From LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU Tue Feb 12 16:52:17 2002 Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 18:38:43 -0600 From: "L-Soft list server at UIC (1.8d)" To: Laura Q Subject: File: "FEMINISTSF-LIT LOG0108D" ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 19:50:16 -0500 Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: "Janice E. Dawley" Subject: BDG: Brain Plague I was surprised at how light and fun *Brain Plague* turned out to be, particularly in contrast to *A Door Into Ocean*, the only other Slonczewski I have read. The micros were delightful and I kept laughing out loud at unexpected humor. I do wonder, though, if the overall plot and world- building suffered in comparison. Things that didn't make sense to me: ------------------------------------ Chrys does not act like a starving artist. She is poor enough that she can't pay her rent, even in an unsavory neighborhood, yet she doesn't appear to have considered getting a job to pay the bills (apart from a few idle speculations about becoming someone's mistress). She also doesn't seem to have thought about artistically portraying anything apart from erupting volcanoes. Might that have something to do with her slow sales? Hm. It takes the Eleutheria colony to clue her in that maybe she should try something else. Her subsequent rise to fame and fortune is gob-smackingly quick, yet she hardly seems to notice, apart from all the extra work she has to do. She's either incorruptible or kind of dense, I'm not sure which. The brain plague is a public health disaster, yet no one seems to be doing much about it. A few clinics and bleeding hearts like Daeren to cover an entire city. Where is the infrastructure? Endless Light is more organized than is plausible. Given the difference in scale between human and micro response time, life time and size it makes no sense that populations of billions and billions (as Carl Sagan would say), living in separate hosts worlds apart could coordinate their agendas as well as they do. The Master micro lets Daeren and Chrys go in exchange for her portrait. That is just silly. It reminds me of a list that was compiled on Usenet: What Not to Do if You Ever Become the Evil Overlord. How are the carriers' "people" reconciled to the deaths of all the master refugees at the end of the book? They are upset enough to drive Daeren to Endless Light, but they suddenly calm down for the happy ending. Things that were just plain annoying: ------------------------------------- Chrys tripping on uneven ground while running away from danger. The random insertion of the word "like" into Chrys' sentences. As soon as the Chrys/Daeren romance is consummated, Chrys' breasts and hair come to the forefront and her artificially acquired muscles are no longer mentioned. And she suddenly decides she wants to have children. Things that I liked very much: ------------------------------ The concern with the less fortunate. Chrys takes up volunteer work in a soup kitchen, and Eleutheria's upcoming architectural marvel will be a housing complex in the Underworld. The economic thinking is simplistic, but well meant. The fluidity of sex and gender. Sex changes are common. And people whose romantic tastes are confined to a single sex are thought of as primitive! I would have liked a little more background on this cultural phenomenon. The diversity of the micros. Every population has its malcontents. Not even Chrys, the "God of Mercy", is immune. The humor. Early on, Pearl's window port comes loose and starts floating around in her eyeball. The timing of it is hilarious somehow. And the trend continues. At the end of chapter one, we learn that Chrys, who we already know is obsessed with volcanoes, has a volcano alarm clock, which she sets to explode at seven in the morning. It's the punch line to the entire chapter. The micros, when they are introduced, are charming. Their arguments, the cranky opposition of Rose, the perversions of Jonquil, the immortalization of Fern in the first micro portrait, all are wonderful, imaginative fun. And I loved the fact that Zircon, unknowingly colonized, is not infected with the dreaded brain plague, but with a host of accountants: "They keep asking me to let them manage my money, which would be great if I had any. Then they tell me I'm the lord of creation." Great stuff. ---------- In sum, I thought *Brain Plague* wasn't particularly deep, but it sure kept me amused. I am happy to have read it and will recommend it to friends. Can anyone tell me how Slonczewski's other books in this universe (*Daughter of Elysium*, *The Children Star*) compare? ----- Janice E. Dawley.....Burlington, VT http://homepages.together.net/~jdawley/ Listening to: Massive Attack -- Mezzanine "...the public and the private worlds are inseparably connected; the tyrannies and servilities of the one are the tyrannies and servilities of the other." Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ========================================================================= Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 16:32:39 -0500 Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: "Janice E. Dawley" Subject: BDG: Brain Plague Misha Bernard asked: >When the carrier group Chrys is introduced into campaign for micro rights >(at least some of them- Selenite seems to come around some toward the end, >but probably doesn't support micro rights, just carriers' rights to have >them), what sorts of rights can they be asking to implement while the >'bad' micros are still kidnapping hosts? How will justice be implemented >for the kidnapping and/or death of host bodies by micros? Will carriers' >losses be subsumed under whether 'they asked for it' by having micros >willingly? Could anyone ever prove otherwise? And Petra Mayerhofer replied: >A Magna Charta for micros? No one can be sentenced to death without a jury >of one's peers? That might be tough for the carrier that provides the >environment. If we turn it around and apply it to ourselves: Earth or the >planetary ecosystems have no say when we "hurt" it. Imagine, Earth would >kill people off for minor offenses to make a point (like Selenite)! I wonder about this, too. It seems to me that any micro rights movement will have to be a collaboration between humans and micros. It is impossible for a human to keep tabs on the micro activity in her own head without representatives like Fern, Aster, or Fireweed to inform her. And humans and micros are so different in their perceptions of time that no human could ever police her own micro population -- she MUST rely on the ability of the micros to police themselves. Though, of course, she has the power to execute her entire population of "people" within a few minutes. This scenario reminds me of one of Octavia Butler's favorite themes -- the subjugation of one intelligent species to another's biological imperatives. In "Bloodchild", the Tlic need to lay their eggs in human hosts; in the Xenogenesis series, the Oankali need the genetic material of humans to continue to evolve. In both cases, humans are controlled like precious natural resources while at the same time being recognized as the intellectual peers of their captors; a darkly ambivalent mutual exploitation results. Slonczewski's approach is lighthearted in comparison, but the power dynamic between humans and micros is similarly problematic. Micros absolutely need humans (and arsenic) to survive, and have the means to subjugate their hosts if they think it necessary. But humans can commit genocide at any time. It's an explosive situation that doesn't seem to be taken very seriously by most humans in the book. Nor, indeed, by the author. Chrys' work "Mourners at an Execution" and her micros' dubbing of Selenite as "The Deathlord" and Dr. Sartorius as "The Terminator" are more like black jokes than serious commentary. Yet the issues are there. Perhaps there is another book in the works? I'd be interested to see Slonczewski explore "micro rights" in more depth. By the way, I found a great web page that provides links to background material for *Brain Plague*. It's at: http://www2.kenyon.edu/depts/biology/slonc/bio3/bp-links.htm ----- Janice E. Dawley.....Burlington, VT http://homepages.together.net/~jdawley/ Listening to: Massive Attack -- Mezzanine "...the public and the private worlds are inseparably connected; the tyrannies and servilities of the one are the tyrannies and servilities of the other." Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 01:22:55 +1000 Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: Maire Subject: Maureen F. McHugh Comments: To: femsf lit MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00DE_01C13029.212D64E0" This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_00DE_01C13029.212D64E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Just wondering- I am reading Half of the Day is Night, by Maureen F. McHugh, but I havent read her first novel, China Mountain Zhang. I just wanted to check, that in fact, Half of teh Day is not a sequel to China Mountain. Just because I know that China is about a young Asian gay man... and Half of the day is about a, so far, young Asian quiet reserved man with worries about his chicken legs. As the author;s name, Maureen McHugh, isnt an Asian name, I dont know what nationality she is, but i would think that its reasonably un-commonplace for authors to write about people from different races and particularly race + nationality/country/ culture. As I begin to think about it, it is probably *not* a sequel, but I would like to know for sure, before possibly spoiling China Mountain Zhang (which I certainly intend