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Spidertouch
Enslaved by a mute-race of cruel dictators, Razvan learns their touch-language and works as a translator in order to survive. But war is on the horizon and his quiet life is about to get noisy…
When he was a boy, Razvan trained as a translator for the hated Keda, the mute enslavers of his city, Val Kedić. They are a cruel race who are quick to anger. They keep a tight hold on the citizens of Val Kedić by forcing their children to be sent to work in the dangerous mines of the city from the age of eleven until eighteen. By learning fingerspeak – the Keda's touch language – Razvan was able to avoid such a punishment for himself and live a life outside the harsh climate of the slums. But the same could not be said for his son...
Now a man, Razvan has etched out a quiet life for himself as an interpreter for the Keda court. He does not enjoy his work, but keeps his head down to protect his son, held hostage in the Keda’s mines. The Keda reward any parental misdemeanors with extra lashings for their children. Now the city is under siege by a new army who are perhaps even more cruel than their current enslavers. At the same time, a mysterious rebellion force has reached out to Razvan with a plan to utilize the incoming attack to defeat the Keda once and for all. Razvan must decide which side to fight on, who can be trusted, and what truly deserves to be saved.
File Fantasy [ Linguistical Nightmare | Camun Willing | Knuckle Up | Silence isn’t Golden ]
When he was a boy, Razvan trained as a translator for the hated Keda, the mute enslavers of his city, Val Kedić. They are a cruel race who are quick to anger. They keep a tight hold on the citizens of Val Kedić by forcing their children to be sent to work in the dangerous mines of the city from the age of eleven until eighteen. By learning fingerspeak – the Keda's touch language – Razvan was able to avoid such a punishment for himself and live a life outside the harsh climate of the slums. But the same could not be said for his son...
Now a man, Razvan has etched out a quiet life for himself as an interpreter for the Keda court. He does not enjoy his work, but keeps his head down to protect his son, held hostage in the Keda’s mines. The Keda reward any parental misdemeanors with extra lashings for their children. Now the city is under siege by a new army who are perhaps even more cruel than their current enslavers. At the same time, a mysterious rebellion force has reached out to Razvan with a plan to utilize the incoming attack to defeat the Keda once and for all. Razvan must decide which side to fight on, who can be trusted, and what truly deserves to be saved.
File Fantasy [ Linguistical Nightmare | Camun Willing | Knuckle Up | Silence isn’t Golden ]
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 14, 2021
7 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 5, 2021
3.5 Stars
The touch language in this fantasy world was so compelling. Not simply a form of sign language, this form of communication felt so incredibly unique. The language is woven into the dialogue is a way that is challenging, yet rewarding. This was easily my favourite of the novel.
As for the story itself, the plot was simple, yet compelling. Told through the first perspective, we get an intimate view into our main character who is a sympathetic protagonist. Admittedly, I found the world building and language to be more compelling than the actual story.
As a piece of fantasy, this one was very easy to understand with the world clearly laid out for the reader. Unlike most epic fantasy, this one is a standalone, rather than the start of a long running series. For these reasons, I think this would be an excellent book for readers newer to fantasy. That being said, this book would also be great for seasoned fantasy readers looking for something fresh and unique.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
The touch language in this fantasy world was so compelling. Not simply a form of sign language, this form of communication felt so incredibly unique. The language is woven into the dialogue is a way that is challenging, yet rewarding. This was easily my favourite of the novel.
As for the story itself, the plot was simple, yet compelling. Told through the first perspective, we get an intimate view into our main character who is a sympathetic protagonist. Admittedly, I found the world building and language to be more compelling than the actual story.
As a piece of fantasy, this one was very easy to understand with the world clearly laid out for the reader. Unlike most epic fantasy, this one is a standalone, rather than the start of a long running series. For these reasons, I think this would be an excellent book for readers newer to fantasy. That being said, this book would also be great for seasoned fantasy readers looking for something fresh and unique.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
November 10, 2021
The voiceless Keda rule Val Kedić. They keep humans obedient by sending their children to work in local mines. Communicating with alien oppressors requires years of dedicated study. Keda use complicated touch-based language (known as Spidertouch or Fingerspeak). Both sides need and appreciate good translators and linguists who almost pass for local celebrities.
One of them, Razvan, keeps a low profile and works diligently. He has no goals except for keeping his son held hostage in the Keda’s mines safe. Things change when the city goes under siege. He makes a mad decision to join the rebellion. Mayhem ensues.
I applaud Thomson’s creativity and ingenuity in creating alien race and nuanced touch-based language. Fingerspeak is functional and logical but lacks emotions only speech can convey. Here’s an example (just remember, it is a translation of hand gestures into words):
Justice / Lead / (Future) / Day / Instruction / which means The Justices will be in charge. They will give their commands tomorrow.
I found learning about such a unique language exciting, but I always enjoyed linguistics. The author’s meticulous approach to world-building will thrill readers who love to discover new worlds.
