Across the wide world of fiction, readers are often asked to believe a premise
that they would never accept in the real world. This is especially true in
genres such as Fantastika, science fiction, space opera, and paranormal, where things
and events happen in the story that most people would not believe for a second
if they were presented in a newspaper as fact.
Of course, one
could make the argument that it holds true for a large portion of the lesbian erotica
hitting the market these days.
In order to fully engage in and enjoy such stories, readers participate
in a phenomenon known as "willing suspension of disbelief.” This is a
semi-conscious decision in which we put aside our disbelief, and accept the
premise as being real and plausible for the duration of the story.
The very concept of willing suspension of disbelief is a product of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In 1817 he published what has become one of the landmark examples of literary criticism with his Biographia Literaria; or Biographical Sketches of My Literary Life and Opinions.
"In this idea originated the plan of the ‘Lyrical Ballads’, in which it was agreed, that my endeavours should be directed to persons and characters supernatural, or at least romantic, yet so as to transfer from our inward nature a human interest and a semblance of truth sufficient to procure for these shadows of imagination that willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith."
— Samuel
Taylor Coleridge
And this is why the willing suspension of disbelief frames the premise
for my review of the newest episode of a classic lesbian space opera and the launch
of a fresh new Fantastika series—Andi Marquette’s The Edge of Rebellion and Susan Jane Bigelow’s The Daughter Star.
Book: The Edge of
Rebellion
Author: Andi
Marquette
Publisher:
Bedazzled Ink Publishing
Andi Marquette’s The Edge of
Rebellion is book three in the feisty little Far Seek Chronicles. Trader
Torri Rendego keeps her ear to the ground as she runs merchant routes, and the
chatter tells her that a rebellion is simmering across the Coalition. Her
former Academy bunkmate and inamorata, Commander Kai Tinsdale, receives orders
to post to the Koto military base on the planet Hanzey. Kai hears the rumors of
rebellion, but knows that one is unlikely on the virtually impassible jungle
planet. Once there, her orders suddenly change, and she is tasked with training
a battle squadron. Clearly something is going on, and Kai must use her wiles
and wisdom to seek answers from those around her. But the fates conspire to
bring Torri and her Far Seek shipmates to Hanzey, as they deliver an unexpected
visitor. As Kai and Torri reconnect on a physical and emotional level, they
begin to piece the puzzle together, and learn they are being used as pawns in a
game of chess that could bring the Coalition to its collective knees.
Typical of the genre, The Edge of
Rebellion is set in a far future space faring civilization, where the
technology is ubiquitous and entirely secondary to the storyline. It has two
dashing, epic heroines, the universe is huge, there are diverse, sprawling
civilizations and fleets of space ships capable of interstellar travel, and
there are political conflicts, rebel attacks, black markets, heinous crimes, and
intrigue galore.
Since The Edge of Rebellion is
the third book in the Far Seek Chronicles, readers have had ample opportunity
to get familiar with the pasts and presents of Kai and Torri, the Far Seek and
her crew, the Empire, and the Coalition. Still, it is refreshing to see Kai and
Torri advancing their relationship with the caution that is expected of two
women on different life missions, but sharing one like mind. As a reader, I
found the setting and the construction of dialogue to be fascinating, adding
depth and definition to both primary and secondary characters. Whether
describing the planet, the BetaSuns, the Far Seek, or Major Vic’s office, there
was always a visual reference to make the scenes come to life. Additionally, I truly
appreciate the care taken by the author to create different languages (i.e.,
Empire and Coalition,) and then religiously write dialogue that follows the rules
established for their use, while saving contemporary dialogue for intimate
and familiar situations.
Andi Marquette offers up another satisfying slice of her space opera, Far Seek Chronicles, and The Edge of
Rebellion unabashedly makes me feel like a kid again. It tells a compelling
and exciting story of intrigue with solid characters, smart dialogue, best
buddies, sexy women, and zooming space ships that whiz by shooting lasers that
go “Pew! Pew! Pew!” A lot of readers will bypass books like this because they
don’t take them seriously. But, here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a kid to
feel like a kid, and books like this are all about having fun. Andi Marquette
writes a grown up story with grown up themes, but she can still find a way to
let her readers have fun and feel like kids.
Book: The Daughter
Star
Author: Susan Jane
Bigelow
Publisher:
Candlemark & Gleam
Along with her youngest sister,
Beth, Marta sneaks off and joins the Novan Emergency Fleet as a way to break
free and return to her beloved space. However, Beth isn’t the same young woman
she remembers. As Marta slowly begins to decipher the connection between her sister
and the mysterious Abrax, she is forced to confront unexpected alien forces,
overcome her internal doubts and fears, complete an ill-defined mission, and
unravel centuries old lies, deceptions, and masterful illusions.
As a proprietress of Fantastika, Susan
Jane Bigelow is unquestionably skilled at writing epic pieces full of mythic
themes—The Daughter Star is a worthy
example of her ability. She captures and maintains an honest sense of
relationships, even as she writes characters who are nonconformists, and
longing to have closer, deeper involvements.
The character of Marta is smart,
sexy, interesting, and capable, but she is unable to truly appreciate and
understand all that she has to offer. While her restrictive and uninspiring
upbringing is partially to blame, so too is her overwhelming lack of
self-confidence—an odd yet well-plotted personality trait for a highly capable
pilot. Her relationship with her younger sister is multi-faceted, at times presenting
mutual interest and engagement, and at others revealing self-absorption and
non-confrontational tendencies—it is as if Marta cannot control the need to
protect and shelter her younger sister any more than she can stop pushing away
those that try to do the same for her.
While The Daughter Star starts out a bit slow, a necessary byproduct of
character design and plot development, the pace accelerates into a speeding, taut story full of political, moral, intellectual, economic, environmental
and societal metaphors relevant to myriad issues now facing mankind. Ms. Bigelow
confronts a familiar dichotomy in the LGBT community by placing Marta, a
lesbian who fears her family and home country knowing the truth, in a greater
human and alien culture that accepts these relationships as part of societal
norm. In essence, Marta has a foot in two disparate worlds, leaving her
struggling to achieve and maintain a healthy balance.
Ultimately, The Daughter Star is an engaging story that leaves the reader much
in the same position as Marta—unbalanced. While we get to know Marta, Beth, and
the Abrax, we are never truly allowed to connect on an emotional level with any
of them. Still, this is only the first book in a series, and it feels somehow
intentional that we are not allowed to know more about the characters than they
know about themselves. And, as a reviewer, I believe that readers who are patient
and trust Ms. Bigelow to complete the journey she and her characters have
started will be well rewarded when this series reaches its conclusion.
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