I had never read any Samuel R. Delany before, so I wasn't sure what to
expect. And I don't think I was expecting this lyrical, mythical,
entrancing science fiction. Delany weaves together new and old myths
into a science fiction story about a race living in the ruins humans
left behind, trying on their lives and living out their stories until
they work through them and can finally move on to their own.
This
is not hard science fiction. There is no explanation of exactly how all
this happened - and that would puncture the wonderful web that Delany
creates.
Young Lo Lobey leaves his home village on an
Orpheus-like trek, out to find his love, Friza, who had been killed from
a distance by Kid Death. Kid Death has been killing all others who are
"different" in the same way he is, and calls Lobey to him, taunting and
torturing him along the way.
On his trip, Lobey runs into
Green-Eyes, a Jesus figure who is betrayed by his Judas in turn, who
then turns around again and betrays...I don't want to give too much
away.
This book is definitely not for everyone. But if you love mythology and enjoy science fiction, you might enjoy this one.
Booklinks:
I read this book as part of an attempt to read all the Hugo Nominees
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