Dorene

Solid, solid follow up to Control Point. Fast paced and introduces new characters and elements not seen in the first book. I know a third is planned...I look forward to more Oscar Britton, Therese, Harlequin and Alan Bookbinder. There are still many issues to be resolved in this ongoing story.

I read this directly on the heels of “Shades of Milk & Honey”. Glamour starts a few months after Shades ends and immediately the “feel” of the story is different. Jane, as a character, is MOSTLY more confident and strains at the bonds her society binds her in. The story soon changes venue to the European continent, where the moral bounds are looser. Her Kowal's tendency to caricature her characters is apparent as Jane is shocked, shocked I say, by the behavior of women in this society. Fortunately the story really doesn't dwell there, merely uses it to contrast the differences in location and set up the atmosphere for the rest of the story. From this point on, it becomes a quick paced of tale of intrigue and danger, glamour playing a key role in the telling and conclusion.

SPOILER ALERT!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
SPOILER ALERT!!!

As odd as it might sound, I appreciate the treatment of Jane's miscarriage at the end. While we can never know if it was caused by her use of glamour, the stress of freeing Vincent or a pregnancy never meant to succeed, Kowal relates a realistic rendering of the combination of Jane's relief and guilt. Happy endings aren't always completely happy or without strife.

Frequently reminded of the Gaia myth, I found “Door into Ocean” a compelling parallel to our own struggle to live in harmony with our own planet. Without self reflection, humans tend to descend into an attitude of conquerors and exploiters. “A Door into Ocean”'s looks at two planets side by side, one with whose inhabitants live in harmony with their world while the other whose peoples continually war and destroy their world. The inevitable clash between the two societies truly contrasts their beliefs and attitudes. In the end, there doesn't seem to be any clear winner...neither achieves their objectives of changing the other. But for a few individuals who can see both sides, the ending could've left one with no hope whatsoever.

I don't know if I've ever read a book more beautifully written, science fiction or not. McDonald makes liberal use of metaphors in this book, it's almost necessary considering the subject matter. He manages to convey a sense of awe and wonder while simultaneously apologizing for it's inadequacy. You walk away with a sense of how wondrous and different the Chaga is, wishing to be able to see it for yourself.

Gaby McAslan resonates for me as the main character. She is much of what I wish I were and I get lost in her life as she chases (or rather is chased by) the encroaching alien life form spreading across the African continent. She is ambitious and sometimes almost single mindedly driven...but there's a human side to her too, with vulnerabilities not unlike the rest of us. The Chaga has been her purpose for her entire career and simultaneously stimulates her and terrifies her. Hard to blame her actually.

I was sad to reach the end of this book.

Oh, and it's very quotable. I had to have a notebook close by while reading. I often needed to write down a quote for future reference/blatant plaigerism.