But there is also the other side of the coin. Strong focus on linguistics and worldbuilding and world history bogs down the narrative in exposition. Nothing exciting happens in the first 30% of the story and even though all of this is interesting, it initially remains unclear why should you care. Razvan narrates things in the first-person present tense that should give the feel of immediacy. Here, though, his explanations and digressions devoid the story of suspense (subjective).
I liked Razvan as the protagonist. It’s rare in fantasy to have meek linguists or translators as protagonists. Razvan loves his son, has fond memories of his late wife, and has lots of suppressed anger toward Val Kedić’s oppressors. His transformation takes time and feels real. It was quite shocking observing this gentle individual cut Keda’s hands to make xer (Keda are addressed by pronouns xe /xer) fingermute. Such cruelty and coldness in the face of danger and revolution! Shocking but, in this situation, believable.
Interesting themes, difficult politics, and gripping action sequences are impressive, but the excessive focus on worldbuilding details will tire some readers. Should you read it? It depends. If you love languages, genuinely alien races, and details, you’ll probably love it. If you prefer action and character-driven stories, you may find more fun elsewhere.
ARC through NetGalley
One of them, Razvan, keeps a low profile and works diligently. He has no goals except for keeping his son held hostage in the Keda’s mines safe. Things change when the city goes under siege. He makes a mad decision to join the rebellion. Mayhem ensues.
I applaud Thomson’s creativity and ingenuity in creating alien race and nuanced touch-based language. Fingerspeak is functional and logical but lacks emotions only speech can convey. Here’s an example (just remember, it is a translation of hand gestures into words):
Justice / Lead / (Future) / Day / Instruction / which means The Justices will be in charge. They will give their commands tomorrow.
I found learning about such a unique language exciting, but I always enjoyed linguistics. The author’s meticulous approach to world-building will thrill readers who love to discover new worlds.
But there is also the other side of the coin. Strong focus on linguistics and worldbuilding and world history bogs down the narrative in exposition. Nothing exciting happens in the first 30% of the story and even though all of this is interesting, it initially remains unclear why should you care. Razvan narrates things in the first-person present tense that should give the feel of immediacy. Here, though, his explanations and digressions devoid the story of suspense (subjective).
I liked Razvan as the protagonist. It’s rare in fantasy to have meek linguists or translators as protagonists. Razvan loves his son, has fond memories of his late wife, and has lots of suppressed anger toward Val Kedić’s oppressors. His transformation takes time and feels real. It was quite shocking observing this gentle individual cut Keda’s hands to make xer (Keda are addressed by pronouns xe /xer) fingermute. Such cruelty and coldness in the face of danger and revolution! Shocking but, in this situation, believable.
Interesting themes, difficult politics, and gripping action sequences are impressive, but the excessive focus on worldbuilding details will tire some readers. Should you read it? It depends. If you love languages, genuinely alien races, and details, you’ll probably love it. If you prefer action and character-driven stories, you may find more fun elsewhere.
ARC through NetGalley
December 30, 2022
It is very clear from the start that Alex Thomson is an author who is the impassable ability to create alien races that feel genuinely out of touch and unknown and that sets this apart from other "alien" stories. What set this apart was the conquering story and was motivated and translating into communicative greed and that was fascinating. The character development did not blow me away but it was a great start to more common tropes than expected. I'll definitely be looking into what Thomson has to offer in the future.
December 8, 2021
A huge thanks to Angry Robot Books for sending a review copy of Spidertouch to me in exchange for an honest opinion!
Spidertouch is a fantasy standalone novel set in a world called Val Kedic, which is ruled by the voiceless alien-raced Keda. The Keda is a group of oppressive rulers and they use a touch-based language called Spidertouch or Fingerspeak to communicate. Only a group of interpreters are chosen and trained to communicate with the Keda. To maintain the obedience of the citizens, it is a tradition for the Keda to send the children of the citizens to work in local mines until they attain the age of majority. In other words, the citizen's children are held as hostages by the Keda. Spidertouch's main character, Razvan, is an interpreter and his son was sent by the Keda to the mines years ago. When Val Kedic is under the attack of the Dagmari, Razvan decided to join the resistance group (i.e. the Camonites) and plans to topple the Keda.
Alex Thomson's worldbuilding is brilliantly executed. The society, social hierarchy, the oppressive atmosphere, the notion of collonialism are all packed up in this world. The idea of inculcating a complex touch-based language as well as the need for an interpreter to act as a bridge of communication between the citizens and the rulers is brilliant as it heightens the hierarchical difference between the oppressors and the oppressed. The complexity in the plot as devised by the Camonites to bring down the Keda (and potentially the Dagmari) is applaudable and intriguing. That said, the focus on worldbuilding and politics renders the characterization of the characters being sidelined. While Razvan's past and his journey in becoming an interpreter are set out throughout the story, his pain in losing his wife due to a plague and his son to the oppressors, his hatred towards the Keda, his relationship with the other characters, are not fully fleshed out. If Razvan's characterization is beefed up by Thomson, this could potentially be a successful standalone novel. For now, Spidertouch is a 3/5 star rating to me and I do recommend this to readers who enjoy reading standalone fantasy novels with strong worldbuilding!
