌褜屑邪 屑械褉蟹械薪薪懈屑懈 械谢械屑械薪褌邪屑懈, 写芯写邪褞褔懈 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 卸 写 褌芯谐芯 屑邪谐褨褞. 袙褨写 锌芯褔邪褌泻褍 褨 写芯 泻褨薪褑褟 泻薪懈卸泻懈 锌褉芯褋褌械卸褍褞褌褜褋褟 褍褋褨 械褌邪锌懈 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟 谐芯谢芯胁薪芯褩 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸泻懈 (褉芯屑邪薪 写芯褉芯褋谢褨褕邪薪薪褟). 袛卸械泄薪 褦 写褍卸械 斜邪谐邪褌芯谐褉邪薪薪芯褞 褨 褑褨泻邪胁芯褞 谐械褉芯褩薪械褞, 褟泻褨泄 写芯胁芯写懈褌褜褋褟 褟泻 卸褨薪褑褨 胁懈卸懈胁邪褌懈 胁 褍屑芯胁邪褏 屑褨蟹芯谐褨薪褨褋褌懈褔薪芯谐芯 褌邪 写械褋锌芯褌懈褔薪芯谐芯 械谢褜褎褨泄褋褜泻芯谐芯 褋褍褋锌褨谢褜褋褌胁邪. 袚械褉芯褩薪褟 蟹 褍褋褨褏 褋懈谢 薪邪屑邪谐邪褦褌褜褋褟 写芯褋谢褨写懈谢懈 褋械斜械, 褋胁芯褞 褋械泻褋褍邪谢褜薪褨褋褌褜, 褋胁芯褦 屑褨褋褑械 胁 褑褜芯屑褍 褋胁褨褌褨 褨 褌写. 袧褍 褨 蟹胁褨褋薪芯 屑邪褦屑芯 写芯胁芯谢褨 薪械褌懈锌芯胁褍, 邪谢械 褑褨泻邪胁褍 "谢褞斜芯胁薪褍 谢褨薪褨褞".
孝褨褕褍褋褜, 褖芯 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪谢邪 褑械泄 褉芯屑邪薪 胁 褍褋胁褨写芯屑谢械薪芯屑褍 胁褨褑褨, 斜芯 胁褨薪 薪邪褋锌褉邪胁写褨 屑邪褦 胁 褋芯斜褨 斜褨谢褜褕械 褉褨胁薪褨胁, 薪褨卸 蟹写邪褦褌褜褋褟 薪邪 锌械褉褕懈泄 锌芯谐谢褟写.
June 27, 2017
This is unfortunately among the most terrible books I have ever read in my life. I almost feel that this novel was purposely written as an "anti-book," a joke on readers by Swanwick to see if anyone would actually waste their time on such garbage despite the hype leading up to its publication. Now if the novel really isn't some sort of experimental gag, then Swanwick seems to have little-to-no understanding of the most basic story-telling techniques when it comes to character development, plot, conflict, and especially setting.
First of all, there are no interesting characters, save perhaps Jane herself (the cliche emotionally-damaged teen orphan/runaway), and as Jane haphazardly bounces around from location to location, there are never any characters who stick around long enough to be developed beyond their crude archetypal forms, and as there are far too many characters altogether, it is thus difficult to bat an eye when one of Jane's many companions die or leave her company. And even with Jane, nothing of adequate substance is revealed about her background until just past halfway through the novel--how is anyone ever supposed to empathize with her?
Secondly, the plot is atrocious. There is never anything at stake to keep the reader interested in the story, and Swanwick hurls Jane from setting to setting seemingly at random with no overarching plot line to carry her along. Time after time I stopped reading and paused in complete revulsion as Swanwick transported Jane to a new scene without the slightest hint of a transition. As John Gardner says, an effective story needs to be "vivid and continuous," and this novel is neither.
Thirdly, while there is conflict in the story, Swanwick fails to build tension and release it with resolution in waves as all great writers of fiction do, and nearly all of Jane's problems in the story are instantly resolved before there is ever time to worry for her. Worst of all, nearly all of the conflicts appear to be pulled from a hat, as there are hardly ever any threads of interrelatedness among the conflicts themselves. By the time the alternate reality "twist" comes about near the end of the novel, most readers will have already lost interest in the plot as it is.
