Wraeththu

Rating:
Summary: A must have for any Gothic collection
Review: Storm Constantine leaves the competition in gothic fiction far, far behind in her works involving the Wraeththu.

I am far from a Sci-Fi fan, but found this trilogy to have the same dark sentement that I have treasured in other books by authors such as Poppy Z. Brite and Michael Romkey. You can't help but fall in love with these mysterious characters and thier twisted soap opera of Fate.

I highly recommend these stories, the three original paperbacks proudly sit on the top shelf of my bookcase. I can only wish Storm would continue to write more in this series, I adore it, as well as everyone I have loaned the books to.

Rating:
Summary: What speculative fiction can truly be
Review: Years ago I read "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula LeGuin, one of the finest authors in the English language. I enjoyed the book very much, but the hemaphroditic race always struck me as so utterly masculine as to be unbelievable. Storm Constantine takes this theme (amongst others) and blows it sky-high delivering a tale of magic, power, Utopian and Dystopian visions of the future, and the fate of humankind.

This is a tale about a reality that has not happened yet. Humans and Wraeththu both react to a new world, sometimes well, sometimes poorly, sometimes with poetic vision, often from a position of self-interest. Cal, Pel, Cobweb, all the others are real, though eerie; they are utterly compelling, attractive to male and female alike. The sexual aspects of the book sometimes threaten to break loose wildly, only to be brought back under check as Storm shows there is more to life other than sex, even when one is defined by one's gender or sexual preferences.

The world has changed. Individuals attempt to adapt to this world, but many bring their troubles, pettiness, and fear along with them. The paradigm is gone; long live the new paradigm! But what will this be?

Above all, this is a work of linguistic beauty. Unlike so many authors, Storm Constantine really CAN write her way out of a paper bag. She has a way with words that may only be compared to the Romantics of the early 19th century and the Magical Realists of the 20th. Her words are evocative and resonate beyond their simple meanings. Sentences have texture, aroma, and age to them; these are words that move beyond dictionaries. To read her works is a delight, a voluptuous wrapping of cadence and suggestion. If you have no other reason why you would read this book, read it to learn how language may be crafted.

Rating:
Summary: best read this year
Review: I have read less than 100 pages but want to acknowledge this my be my best read of the year.

Rating:
Summary: Wraeththu
Review: I bought the first and third books of the trilogy in a second-hand shop for a dollar, one of the best bargains I've ever made. Unfortunately I've never been able to get a hold of the second book - which is extremely frustrating. However, I found the other two make for compulsive reading (and re-reading). The concept of mankind's evolution from single sex beings to beings that utilise the possibilities of both sexes is fascinating. The characterisations are brilliant and quite easily imagined especially that of Calanthe. I whole-heartedly enjoyed these books, and eagerly await the day that I find the middle book.

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK BUY THIS BOOK BUY THIS BOOK BUY THIS BOOK
Review: Storm, we love you. You have created for us a world in which we can totally immerse ourselves, in which magic is explored and in which the stable ideas of gender and sexuality are questioned.

As a gay man I find it very difficult to identify with anything of a science fiction / fantasy genre because the writing is generally aimed at a straight audience with little thought or exploration of other viewpoints. Technology is a male thing and science fiction is technology.

Perhaps because this book is written by a woman you get a lot more exploration and development of feeling, gender and the situations created in this new world than you would expect to get in any other book of this genre. I identify very much with Pell.

The third book is the weakest- stick it out until the end. A lot of people I know found this a bit hard going but if you stick with it the rewards are great and the whole story comes together.

One of the best buys I have ever made.

Rating:
Summary: Truly "Alternative" Sci-Fi... Beautiful and Powerful
Review: Other reviews have covered the plot, so I'll concentrate onwho I think would best enjoy (or not enjoy) this book.