to read) for myself. About the book- so far on page 64, it is different. I am already grabbed, which doenst happen to me often from the beginning of a book any more, usually I dont get grabbed until perhaps halfway through a book. However, this book had me interested from the start. Maire ^ÓPersonhole is not an acceptable de-sexed word^Ô ^Ö Shirley Dean, council person from the Berkeley (California) City Council, explaining why the Council changed the wording in a sewer equipment request, back to manhole cover ------=_NextPart_000_00DE_01C13029.212D64E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Just = wondering- I am=20 reading Half of the Day is Night, by Maureen F. McHugh, but I havent = read her=20 first novel, China Mountain Zhang. I just wanted to check, that in fact, = Half of=20 teh Day is not a sequel to China Mountain. Just because I know that = China is=20 about a young Asian gay man... and Half of the day is about a, so far, = young=20 Asian quiet reserved man with worries about his chicken legs. As the = author;s=20 name, Maureen McHugh, isnt an Asian name, I dont know what nationality = she is,=20 but i would think that its reasonably un-commonplace for authors to = write about=20 people from different races and particularly race + nationality/country/ = culture. As I begin to think about it, it is probably *not* a sequel, = but I=20 would like to know for sure, before possibly spoiling China Mountain = Zhang=20 (which I certainly intend to read) for myself.
About = the book- so=20 far on page 64, it is different. I am already grabbed, which doenst = happen to me=20 often from the beginning of a book any more, usually I dont get grabbed = until=20 perhaps halfway through a book. However, this book had me interested = from the=20 start.
Maire
 =20

“Personhole is not an acceptable de-sexed = word” – Shirley=20 Dean, council person from the Berkeley (California) City Council, = explaining why=20 the Council changed the wording in a sewer equipment request, back to = manhole=20 cover

 
------=_NextPart_000_00DE_01C13029.212D64E0-- ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 11:53:45 -0400 Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: Tracy A Mitchell Subject: Re: Maureen F. McHugh Comments: To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Maire: I've read both books and Half the Day is Night is not a sequel China Mountain Zhang. I think CMZ is her best book (and one of my all time favorites) but I enjoyed HTDIN as well. I've never been able to get through Mission Child, her latest, I won't go into details about my dis ease with Mission Child because I don't want to spoil anything for you if you plan to read it as well. Let me know when you finish CMZ & HTDIN. I'd like to further share my thoughts on them. Best Regards, Tracy "Dance as if no one were watching. Love as if you'd never been hurt" Unknown author Maire cc: Sent by: Subject: [*FSF-L*] Maureen F. McHugh Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC 08/28/2001 11:22 AM Please respond to Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Just wondering- I am reading Half of the Day is Night, by Maureen F. McHugh, but I havent read her first novel, China Mountain Zhang. I just wanted to check, that in fact, Half of teh Day is not a sequel to China Mountain. Just because I know that China is about a young Asian gay man... and Half of the day is about a, so far, young Asian quiet reserved man with worries about his chicken legs. As the author;s name, Maureen McHugh, isnt an Asian name, I dont know what nationality she is, but i would think that its reasonably un-commonplace for authors to write about people from different races and particularly race + nationality/country/ culture. As I begin to think about it, it is probably *not* a sequel, but I would like to know for sure, before possibly spoiling China Mountain Zhang (which I certainly intend to read) for myself. About the book- so far on page 64, it is different. I am already grabbed, which doenst happen to me often from the beginning of a book any more, usually I dont get grabbed until perhaps halfway through a book. However, this book had me interested from the start. Maire "Personhole is not an acceptable de-sexed word" ? Shirley Dean, council person from the Berkeley (California) City Council, explaining why the Council changed the wording in a sewer equipment request, back to manhole cover ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ========================================================================= Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 12:23:21 EDT Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: Phoebe Wray Subject: Re: Maureen F. McHugh Comments: To: feministsf-lit@uic.edu MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In a message dated 8/28/01 11:54:43 