Will Sargent reviewed Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
Review of 'Carnival' on 'Storygraph'
3 stars
It's alright. The story of "two men travelling to a world where women rule" has been done in several different novels, but by making the two men a gay couple it blessedly takes the innuendo out and leaves the blunt reality of sexism and discrimination in place.
There are several concepts in here that aren't really developed. The Governers, the AI that exists to keep a lid on the human population, for example: even if they're a great idea, a society under that kind of pressure would be absolutely terrified right up until the age of majority. Vincent and Michelangelo are far too normal for people who would grow up expecting to die.
Likewise, the rebels and revolutions on New Amazonia don't seem to have real force and personality. They exist, and they're ready to kill... but the sense of anger isn't there, even among people who have justifiable complaints. …
It's alright. The story of "two men travelling to a world where women rule" has been done in several different novels, but by making the two men a gay couple it blessedly takes the innuendo out and leaves the blunt reality of sexism and discrimination in place.
There are several concepts in here that aren't really developed. The Governers, the AI that exists to keep a lid on the human population, for example: even if they're a great idea, a society under that kind of pressure would be absolutely terrified right up until the age of majority. Vincent and Michelangelo are far too normal for people who would grow up expecting to die.
Likewise, the rebels and revolutions on New Amazonia don't seem to have real force and personality. They exist, and they're ready to kill... but the sense of anger isn't there, even among people who have justifiable complaints. And I don't believe Lesa, the head of the Security Directorate, can be quite so friendly and open when she and her team are responsible for combatting them.
Overall, in as much as I like the book, I'm not really wowed by it.