Spidertouch is a fantasy standalone novel set in a world called Val Kedic, which is ruled by the voiceless alien-raced Keda. The Keda is a group of oppressive rulers and they use a touch-based language called Spidertouch or Fingerspeak to communicate. Only a group of interpreters are chosen and trained to communicate with the Keda. To maintain the obedience of the citizens, it is a tradition for the Keda to send the children of the citizens to work in local mines until they attain the age of majority. In other words, the citizen's children are held as hostages by the Keda. Spidertouch's main character, Razvan, is an interpreter and his son was sent by the Keda to the mines years ago. When Val Kedic is under the attack of the Dagmari, Razvan decided to join the resistance group (i.e. the Camonites) and plans to topple the Keda.
Alex Thomson's worldbuilding is brilliantly executed. The society, social hierarchy, the oppressive atmosphere, the notion of collonialism are all packed up in this world. The idea of inculcating a complex touch-based language as well as the need for an interpreter to act as a bridge of communication between the citizens and the rulers is brilliant as it heightens the hierarchical difference between the oppressors and the oppressed. The complexity in the plot as devised by the Camonites to bring down the Keda (and potentially the Dagmari) is applaudable and intriguing. That said, the focus on worldbuilding and politics renders the characterization of the characters being sidelined. While Razvan's past and his journey in becoming an interpreter are set out throughout the story, his pain in losing his wife due to a plague and his son to the oppressors, his hatred towards the Keda, his relationship with the other characters, are not fully fleshed out. If Razvan's characterization is beefed up by Thomson, this could potentially be a successful standalone novel. For now, Spidertouch is a 3/5 star rating to me and I do recommend this to readers who enjoy reading standalone fantasy novels with strong worldbuilding!
November 27, 2021
Spidertouch is an imaginative novel with an impressive world building, political intrigue, and unique characters. With the author's accessible writing style and simple yet enjoyable plot, readers will surely be entertained by it.
The story followed Razvan, an interpreter for the oppressive rulers, the Keda, of the city of Val Kedić. These mute-race of cruel dictators used a very complex touch-based language called Spidertouch or Fingerspeak. They also sent children to work in the mines of the city as hostages. Razvan's low profile lifestyle changed when a new ruler made the city under siege. With his deep-rooted grievance against the Keda and his want to save and protect his son, he decided to join a rebellion.
What I liked the most was the world-building. I really enjoyed learning the language aspect. I found it extraordinary and new that I haven't read in any books. I also liked how the author was so keen on the characterization of the races. They were so detailed that they felt real and so convincing. Also, I really appreciated the use of neopronouns.
The plot slowly started at first but immediately picked up after. The conflicts and the subplots made the story more complicated. Razvan was a reliable and likeable narrator. His character arc was well-written and it was reasonable.
Overall, if you enjoy aliens, revolution, and great world building, this dystopian novel is for you. 4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Angry Robot Books for the copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The story followed Razvan, an interpreter for the oppressive rulers, the Keda, of the city of Val Kedić. These mute-race of cruel dictators used a very complex touch-based language called Spidertouch or Fingerspeak. They also sent children to work in the mines of the city as hostages. Razvan's low profile lifestyle changed when a new ruler made the city under siege. With his deep-rooted grievance against the Keda and his want to save and protect his son, he decided to join a rebellion.
What I liked the most was the world-building. I really enjoyed learning the language aspect. I found it extraordinary and new that I haven't read in any books. I also liked how the author was so keen on the characterization of the races. They were so detailed that they felt real and so convincing. Also, I really appreciated the use of neopronouns.
The plot slowly started at first but immediately picked up after. The conflicts and the subplots made the story more complicated. Razvan was a reliable and likeable narrator. His character arc was well-written and it was reasonable.
Overall, if you enjoy aliens, revolution, and great world building, this dystopian novel is for you. 4/5 stars!
A big thanks to Angry Robot Books for the copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 16, 2022
This novel was a lot of fun to read, well written, and I really liked the new language the author came up with called "fingertouch." If you don't mind your fantasy a little bit different, you'll probably like this one.
November 30, 2021
Book Tour & Preorder offer! I am happy to be joining in the Angry Robot tour for Spidertouch by Alex Thomson!
This book is a linguistics lover's dream, with plenty of action, trickery, and world building to keep it interesting.
41 year old Razvan is a translator for the Keda, an alien-ish race that took over the city hundreds of years ago and keeps the humans in subjugation through keeping the children as slaves. The problem is that the Keda only speak through a finger tapping type of sign language, so a handful of humans must act as translators.