AM, tracyam@US.IBM.COM writes: << I've never been able to get through Mission Child, her latest, >> I liked Mission Child very much. Different strokes, I guess. McHugh is a lovely writer. best, phoebe http://www.phoebewray.net ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ========================================================================= Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 02:23:16 +1000 Reply-To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC Sender: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC From: Maire Subject: Re: Maureen F. McHugh Comments: To: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC In-Reply-To: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi Tracy- Thanks a lot for your quick reply. I will indeed tell you when I finish- I have heard of Mission child, and perhaps even have it, but I have never heard of Helf the Day is night until i saw it in the library. I have a copy of China Mountain Zhang but its packed away in my house, in another town. Thus far I am still enjoying Half- (now up to pg 101).. havent got to the 'point' yet, if yo knoww what I mean. I just read Snow Crash byw- it was exo Maire Currently Reading: The Riddle-Master Trilogy by Patricia McKilip; Half the Day is Night by Maureen F. McHugh; Elric by Moorcock; Threshold by Sara Douglass; The Master-Harper of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Just Read: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson; City of Sorcery by MZB; The Keepers by Pauline Kirk; Ender;s Game by OSC > -----Original Message----- > From: Feminist SF/Fantasy and Utopia Literature ON TOPIC > [mailto:feministsf-lit@UIC.EDU]On Behalf Of Tracy A Mitchell > Sent: Wednesday, 29 August 2001 1:54 AM > To: feministsf-lit@UIC.EDU > Subject: Re: [*FSF-L*] Maureen F. McHugh > > > Maire: > > I've read both books and Half the Day is Night is not a sequel China > Mountain Zhang. I think CMZ is her best book (and one of my all time > favorites) but I enjoyed HTDIN as well. I've never been able to get > through Mission Child, her latest, I won't go into details about my dis > ease with Mission Child because I don't want to spoil anything for you if > you plan to read it as well. Let me know when you finish CMZ & HTDIN. > I'd like to further share my thoughts on them. > > Best Regards, > Tracy > > "Dance as if no one were watching. > Love as if you'd never been hurt" > Unknown author > > > > > Maire > D.COM> cc: > Sent by: Subject: [*FSF-L*] > Maureen F. McHugh > Feminist > SF/Fantasy and > Utopia > Literature ON > TOPIC > t@UIC.EDU> > > > 08/28/2001 > 11:22 AM > Please respond > to Feminist > SF/Fantasy and > Utopia > Literature ON > TOPIC > > > > > > Just wondering- I am reading Half of the Day is Night, by Maureen F. > McHugh, but I havent read her first novel, China Mountain Zhang. I just > wanted to check, that in fact, Half of teh Day is not a sequel to China > Mountain. Just because I know that China is about a young Asian gay man... > and Half of the day is about a, so far, young Asian quiet > reserved man with > worries about his chicken legs. As the author;s name, Maureen McHugh, isnt > an Asian name, I dont know what nationality she is, but i would think that > its reasonably un-commonplace for authors to write about people from > different races and particularly race + nationality/country/ culture. As I > begin to think about it, it is probably *not* a sequel, but I > would like to > know for sure, before possibly spoiling China Mountain Zhang (which I > certainly intend to read) for myself. > About the book- so far on page 64, it is different. I am already grabbed, > which doenst happen to me often from the beginning of a book any more, > usually I dont get grabbed until perhaps halfway through a book. However, > this book had me interested from the start. > Maire > > > > "Personhole is not an acceptable de-sexed word" ? Shirley Dean, council > person from the Berkeley (California) City Council, explaining why the > Council changed the wording in a sewer equipment request, back to manhole > cover > > ------------------------------------------------------ > This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for > discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To > unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to > LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: > unsubscribe feministsf-lit > > Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems. ------------------------------------------------------ This is the feministsf-lit listserve, intended only for discussion of feminism and Speculative Fiction. To unsubscribe from this listserve, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU and in the body of the message say: unsubscribe feministsf-lit Contact feministsf-lit-request@UIC.EDU if there are problems.