Fault Lines

by Kate Wilhelm

mass market paperback book

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Kate Wilhelm’s first short story, “The Pint-Sized Genie” was published in Fantastic Stories in 1956. Her first novel, MORE BITTER THAN DEATH, a mystery, was published in 1963. Over the span of her career, her writing has crossed over the genres of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy and magical realism, psychological suspense, mimetic, comic, and family sagas, a multimedia stage production, and radio plays. She returned to writing mysteries in 1990 with the acclaimed Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Leidl Mysteries and the Barbara Holloway series of legal thrillers.

Wilhelm’s works have been adapted for television and movies in numerous countries; her novels and stories have been translated to more than a dozen languages. She has contributed to Quark, Orbit,  Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction, Locus, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine,  Fantastic, Omni, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Redbook, and Cosmopolitan.

Kate Wilhelm is the widow of acclaimed science fiction author and editor, Damon Knight (1922-2002), with whom she founded the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Milford Writers’ Conference, described in her 2005 non-fiction work, STORYTELLER. They lectured together at universities across three continents; Kate has continued to offer interviews, talks, and monthly workshops.

Kate Wilhelm has received two Hugo awards, three Nebulas, as well as Jupiter, Locus, Spotted Owl, Prix Apollo, Kristen Lohman awards, among others. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2009, Kate was the recipient of one of the first Solstice Awards presented by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in recognition of her contributions to the field of science fiction. 

Kate’s highly popular Barbara Holloway mysteries, set in Eugene, Oregon, opened with Death Qualified in 1990. Mirror, Mirror, released in 2017, is the series’ 14th novel.

Reviews

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most remarkable books I've ever read- an elderly woman is trapped in the rubble of an earthquake and reflects on her life. When it was released it was classified as sci-fi because Wilhelm was a prolific sci-fi writer, but there is nothing sci-fi about it. Beautifully introspective.

[Dyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting plot about a 70-year-old woman trapped in rubble after an earthquake causes her California vacation cottage to collapse while she's in bed. Her bed drops a floor, and something falls on top of her. She's not hurt, is lying on her stomach on the mattress, but can't move. It's, of course, written in first person. She's waiting for someone to free her, but her family and friends do not know where she has gone to be by herself.

Emily Carmichael has lived most of her life in San Francisco near the San Andreas fault. She is used to small earthquakes and understands them because her father, William, was a geologist/teacher. She is living in a big old three-story house on Russian Hill that her grandfather built. Her house has a revolving door and is full of people needing a place to stay - there are 10 at this point including her maid/companion/friend named Dorrie. Emily has led a life that defies social convention, has had many lovers, a son who doesn't approve of her lifestyle, and calls herself "a threat to civilization". She is an editor for a controversial magazine, has worked there for 29 years and has just been fired. She is too stubborn and too proud to ask for help and advice and not brave enough to tell the people who live with her that she now has no means of support, and they must leave. She needs some alone time to think out her situation, so she tells no one that she is going to her cottage on the coast. Now she is trapped underneath her house.

At first, her thoughts and memories are fresh, as she dreams and re-experiences the past. The prose is introspective as she examines her mind and feelings. But after a few days without food and water, she begins to experience hallucinations, nightmares, along with hopelessness and despair. Sometimes it's hard to tell if she is awake or asleep and her dreams and memories begin to blur at the edges. A quote from page 139 "...I can't banish any thoughts at all. I have become an eye, wafted this way and that, riding the currents of time, seeing more than I want to see, remembering more than I want to remember." The ending is a little ambiguous - is she really rescued? It was an abrupt ending. I guess if she is telling the story... A quote on the back of the book "Wilhelm is one of the masters of psychological fiction..." Recommended, especially for those who like her Barbara Holloway series.

[Dan Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marketed as a Science Fiction novel in the 1970s, I presume due to Kate Wilhelms other works, Fault Lines is pretty much 0% SF and more of a psychological drama. We get snapshots of memories that tell us a story of who Emily is, from her father's fantastical tales he loved to share, interweaved with his profession as a geologist. Memories of her previous lovers and what each person meant for her. Her only true romantic lover she's had. Her disconnection from her son in response to her somewhat hedonistic, progressive lifestyle. Making for an interesting character study that poses a much greater meaning beyond the plot.

Through these memories K Wilhelm paints vivid and beautiful images with some of the finest writing I've experienced in a while, a true master of her craft in delivering what I believe to be a very purposeful and deeply personal book. There's a cynical response to human nature throughout this story, heavy themes around war, faith, believing in authority and what it means to have that belief in something greater than ourselves - or is the ultimate way to find hope and a positive mindset to believe only in ourselves? The end result here is a poignant commentary on the 70s, an insight into the psyche of the left in response to the political, religious and military events happening at that time - which still reflect similarities to today.

I can't say i love this book, but I'm glad I read it, the writing is superb, the story is intreaguing and I did find myself moved by Emily and her memories. It's that type of book that you could contemplate for days or take it as face value which I often enjoy.

[Vicki Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the late 70's in San Francisco and 69-year-old Emily is awakened by a violent shaking, to find she's trapped in bed after an earthquake. While she's waiting for someone to come and get her free, she thinks about the people in her life. Her ex-husband, who divorced her after a year of marriage at the insistence of his mother. His divorce lawyer, who became her friend and sometime lover. Her son, who doesn't approve of her bohemian lifestyle. Her mind jumps around in time and we meet the people she's befriended, helped and loved. The non-linear narrative was a bit disconcerting, but it's a very interesting book - you really get to like Emily.

[Bev · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. Did not wind up being as interesting as i thought it would when I picked it up at a book sale. Owned it and donated it to the library. One and a half stars.

[Jeff Youngstrom]

My review from November 11, 1997

[SciFiOne · Rating 1 out of 5]

1982 grade F

Might have abandoned

Not SciFi