When the city is sieged by a war ready people, it's up to Razvan and the translators to decide if it's a good time for civil war. I liked the theme of "What do people fight and risk themselves for?" I loved the slightly older, less than heroic main character. The language nuances were interesting and for a book that took place in one city there was a perfect level of micro world building.
Good news! The new Angry Robot website is up and you can preorder or buy books directly now! You can use the code onereadingnurse to save 25% on a preorder of Spidertouch, so get on that! I believe the code is good until December 4th
This book is a linguistics lover's dream, with plenty of action, trickery, and world building to keep it interesting.
41 year old Razvan is a translator for the Keda, an alien-ish race that took over the city hundreds of years ago and keeps the humans in subjugation through keeping the children as slaves. The problem is that the Keda only speak through a finger tapping type of sign language, so a handful of humans must act as translators.
When the city is sieged by a war ready people, it's up to Razvan and the translators to decide if it's a good time for civil war. I liked the theme of "What do people fight and risk themselves for?" I loved the slightly older, less than heroic main character. The language nuances were interesting and for a book that took place in one city there was a perfect level of micro world building.
Good news! The new Angry Robot website is up and you can preorder or buy books directly now! You can use the code onereadingnurse to save 25% on a preorder of Spidertouch, so get on that! I believe the code is good until December 4th
June 7, 2022
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
For the longest time, I thought publisher Angry Robot was putting out some of the best science fiction and fantasy on the market. Exciting, cutting-edge works were coming out of this press quite regularly. Then a couple of years ago I began to get disappointed with what I was reading - for the first time in a decade there are books that I am not requesting from them because I didn't like the first book in a series. Though I am always willing to try a new book and a new author, I was starting to wonder if it was worth it. And then a book like Spidertouch, by Alex Thomson, appears, renewing my faith in the fantasy field and in Angry Robot books.
To the book...
An alien race called The Keda have ruled over the city known as Val Kedic for hundreds of years. They are cruel and ruthless, keeping the locals in line by punishing the children for parental slights, and sending the children off to the mines for back-breaking, cruel work at an early age. Razvan was spared this usual fate ... now middle-aged, Razvan was trained as a translator for the Keda are a mute race who communicate through a complicated system of touching, referred to by the natives as 'Spidertouch.' Razvan has become a trusted translator among the more elite Keda members.
But, though harsh, the Keda have grown complacent with the iron fist rule and a resistance group is ready to wrest control away from the Keda. Razvan, a mild-mannered translator has the opportunity to step up, but will he risk the life of his son?
There's nothing particularly special about the general world here. This is some typical fantasy - evil alien rulers and a plot to get rid of them. The aliens themselves are big, mean, baddies and we really don't find anyone among the Keda to sympathize with or for. They are there to provide an obstacle for our protagonist.
But what is special about this story is the unique language building that author Thomson has created. Perhaps because I'm fascinated with ASL (though I don't know it), this had a real appeal to me. It's one thing for an author come up with different words for items, it's another to create a different system of communication and the language to go along with it.
And while a unique language like this is fascinating, it isn't enough to carry an entire book. Fortunately, Thomson is a deft storyteller and is able to get the reader interested in his primary character (Razvan) and build action, suspense, and excitement over the plot and the dangers of taking on the attempt.
The characters do tend to be a bit limited - only Razvan really stands out and all the Keda are sort of interchangeable.
Still I liked this quite a bit - I'd like to see Thomson grow as a writer and I look forward to reading more works by this author. If there were a follow-up or sequel to Spidertouch, I'd definitely be interested.
Looking for a good book? Spidertouch by Alex Thomson is a solid fantasy with a good protagonist and a unique, well-crafted language. Fans of fantasy with uprising action should enjoy this.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
For the longest time, I thought publisher Angry Robot was putting out some of the best science fiction and fantasy on the market. Exciting, cutting-edge works were coming out of this press quite regularly. Then a couple of years ago I began to get disappointed with what I was reading - for the first time in a decade there are books that I am not requesting from them because I didn't like the first book in a series. Though I am always willing to try a new book and a new author, I was starting to wonder if it was worth it. And then a book like Spidertouch, by Alex Thomson, appears, renewing my faith in the fantasy field and in Angry Robot books.
To the book...
An alien race called The Keda have ruled over the city known as Val Kedic for hundreds of years. They are cruel and ruthless, keeping the locals in line by punishing the children for parental slights, and sending the children off to the mines for back-breaking, cruel work at an early age. Razvan was spared this usual fate ... now middle-aged, Razvan was trained as a translator for the Keda are a mute race who communicate through a complicated system of touching, referred to by the natives as 'Spidertouch.' Razvan has become a trusted translator among the more elite Keda members.
But, though harsh, the Keda have grown complacent with the iron fist rule and a resistance group is ready to wrest control away from the Keda. Razvan, a mild-mannered translator has the opportunity to step up, but will he risk the life of his son?
There's nothing particularly special about the general world here. This is some typical fantasy - evil alien rulers and a plot to get rid of them. The aliens themselves are big, mean, baddies and we really don't find anyone among the Keda to sympathize with or for. They are there to provide an obstacle for our protagonist.
But what is special about this story is the unique language building that author Thomson has created. Perhaps because I'm fascinated with ASL (though I don't know it), this had a real appeal to me. It's one thing for an author come up with different words for items, it's another to create a different system of communication and the language to go along with it.
And while a unique language like this is fascinating, it isn't enough to carry an entire book. Fortunately, Thomson is a deft storyteller and is able to get the reader interested in his primary character (Razvan) and build action, suspense, and excitement over the plot and the dangers of taking on the attempt.
The characters do tend to be a bit limited - only Razvan really stands out and all the Keda are sort of interchangeable.
Still I liked this quite a bit - I'd like to see Thomson grow as a writer and I look forward to reading more works by this author. If there were a follow-up or sequel to Spidertouch, I'd definitely be interested.
Looking for a good book? Spidertouch by Alex Thomson is a solid fantasy with a good protagonist and a unique, well-crafted language. Fans of fantasy with uprising action should enjoy this.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2022
3.75. This was a pleasant surprise. In many ways, this book feels very much like a classic sci fi book in that it jumps right into the plot and doesn’t really offer room for extensive meandering and deviation from the main story. It doesn’t feel padded out; it sets out to tackle its narrative objectives and does so. The author (and presumably the editor) should be praised for shaving things down so clinically. I guess the flip side of that praise is that character development is virtually nonexistent. I can’t say the idea of a translator working for a species of slavers initially seemed particularly engaging, but it’s kind of a novel way of beginning an ‘underdog’ tale. While some of the plot points are pretty standard, the book never overstays its welcome, and therefore the pace and excitement as the narrative draws closer to the end is enough to maintain keen interest. What a refreshing return to the kind of pulpy sci fi / fantasy of the 60s and 70s.
November 28, 2021
This is a gripping story. I have only been able to make time to read it in small chunks at a time, but at no stage did I lose the plot. Alex Thomson has mastered the art of a complex plot set in a world of aliens dominating a community of people, managing to hold lots of strands together. The title refers to the means of communicating with the aliens, the Keda - conceptually brilliant. Although never described in detail, we get to know the Keda very well, and I have in my mind an image of what these mute aliens might look like - fascinating. The outcome, when it arrived, was not what I had been expecting - very satisfying indeed. Looking forward to the sequel - did I detect a hint of this in the Epilogue?
December 19, 2023
So glad i read this book. It was picked for me by ‘A box of stories’ which picks books for you from authors that haven’t had the promotion they deserve. You can pick your genre and i highly recommend.
This was such a unique read, about a different race who communicate through touch. The’Keda’ have taken over a land and have to have interprets from that land to communicate for them despite abusing them and taking what they want for themselves. Was a story about a revolt which i thought was very clever and it was really interesting to me that the author use ‘xe’ and ‘xer’ pronouns to desxribe there ‘Keda’. Hard to get to grips with initially and then it was fine. I wonder if there will be a sequel after the ending. Would read it if there is. Glad i read it.
This was such a unique read, about a different race who communicate through touch. The’Keda’ have taken over a land and have to have interprets from that land to communicate for them despite abusing them and taking what they want for themselves. Was a story about a revolt which i thought was very clever and it was really interesting to me that the author use ‘xe’ and ‘xer’ pronouns to desxribe there ‘Keda’. Hard to get to grips with initially and then it was fine. I wonder if there will be a sequel after the ending. Would read it if there is. Glad i read it.
April 29, 2022
het concept van 'fingerspeak' was zo interessant. World(building) in het algemeen eigenlijk wel. Het verhaal zelf boeide me niet heel erg, de karakters zijn een beetje vlak. Het verhaal zelf zou ik normaal gesproken drie sterren geven, maar de originele (!) wereld maakt het er 4.
December 14, 2021
Like his 2018 novel, Death of a Clone, Spidertouch has its overseers and mistreated miners, but while the first is set in the asteroid belt, his new novel takes place in a medieval period on a world where the Deda, a race of mute non-humans, have taken over the city of Val Kedic. The humans are kept in line in part by their children being taken as hostages to work for seven years in the mines under cruel conditions. Razvan is an interpreter, able to communicate with the Keda through fingerspeak, an aptitude that spared him from his term in the mines. Now an adult and widower, his son, Rico, was not so lucky and Ravan hasn’t seen or heard from him since he was taken. What little he knows is that his son has shown toughness and courage that has cost him under the harsh treatment of the Kedan, and though his term is coming to an end, he may not live to see it. When a human army shows up demanding tribute from the Keda held city, and the Keda chooses to fight rather than pay, Ravan finds himself in a position to turn the tables on the Keda, and hopefully win his son’s freedom.