Lastly, and what I find to be the most annoying feature of Swanwick's writing, are his efforts toward setting. Writing in the fantasy genre calls for effective, believable world-building, but in the case of this novel, every aspect of this world is (you guessed it) at complete random, as if Swanwick created this fantasy world by arbitrarily flipping through encyclopedias and aimlessly tossing slapdash aspects of culture, history, and mythology into his world where cassette tapes and Fender Stratocasters exist alongside dwarven hammers and anvils while a smattering of fantasy species eat pizza at the mall before taking part in Celtic sacrifice rituals to be aired over television. Furthermore, the most revolting aspect of the setting (the only thing that Swanwick does with consistency) is the creepy-pedo vibe in which ogrish schoolteachers freely and openly molest their teenage students on the regular (and there's plenty more where that came from)--hence the aforementioned "anti-book" hypothesis.
The only saving grace in this novel that allowed me to tough-it-out through many chapters is the dialogue, and I will say that Swanwick at least knows how people talk, and there were a few times he caused me to chuckle. Still, the dialogue itself doesn't make up for the reeking pile of waste that is the rest of this novel--it lacks the most essential elements of an effective narrative. My advice is to simply pass on The Iron Dragon's Daughter--don't waste your time with this one.
First of all, there are no interesting characters, save perhaps Jane herself (the cliche emotionally-damaged teen orphan/runaway), and as Jane haphazardly bounces around from location to location, there are never any characters who stick around long enough to be developed beyond their crude archetypal forms, and as there are far too many characters altogether, it is thus difficult to bat an eye when one of Jane's many companions die or leave her company. And even with Jane, nothing of adequate substance is revealed about her background until just past halfway through the novel--how is anyone ever supposed to empathize with her?
Secondly, the plot is atrocious. There is never anything at stake to keep the reader interested in the story, and Swanwick hurls Jane from setting to setting seemingly at random with no overarching plot line to carry her along. Time after time I stopped reading and paused in complete revulsion as Swanwick transported Jane to a new scene without the slightest hint of a transition. As John Gardner says, an effective story needs to be "vivid and continuous," and this novel is neither.
Thirdly, while there is conflict in the story, Swanwick fails to build tension and release it with resolution in waves as all great writers of fiction do, and nearly all of Jane's problems in the story are instantly resolved before there is ever time to worry for her. Worst of all, nearly all of the conflicts appear to be pulled from a hat, as there are hardly ever any threads of interrelatedness among the conflicts themselves. By the time the alternate reality "twist" comes about near the end of the novel, most readers will have already lost interest in the plot as it is.
Lastly, and what I find to be the most annoying feature of Swanwick's writing, are his efforts toward setting. Writing in the fantasy genre calls for effective, believable world-building, but in the case of this novel, every aspect of this world is (you guessed it) at complete random, as if Swanwick created this fantasy world by arbitrarily flipping through encyclopedias and aimlessly tossing slapdash aspects of culture, history, and mythology into his world where cassette tapes and Fender Stratocasters exist alongside dwarven hammers and anvils while a smattering of fantasy species eat pizza at the mall before taking part in Celtic sacrifice rituals to be aired over television. Furthermore, the most revolting aspect of the setting (the only thing that Swanwick does with consistency) is the creepy-pedo vibe in which ogrish schoolteachers freely and openly molest their teenage students on the regular (and there's plenty more where that came from)--hence the aforementioned "anti-book" hypothesis.
The only saving grace in this novel that allowed me to tough-it-out through many chapters is the dialogue, and I will say that Swanwick at least knows how people talk, and there were a few times he caused me to chuckle. Still, the dialogue itself doesn't make up for the reeking pile of waste that is the rest of this novel--it lacks the most essential elements of an effective narrative. My advice is to simply pass on The Iron Dragon's Daughter--don't waste your time with this one.
January 31, 2024
笑械 斜褍谢芯 写褍卸械 写懈胁薪械 褌邪 褑褨泻邪胁械 褔褌懈胁芯 馃憖
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