First, mythoughts on who won't like it. Those who prefer fact-focused sci-fi (also called "hard" sci-fi)---stay away. This is a character story, at its heart a love story, and the science in it is vague and unspecific, if covered at all. The book is closer to fantasy, if it can be categorized at all. Those who prefer didactic or straightforward themes, action, or adventure---you'll be disappointed. The adventure in these books lies within the minds and

hearts of the protagonists, and while there are some harrowing moments, there aren't enough to satisfy the action fan. Those who prefer their speculative fiction firmly in the realm of "traditional" sci-fi---there are no aliens, no other worlds except in the spiritual sense, no postulations of the future based on anything in existence today. Lastly, those who can't handle the occult/"paganism"/non-Judeo-Christian notions about God and the spirit, and those who can't handle even the appearance of homosexuality or bisexuality, this is not the title for you.

Those who will enjoy it are a) the reverse of all of the above, b) anyone interested in the philosophies underlying the goth subculture, c) anyone interested in the evolution of culture and religion over time, and d) anyone who likes a good new-fangled love story.

Additional note---my experience has been (after sharing this book with many friends) that those who expect this book to be erotica, especially gay erotica, are largely disappointed. The "magic" in the book is based on the concept of tantric sex magic, but although sex is frequently depicted in the story, the author attempts to convey its emotional and spiritual power, not its purely physical sensations. A lesbian friend found it too "hetero" in its outlook---it's a metaphor for "alternative sexuality", and by that I don't simply mean gay sex. The whole traditional notion of sexuality between those of opposing and those of the same sex is played with---everything including power relationships, the concept of beauty, the essence of masculinity/femininity, and the kitchen sink is tossed around.

But never mind all that heavy stuff. Wraeththu is one of those books that reveals more and more layers of meaning as you read it, but on the surface it's just a really good, engrossing story. Even if you have the opportunity to get the 3 books individually, buy the omnibus edition. You won't want to wait to read the rest.

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: As an aspiring writer, books like this make me want to put down my pen and stop writing. The descriptions, the characters, the setting, all were so vivid that I was swept away immediately. I enjoyed Storm Constantine's writing style and her storytelling abilities. I was amazed at how she created an entire new world and made it seem so real. I also appreciated the appendicies at the end - all the information proved very helpful and fascinating. A true delight for those who love reading - I can't wait to get home from school and share it with my friends...

Rating:
Summary: No other story like it.
Review: I originally bought this book at the age of 18 back in 1987. I finished about a hundred pages and did not pick it up again for 12 years. As an avid reader who normally reads at least 600-1000 pages a week, this did not speak well of the book. I simply could not get into the story. A lot of this was due to a lack of being able to put myself into the story. At 30, I picked the book up again and found myself immersed in the world Storm created. The characters came alive to me as I saw in them parts of myself and others I know. In many ways Storm's treatments of the characters in the story merely bring to the fore emotions and behaviors that are buried deep in us, but, if we really looked honestly at ourselves, we'd find many similarities. I loved the world that was drawn and would say if there was ever a character I understood and emphasized with most and connected with, it was Cal. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and highly recommend it. Having read Tolkien, Eddings, Anthony, Brooks and Jordan, etc... I put Storm Constantine as my favorite of them all.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting.....But
Review: I'll admit that I did not finish this book. As good as her writing is (5 stars). I had a very hard time getting into the story. As much as the book keeps repeating the fact that these characters are not human. My mind kept on telling me that this was nothing but a thinly disguised story about gay men who did not like females and for who females do not matter in the whole scheme of things. Otherwise she tells a very interesting story and if this sort of thing doesn't bother you. It's well worth your time

Rating:
Summary: Complete immersion into a society, strange and magical.
Review: By far and away one of the most amazing stories I have EVER read. Constantine weaves a wonderously powerfully epic that completely envelopes the reader in a magical world where man is dead and a newer stronger race arises from the nuclear ashes. You journey with the narrators (Pellaz, Swift and Calanthe, respectively) as they seek to dispel all the mist that shrouds their origins and find at the core of the glamour the truth of their lives. In a society where the religion and legends are forming around them, they find themselves in the position to shape it to their desires. However, they wonder: Are they the right people for the job? Powerful and magical, yet hauntingly REAL. Constantine is nothing less than a genius.