Central to the story are the difficulties in interspecies communication, and the author has done a nice job exploring the medieval technology for both warfare and city management. The epilogue serves as a prologue for the next book, and though Spidertouch is billed as epic fantasy, it has all the elements of science fiction and no magic as far as I can tell, so there’s nothing to stop you from reading with science-fictional glasses on.
(Originally posted at: https://amazingstories.com/2021/12/sc...)
Central to the story are the difficulties in interspecies communication, and the author has done a nice job exploring the medieval technology for both warfare and city management. The epilogue serves as a prologue for the next book, and though Spidertouch is billed as epic fantasy, it has all the elements of science fiction and no magic as far as I can tell, so there’s nothing to stop you from reading with science-fictional glasses on.
(Originally posted at: https://amazingstories.com/2021/12/sc...)
October 26, 2021
It's not common that an author is able to write a race of creatures that just genuinely feels alien or unknowable - anthropomorphism always leaks through in the wrong places and you just start seeing them as weird humans. Alex Thomson is one of those rare authors that created a race that, even as his protagonist sticks characteristics on their oppressors, is very clear that these are unknowable/unfathomable others. That gives so much more power to Spidertouch, and really sets the book apart from the standard "conquered people" type of novels - there isn't an option to put yourself into the shoes or try to understand their motivations, as they are the other. The premise of translating between two vastly different methods of communication is fascinating, and the story shows great character development. All in, this was a better blending of some more common story starters than I was expecting, and I look forward to seeing what else Thomson has in store.
May 16, 2024
Razvan is a translater for the Keda - a race that had taken over Val Vedić over a hundred years ago and now rule over the city. The Keda use a type of fingerspeak language; by grasping each others left arm, they communicate using a series of taps and squeezes. The Keda are feared and hated by their citizens as they control every part of their lives and even force children aged 11-18 to live and work in the dangerous mines of Riona. Now with a new enemy called the Dagmari laying siege to Val Kedić, this sparks a revolution by a group called Camonites and they reach out to Razvan to aid in their plans to defeat the Keda once and for all. Torn between his translator duties and the only life he’s ever known, Razvan must make the decision to either aid in the uprising and potentially save his son from Riona, or continue helping the Keda bring down the Dagmari.
This was an amazing short fantasy that had easy-to-follow lore and fast-paced action. I had picked this book up on a whim after reading the synopsis and the first couple pages, and was initially drawn in by the use of fingerspeak because it was so different from any other languages I’ve heard of. I honestly wish this book was longer since it a sense of closure at the end, but highly recommend this if you’re into fantasy or if you want a short book to grab your attention!
This was an amazing short fantasy that had easy-to-follow lore and fast-paced action. I had picked this book up on a whim after reading the synopsis and the first couple pages, and was initially drawn in by the use of fingerspeak because it was so different from any other languages I’ve heard of. I honestly wish this book was longer since it a sense of closure at the end, but highly recommend this if you’re into fantasy or if you want a short book to grab your attention!
June 29, 2022
The writing's fine, but the primary gimmick of the touch language is dumped in our expository laps and then nothing's done with it. Why do the Crawlers use touch when they seem to hear and see just fine? Why don't they ever learn the spoken language to monitor their subjects? Without that, you just have another siege story and the protagonist suddenly changing his entire worldview and activity because . . . I wish I could tell you why. And then the ending needlessly unwinds a plot thread that maybe the author thought would justify a sequel, but I can't imagine wanting to read one.
There's nothing bad about this book, it just epitomizes meh.
There's nothing bad about this book, it just epitomizes meh.
January 19, 2025
This is a Grim Dark story about a revolution that happens during a war with another nation. It was a fast read and very interesting. At times it felt like there were too many themes happening in the story and that this book could have been make into a duology instead. With that being said it was an interesting story and one that is very different from the usual fantasy stories, yet it has the same elements of them. I was left both satisfied, and wanting to know more about the Keda and their magic system.
April 19, 2022
130 years ago Val Kedić fell to the Keda. The new rules renamed the city, forced the population to build them an island in the middle of the city and proceeded to treat them as almost slaves - almost everyone is kept without anything while the rules live in splendor. And in order to keep the population calm, the Keda use the children - every child with a family is sent to work in the mines between the ages of 11 and 18. That makes sure that they come back with broken spirit - and any time when a parent does anything which the rulers do not like, it is their kid that gets punished.
And if that was not nightmarish enough, the Keda do not seem to be able to speak (later in the book, one of the characters dreams of making the Keda learn tonguespeak (aka actual speech) but that seems like an impossibility from everything else we are told). They communicate with what the citizens call fingerspeak - a touch language where the fingers of the speaker touch, squeeze, tap and so on the forearm of the listener, with 2 metal bands on the arm to assist with the possible words. That requires someone from the population to understand and translate (or how would you rule them?) in both directions so the guild of the translators was born.
