Venus of Shadows

Venus #2

by Pamela Sargent

As a second generation of settlers attempts to tame Venus, political differences threaten to tear the colony apart

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fantasy

643 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1988

About the author

Pamela Sargent has won the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and has been a finalist for the Hugo Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the Sidewise Award for alternate history. In 2012, she was honored with the Pilgrim Award by the Science Fiction Research Association for lifetime achievement in science fiction scholarship. She is the author of the novels Cloned Lives, The Sudden Star, Watchstar, The Golden Space, The Alien Upstairs, Eye of the Comet, Homesmind, Alien Child, The Shore of Women, Venus of Dreams, Venus of Shadows, Child of Venus, Climb the Wind, and Ruler of the Sky. Her most recent short story collection is Thumbprints, published by Golden Gryphon Press, with an introduction by James Morrow. The Washington Post Book World has called her “one of the genre's best writers.”

In the 1970s, she edited the Women of Wonder series, the first collections of science fiction by women; her other anthologies include Bio-Futures and, with British writer Ian Watson as co-editor, Afterlives. Two anthologies, Women of Wonder, The Classic Years: Science Fiction by Women from the 1940s to the 1970s and Women of Wonder, The Contemporary Years: Science Fiction by Women from the 1970s to the 1990s, were published by Harcourt Brace in 1995; Publishers Weekly called these two books “essential reading for any serious sf fan.” Her most recent anthology is Conqueror Fantastic, out from DAW Books in 2004. Tor Books reissued her 1983 young adult novel Earthseed, selected as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association, and a sequel, Farseed, in early 2007. A third volume, Seed Seeker, was published in November of 2010 by Tor. Earthseed has been optioned by Paramount Pictures, with Melissa Rosenberg, scriptwriter for all of the Twilight films, writing the script and producing through her Tall Girls Productions.

A collection, Puss in D.C. and Other Stories, is out; her novel Season of the Cats is out in hardcover and will be available in paperback from Wildside Press. The Shore of Women has been optioned for development as a TV series by Super Deluxe Films, part of Turner Broadcasting.

Pamela Sargent lives in Albany, New York.

Reviews

[Alli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I can't wait until Goodreads gives you an option for half stars.

Man. Where to begin with this one? I think this book could use some major editing. I feel like the first 400 or so pages are so drawn out and almost boring. Some of it was too on the nose. (I mean the dome where many of the gay characters end up finding refuge being named after Alan Turing?? come on.) I really hated following this character I absolutely despised for so long. The hatred of this stupid cult is so built up.

Although, I think all that is why the last 200 pages of the book are satisfying. I mean as satisfying as reading about conflict and horrible trauma, and how incomplete those things are always resolved, can be.

This book is great in the context of the first. It takes the dreams that were built up and shows how quickly ambitions can be misused and perverted. I mean. I'd only recommend this book to someone else who likes reading nearly 700 pages of hardcore science fiction trash, but I don't regret the time I spent reading it that much.

[Selenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes a while to get going but once it does it's really good. Focuses less on the science aspect of colonization and much more on the social aspects. Explores how easily people who think they are doing the right thing can end up doing wrong things.

[Jesse Toldness · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of world-building extravaganza. Pamela Sargent writes what could be called social science fiction, her societies and subtle and solidly built, ready to be entered and make sense not only internally but in relationship to each other.

[Ravenna]

this book, as almost all of Sargent's work, is impossible to find.
she is such a prolific feminist sci-fi author, it's truly a pity she isn't better known!

[Cokewater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great story! The timing is so perfect. I read this in 2019, ~30 years after it was written, and I just can’t help but think of current events; specifically, uncontrolled global warming and the success in USA of a religious/political cult that demonizes outsiders. A lot of both the psychology of the characters and the science of technology in this book is extremely well thought out and will surely prove to be timeless.

There was much exposition at the beginning to bring the reader up to speed from the previous book. It was rather dull and seemed to be there only for newcomers to the series. I suspect the publisher forced the author to add it in there to help sales.

The story begins with new characters being introduced and ** Spoiler Alert for Venus of Dreams** I found myself naturally missing Iris from the first book. Having now read the book and looking back at it, the early part of the story did a great job of introducing me to the world and people in this story. That is to say, it’s a bit like a soap opera; very interesting interpersonal drama but not much adventure and wonder.

The story evolves into a moral dilemma and a little bit of courtroom-type drama. That’s always fun, but not exactly my cup of tea. At this point I was quite deep into the book already but I began to question my commitment to finishing it. I’m so incredibly glad I did in the end!

It was around this point in while reading this book that my family increased by one with the birth of my first child, a beautiful girl. I named her Iris.

Learning to be a dad is a wonderful experience, but it led me to take a couple months

It’s also interesting to consider the technology of the linkers and habbers as a parallel to today’s internet.

[Bob Rivera · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'd told myself when I finished the first book in the series, and didn't particularly like it, that I wouldn't go on and read the 2nd book (this one). But I let myself proceed because it was on my "virtual nightstand" waiting to be read.

I should have stuck with my initial thoughts on finishing the first one. An initial disclaimer. Although I love Sci Fi, I don't always enjoy when a story starts going down a "narrative". This one has a very strong LBGTQ thread which is not my cup of tea. What compounds that, is that the description on Amazon does not mention that in the very brief description. Since you're not going to sway people on their opinions on this matter, it would make sense to put the fact of that narrative in the description. For those that like those stories, it will attract them and encourage them to purchase the book. If it's not a reading preference, that would warn you away so that you did not waste your time (or money) on the book.

I'm not one to rail about this type issue. To each their own, but if I'm not interested, I should have the choice to steer clear. JMHO. -- Not looking to start a fight.

[Brian Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got halfway through this book before I stopped reading. It's not my kind of book, mainly because there is too much on character development and not enough plot.

[Judi Jetson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the book because it was large and sounded epic....it was a long read. Although the characters were not compelling, I kept with it and found the plot twists interesting and not necessarily predictable. Not much hard science, but interesting.

[Tasula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the protagonist was a pretentious, selfish twerp, I couldn't finish the book- I didn't care what happened to him.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a lot darker than the book before it, and the decisions it a lot more complex. It was a little preechy. But again I am left thinking this book from the 80s was well ahead of its time.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but the characters are a bit 2 dimensional