Customer Reviews

Speaking Stones

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Taking place in the setting of the author's first novel, DARK WATER'S EMBRACE, but a century or so later, this is simply one of the best novels I have read in a long time. Stephen Leigh has a unique way of weaving a tale from the threads of multiple perspectives and timelines--creating a tapestry that is both beautiful and meaningful. If you are fond of the work of Ursala K LeGuin, you will find much satisfation here.

Although the novel stands on it's own as a fascinating story, you will definitely be missing an opportunity if you don't go back and read DARK WATER'S EMBRACE as well. Highly recommended.

I've been introduced to the works of Stephen Leigh through his Wild Cards contributions, which convincewd me he is a powerful story teller, who posses a clever way with words.

Speaking Stones isn't a page-turner the way Leigh's Puppetman stories are, but it ispowerful nonetheless, and the ending is enchanting.

If there is one complaint is that the book isn't really a stand alone - as someone who hasn't read Dark Water's Embrace, Ifound the p lot hard to follow at times, and the narration technique, while cool and original, can be confusing, especially as some of the narrations are of a time much earlier.

Don't let all that stop you, though. This is a chalanging book, and reading Dark Water's Embrace may be a good idea (I know I intend to), but itis powerful, and rem inds me n ot only of Ursula K Leguin, b ut also of Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead and Octavia Butler's Exogenesis Trilogy.

I won't spoil much of the book,otherthan to say that it recounts a story of the clash of cultures, with no Heroes and Villans, but real people and aliens, men and women and mid-males (and one super cool computer called Ghost), who try to fight for the good of their people.

Leigh's a great, under rated book, and this is a great, underated book.

While "Dark Water's Embrace" dwelled upon sexual preference and identity in a new and harsh world, "Speaking Stones" deals more with the issues that arise when two sentient species with wildly varying histories and cultures try to coexist. It didn't grab me quite as much as "Dark Water's Embrace," the characters didn't tug at me *quite* as much, but it is still an outstanding book. Highly recommended, ecspecially to anyone who has read the first book and craves more of this ever-changing planet and society created so masterfully by Stephen Leigh.