Aleph

Artemis #2

by Storm Constantine

Artemis, a world named for a huntress goddess, colonised by a group of political idealists who over the centuries saw their dreams of equality shatter into a brutal matriarchy.After the events of The Monstrous Regiment, Corinna Trotgarden, her family and friends, and other refugees, have fled the feared city of Silven Crescent and travelled north to an unhabited area, which they have named Freespace. To Corinna’s intense irritation, she is regarded by the community as one of its leaders.The Freespacers are unaware that for the first time in many years the government of Artemis has been in contact with the outside world, and an interstellar tour company has sent a representative, Zy Larrigan, to check the planet out for possible commercial exploitation. Larrigan’s flyer begins to behave strangely as he moves further away from Silven Crescent, and bizarre events occur in Freespace, which lead Corinna and others to recall tales of the mysterious Greylids – Artemis’ indigenous population, reduced almost to the status of myth. Something terrible and inexplicable is happening, which the Freespacers fear puts their fragile community into peril. When Zy Larrigan is propelled uncompromisingly into their midst, the Freespacers know for sure they are not alone, but is the mysterious presence that haunts the ancient caves and mountains above their home benign or dangerous? Perhaps it is both. It is up to Corinna to overcome the mental scars of all that happened to her in Silven Crescent and, along with the bemused off-worlder, do what must be done to solve the mystery, whatever the outcome.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction

356 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2012

About the author

Storm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.

Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.

In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.

Reviews

[Marie France · Rating 2 out of 5]

the author remains an enigma: always superb ideas, sometimes brilliant writing (grigory trilogy)oftentimes truly poor... this being an example.

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel, conclusion, and consequences of what happened in The Monstrous Regiment. Corinna, Meonel, Shyya, Dannel, and other refugees from fallen matriarchy on Artemis start a new settlement called Freespace, only to find they’re not alone. Otherworldly attention is drawn to them from jaded civilizations from the stars and from the secret places in Artemis unexplored, which are starting to awaken.

This was a fun opportunity to turn all things Artemis upside down from the perspective of an irreverent alien, determined to turn a profit from the situation. It was also a chance for Meonel, Corrina, and other characters we get to know to turn said otherworlder upside down, as they find themselves less and less impressed by his attitude. Everyone got a chance to learn more about Artemis and themsleves, character development walking hand in hand with plot, while Artemis arrived in the aftermath of the changes wrought upon the planet, revealing a deeper mythology lurking beneath the existing legends. Offering all of this up through a diverse panorama of characters of differing sexuality, this offers an emotional and magical science fiction experience. For all of these qualities, I give this book four stars.

[Lyonesse Eglantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kind of concerned after the psychological clusterfuck that was TMR, but I actually really enjoyed this. Especially cos it resolved a lot of things.

[Asriani Amir]

save my review for my blog.