When the novel opens, we meet Razvan - one of the best translators in the Guild (there is a very limited number of them for various reasons), with a son in the mines and who is just trying to survive. Before long another tribe/peoples show up intent on defeating the Keda and getting the city and the stage for the novel is set.
So what happens when you rule a city where you cannot hear and speak (let alone understand) the language of the streets and the streets decide that it is time for revolution, using the disruption of the enemy coming in? You rely on your translators. And then some of them decide that they had enough - nothing like a bit of a linguistic subterfuge to kick start the revolution - and things start unraveling. But even in the middle of all that, there is an enemy at the gate and they don't seem to care much about who is who - they want the city. Where would your loyalties be in that situation - the evil you know or the one you don't?
The world has no modern technology (the city does not, it does not seem that the horde that shows up has any either) but there is some form of alchemy so the whole novel has a medieval feel to it. The parts which deal with the language are fascinating (no brushing away the fact that a touch language's grammar works very differently from a spoken one). The sections when Razvan showed us the past and his own history added to the build-up of the novel nicely. A lot of the twists actually worked and did not feel either too expected or coming out of the blue.
And yet, something felt off in the novel as a whole. Part of it is the almost invincibility of the people who had to survive for a plan to work (characters died but... they were never that important). Part of it is that the good guys seemed too good to be believable in places (plus the whole "noone trusts me but I do the best and now everyone does"). It almost felt like a great setting for a novel which just did not have an interesting story to tell - the story felt almost formulaic if you remove the fingerspeak. And yet, I am happy I read it - despite its deficiencies, the linguistic part of the world is fascinating.
And if that was not nightmarish enough, the Keda do not seem to be able to speak (later in the book, one of the characters dreams of making the Keda learn tonguespeak (aka actual speech) but that seems like an impossibility from everything else we are told). They communicate with what the citizens call fingerspeak - a touch language where the fingers of the speaker touch, squeeze, tap and so on the forearm of the listener, with 2 metal bands on the arm to assist with the possible words. That requires someone from the population to understand and translate (or how would you rule them?) in both directions so the guild of the translators was born.
When the novel opens, we meet Razvan - one of the best translators in the Guild (there is a very limited number of them for various reasons), with a son in the mines and who is just trying to survive. Before long another tribe/peoples show up intent on defeating the Keda and getting the city and the stage for the novel is set.
So what happens when you rule a city where you cannot hear and speak (let alone understand) the language of the streets and the streets decide that it is time for revolution, using the disruption of the enemy coming in? You rely on your translators. And then some of them decide that they had enough - nothing like a bit of a linguistic subterfuge to kick start the revolution - and things start unraveling. But even in the middle of all that, there is an enemy at the gate and they don't seem to care much about who is who - they want the city. Where would your loyalties be in that situation - the evil you know or the one you don't?
The world has no modern technology (the city does not, it does not seem that the horde that shows up has any either) but there is some form of alchemy so the whole novel has a medieval feel to it. The parts which deal with the language are fascinating (no brushing away the fact that a touch language's grammar works very differently from a spoken one). The sections when Razvan showed us the past and his own history added to the build-up of the novel nicely. A lot of the twists actually worked and did not feel either too expected or coming out of the blue.
And yet, something felt off in the novel as a whole. Part of it is the almost invincibility of the people who had to survive for a plan to work (characters died but... they were never that important). Part of it is that the good guys seemed too good to be believable in places (plus the whole "noone trusts me but I do the best and now everyone does"). It almost felt like a great setting for a novel which just did not have an interesting story to tell - the story felt almost formulaic if you remove the fingerspeak. And yet, I am happy I read it - despite its deficiencies, the linguistic part of the world is fascinating.
January 3, 2022
This book had such promise. The premise was interesting, the characters were well thought out, and the setting was perfect.
It’s just that it started to fall flat around the 100 page mark. The author fell into the trap of over-explaining, and telling rather than showing. And I just couldn’t feel the tension that should have been there. It all just felt blah after a while.
Plus there were several plot holes that drove me crazy.
1: Why don’t the interpreters learn some of the language by sight? They have eyeballs. The patterns they learn for words and phrases should be easy to see. Just sayin.
2: In what universe would a city under siege not take advantage of the fact that there were only 500 cavalrymen blocking their roads? Especially since they divided their forces and were overconfident? All it would have taken is a coordinated sneak attack by the Keda (or the mercenaries) when the enemy’s guard is down, and viola! No more cavalry! And you take all their horses, weapons, and supplies.
3: How did the mercenaries even make it to the city without interference? All the roads are blocked, and ferrying in a hired army from across the sea would take weeks (at least), and would run a high risk of loss even if the invaders had no navy. Preventing the city you are invading from getting the strength it needs to defend itself should be priority number one.
