The Hour of the Thin Ox

Daybreak #2

by Colin Greenland

Trade edition paperback, vg++

Genres: Fantasy

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2013

About the author

Colin Greenland's fiction and criticism have been translated into a dozen languages and broadcast on BBC national radio. His multiple award-winning science fiction novel Take Back Plenty, long out of print in the UK, is available again in the Orion SF Masterworks series, and for e-readers at SF Gateway.

Colin lives in Cambridge and Foolow with his wife Susanna Clarke, the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Piranesi . He is sometimes to be found writing something, goodness knows what.

Reviews

[Amber Dixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read a while ago but remember enjoying this book. The narrative was mostly so-so but the dual narratives converging into a colonial setting was really fun.

It attempts an anti racist narrative, with the latter half focusing on native liberation from opposing colonial forces. The core message is unfortunately undermined by the racism present in this book. The native folk are described as monkey- like (which I think is meant to be literal in a fantasy sense) and also spend most of their time getting high, mostly either being portrayed as noble simpletons or actual idiots. Sheesh...
It is unfortunate that the writer was too blind to see the obvious racism present when trying to write an anti racist book but it really does effect my enjoyment of the book

[Crane · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting setting and an unusual tone, let down by a meandering plot and forgettable characters.

Still, oddly compelling, enough for me to bother writing a review. Worth reading as a curiosity if you should spot a copy in a second-hand bookshop.

[Velvetink]

*note to self. Copy from A.