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Phosphorus: A Winterstrike Story
In Phosphorus, Liz Williams returns to the harsh Mars of her critically acclaimed novels Banner of Souls (shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award) and Winterstrike, delivering a tale laden with mystery and menace, as the Red Planet’s bloody past and troubled present collide.
Winterstrike is at war and the target of deadly bombardment. Even so, the last thing Canteley expects is for her mother to send her away, and in the company of her formidable aunt at that. Aunt Sulie is a member of the ruling Matriarchy, who wrap secrets around them as thick as winter snowfall. When Sulie takes her to the abandoned city of Tharsis, Cateley little imagines that the trip will unearth secrets long hidden and reveal the truth behind her own past.
Winterstrike is at war and the target of deadly bombardment. Even so, the last thing Canteley expects is for her mother to send her away, and in the company of her formidable aunt at that. Aunt Sulie is a member of the ruling Matriarchy, who wrap secrets around them as thick as winter snowfall. When Sulie takes her to the abandoned city of Tharsis, Cateley little imagines that the trip will unearth secrets long hidden and reveal the truth behind her own past.
- GenresScience Fiction
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2018
25 people want to read
About the author
Liz Williams
146 books267 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
Liz Williams is a British science fiction writer. Her first novel, The Ghost Sister was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.[1] She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
She is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge. She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone, The Third Alternative and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan.[2] Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch.
Series:
* Detective Inspector Chen
* Darkland
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 30, 2020
This I will admit has been the hardest to read of the series so far - that said I think that is due to a situation of my own making. You see this is a novella set in the world of Winterstrike so rather than wasting time explaining and setting the scene the story launches straight in to a world already established.
So as you can imagine even though I believe it is totally standalone you feel that there is so much more to what is going on (as alluded to in a few references which I can only assume occurred in the earlier book).
So what of the story - well I will admit that there are several perspectives present which I always find difficult switching between however once I got to grips with what was happening it became easier and it does all make sense in the end.
I gave this a lower rating than the other two novellas in the series although I am a huge fan of Liz Williams this story felt like there is much more to come (or at least there should be) as it has such great potential to explore further ideas and adventures - whether it does not is another matter. So where as the other novellas in the series are truly standalone I am not so sure that this story can claim such a title - either way I really enjoyed it, I just need to go and dig out those other books now.
So as you can imagine even though I believe it is totally standalone you feel that there is so much more to what is going on (as alluded to in a few references which I can only assume occurred in the earlier book).
So what of the story - well I will admit that there are several perspectives present which I always find difficult switching between however once I got to grips with what was happening it became easier and it does all make sense in the end.
I gave this a lower rating than the other two novellas in the series although I am a huge fan of Liz Williams this story felt like there is much more to come (or at least there should be) as it has such great potential to explore further ideas and adventures - whether it does not is another matter. So where as the other novellas in the series are truly standalone I am not so sure that this story can claim such a title - either way I really enjoyed it, I just need to go and dig out those other books now.
March 14, 2019
A novella set largely on Liz Williams' cold, bleak Mars of her novel Banner of Souls. There are two separate stories that eventually unite. Canteley, on Mars, is in Winterstrike with her family, but bombs are falling. She is taken to safety by Aunt Sulie. She keeps having dreams, strangely non-human-like dreams.
Across the galaxy Kesh, a hunter, is dead, along with her people. She alone has been reanimated for a purpose. Perhaps to protect her developing brood. All she has for company is her spear, Thousand Voice, as she journeys in space in an intelligent ship, searching for new hunting grounds.
Liz Williams writes excellent aliens, the richness of their civilisation described in few words, but every word counts and the background unfolds as the story progresses. Similarly the Martian section of the story. This is a feminist cold Mars with canals and red deserts. The writing is so elegant you barely notice how good it is first time round, so this is not only worth reading, but worth reading twice.
Across the galaxy Kesh, a hunter, is dead, along with her people. She alone has been reanimated for a purpose. Perhaps to protect her developing brood. All she has for company is her spear, Thousand Voice, as she journeys in space in an intelligent ship, searching for new hunting grounds.
Liz Williams writes excellent aliens, the richness of their civilisation described in few words, but every word counts and the background unfolds as the story progresses. Similarly the Martian section of the story. This is a feminist cold Mars with canals and red deserts. The writing is so elegant you barely notice how good it is first time round, so this is not only worth reading, but worth reading twice.
April 28, 2019
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3184263.html
This was an intense tale of family secrets and ancient mysteries on Mars. Wasn't quite sure how the two narratives hung together, but I enjoyed the read.
This was an intense tale of family secrets and ancient mysteries on Mars. Wasn't quite sure how the two narratives hung together, but I enjoyed the read.
November 26, 2019
Great stuff
A gripping story of discovery and transformation set on a detailed and lovingly crafted Giger-esque future Mars. It functions as a part-continuation of Winterstrike; the youngest of the sisters takes centre stage here, and snippets of the plot feed back into the overarching story, but it would work just as well as a standalone I think. Only one gripe: not enough! I don’t understand why such an accomplished writer hasn’t got a major book deal and a large, devoted readership.
A gripping story of discovery and transformation set on a detailed and lovingly crafted Giger-esque future Mars. It functions as a part-continuation of Winterstrike; the youngest of the sisters takes centre stage here, and snippets of the plot feed back into the overarching story, but it would work just as well as a standalone I think. Only one gripe: not enough! I don’t understand why such an accomplished writer hasn’t got a major book deal and a large, devoted readership.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews