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Biased and superficial Science Fiction reviews

           
     
Gibbon's Decline And Fall

Copyright 1996 by Sheri S. Tepper

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SOJALS rating:     
one SOJALS point one SOJALS point no SOJALS point no SOJALS point no SOJALS point    Mediocre (2/5)

I first read this in October 1997 and most recently on the 31st October 2006

Seven young women, Carolyn, Agnes, Bettiann, Faye, Ophelia, Jessamine and Sovawahney meet at University in 1959. They bond as new students and remain friends through to the new millennium.

While their friendship endures, the society around them is metamorphosing into a twisted, evil, misogynistic fascism. Evil men are seizing control of the world and degrading, abusing and dehumanising women. Though this pervasive malignancy threatens their lives and the lives of women world-wide, this small group of friends find they may have the power to resist it and even overthrow it.

Sheri S. Tepper is stunningly talented writer, but this book misses the mark somewhat.

Although the ending is beautifully and movingly written (as indeed is the whole book), it hardly saves the novel's clumsily handled plot twist that hits us during the ladies' Mexico trip. Having said that, I did love the way Sophy's manifestations were handled and felt that the women's personalities were well-drawn (but, hey, what do I know?).

I enjoyed it, but I enjoy her other works much more.

Loaded on the 28th February 2007.
    
Cover of Gibbon's Decline And Fall
Cover art by Stuart Bodek

Reviews of other works by Sheri S. Tepper:
Sideshow
A Plague Of angels
The Family Tree
Singer From The Sea