4: Why did the enemy not block anything from getting to the city by sea? If they are such mighty conquerors, they would have strategies for this even if they don’t have a navy of their own. Most major settlements tend to be built next to major bodies of water, and invading armies would need to plan around it to successfully lay siege.
5: Why didn’t at least some of the Keda understand human language? They can hear. After occupying a city for over 100 years, you’d think they would have picked up on that.
All in all, the best I can give this is 2.5 stars.
It’s just that it started to fall flat around the 100 page mark. The author fell into the trap of over-explaining, and telling rather than showing. And I just couldn’t feel the tension that should have been there. It all just felt blah after a while.
Plus there were several plot holes that drove me crazy.
1: Why don’t the interpreters learn some of the language by sight? They have eyeballs. The patterns they learn for words and phrases should be easy to see. Just sayin.
2: In what universe would a city under siege not take advantage of the fact that there were only 500 cavalrymen blocking their roads? Especially since they divided their forces and were overconfident? All it would have taken is a coordinated sneak attack by the Keda (or the mercenaries) when the enemy’s guard is down, and viola! No more cavalry! And you take all their horses, weapons, and supplies.
3: How did the mercenaries even make it to the city without interference? All the roads are blocked, and ferrying in a hired army from across the sea would take weeks (at least), and would run a high risk of loss even if the invaders had no navy. Preventing the city you are invading from getting the strength it needs to defend itself should be priority number one.
4: Why did the enemy not block anything from getting to the city by sea? If they are such mighty conquerors, they would have strategies for this even if they don’t have a navy of their own. Most major settlements tend to be built next to major bodies of water, and invading armies would need to plan around it to successfully lay siege.
5: Why didn’t at least some of the Keda understand human language? They can hear. After occupying a city for over 100 years, you’d think they would have picked up on that.
All in all, the best I can give this is 2.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
March 22, 2022I ended up DNFing this one, and it's a shame because the concept of conquering aliens that only communicate with touch-language was so fascinating!
Ultimately, what caused me to stop reading this book was the fact that I just did not feel engaged with the plot or characters. All of the characters were sort of one-note and their stories didn't grab me. I was also really confused about the worldbuilding. I understand that there was a melding of different worlds and cultures due to the colonization of the world, but I couldn't quite visualize what I was reading at all.
**eARC provided by the publisher, Angry Robot, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Ultimately, what caused me to stop reading this book was the fact that I just did not feel engaged with the plot or characters. All of the characters were sort of one-note and their stories didn't grab me. I was also really confused about the worldbuilding. I understand that there was a melding of different worlds and cultures due to the colonization of the world, but I couldn't quite visualize what I was reading at all.
**eARC provided by the publisher, Angry Robot, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
December 8, 2022
I think this book was really well written. It did give me hunger games vibes but there wasn't a lot of explanation of how the Keda had come to dominate humans as well as what they actually were. I couldn't tell if this book was set in some dystopian future or if it was a complete fantasy. Nonetheless, the emphasis on spider touch was intricate and fascinating. The only thing that annoyed me was the pronouns for the keda, they kind of made reading a headache. Overall great book!
April 5, 2022
OK premise and above average climactic twist--but I just couldn't get invested in any of the characters nor, though it IS an original idea, understand what was up with the tactile pidgin the conquerors used to communicate. Are they supposed to be nonhuman? The whole language thing seems pretty artificial if not. Also, the three cultures in the story didn't show much life or distinction.
October 30, 2023
A good story, interesting "others" in both the unspeaking, nonhuman Keda and the cruel human Dagmari. Razvan is a good...protagonist, he's unsure the whole time if he even wants to be a hero, he's 41 and wants to live to see his son again, and revolutions never really help with things like that.
March 20, 2023
Loved the world-building and the fact that it wasn't a YA novel with a teenager at the lead. It was fun not being lead piece by piece of every plan, and instead you're left guessing what the MC has in mind. Good twists too.
January 5, 2025
Strong world building and political system that pairs well with a decent setting and fascinating concept. Drawbacks lie within weaker dialogue choices and abrupt pace of events. Overall worth the read.
January 15, 2022
Was hoping to find out more about the actual language but it was still good
April 9, 2022
Very interesting and unique world building. Though plot holes and some storytelling issues did arise, I still enjoyed the story.
April 13, 2023
As others have said the language system is interesting, but the story is not very compelling.
September 6, 2023
Was alright. Nothing special. The world & characters could use more depth. This book had some cool concepts but ultimately the plot was mediocre & was lacking
February 6, 2024
3.5 stars.
Solid writing and some very good ideas, but ultimately Spidertouch does suffer a bit from lack of ambition. A mix of good and middling elements, but the imagination behind it and the cleverness of some of the plot tips it into good territory.
Solid writing and some very good ideas, but ultimately Spidertouch does suffer a bit from lack of ambition. A mix of good and middling elements, but the imagination behind it and the cleverness of some of the plot tips it into good territory.
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