AUTHOR: M. R. Carey
I loved this book. A continuation of Carey's Pandominion duology, it's very much its own thing, a futuristic western. And at his center is an unforgettable character, Elizabeth Indigo Sandpiper, who came to be known as the outlaw Dog-Bitch Bess.
It probably isn't necessary to have read the first two books before reading this, but it would help a lot, especially in understanding the various sentient species that share this particular planet. The Pandominion worlds are essentially alternate Earths, each with its own dominate sentient species.
Bess leaves her home in the north for a teaching job in a small southern city, where she is when war breaks out, a parallel of the US's Civil War. Tragic events sent Bess hunting for revenge, aided by a high-tech, AI-powered gun known as Wakeful Slim that dates from the planet's distant past. The backstory unfolds slowly as Bess comes to learn the truth of her world's origins.
Carey is a wonderful writer and he keeps the story moving at a compelling pace, building suspense to the satisfying climax and conclusion. I felt almost as if I was sitting at a campfire while someone told me the story of Dog-Bitch Bess. I hope Carey continues to write in this universe.
No comments:
Post a Comment