Elizabeth Ann ScarboroughCritiques
Auteur de Les forces majeures
Critiques
The Unicorn Creed par Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
An orientalist fantasy, drawing heavily on the Arabian Nights, but subverting it in that the women characters take charge and have to rescue their husband, Aman Akbar, who has been transformed into a donkey. I don’t think the racial stereotypes would really fly today, but I can see what Scarborough was trying to do and it’s (intentionally) quite funny in places.
Some good points, the telepathic cats are fun, their young owners pleasant. The plot is convoluted but not terribly satisfying.
Each author picks someone from history then writes a story explaining who and why they get uploaded into the present (well, 1999, when this collection was published) and the consequences that ensue. I recognized only four of the authors as being relatively big names back in the day, though another couple sound vaguely familiar. Their author creds at the end are arranged in the order of their stories; several of them have published franchise novels of one sort or another, or coauthored within established series by bigger name authors, and covering a range of genres: speculative, mystery, romance, historical.
Here's the list of authors, stories, and historical personages bought by:
1. Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, "Soul Mates" - Sir Walter Scott
2. Lillian Stewart Carl, "A Rose with All Its Thorns" - Anne Boleyn
3. Elizabeth Moon, "Silver Lining" - George Silver
4. Margaret Ball, "Shell Game" - Jesus Christ
5. Jerry Oltian, "Renaissance Man" - Leonardo da Vinci
6. Thomas W. Knowles, "Luck of the Draw" - Doc Holliday
7. Sharon Newman, "Divine Guidance" _ Saint Elspeth (actually, I suspect this one is fictional)
8. Janet Berliner, "Eye of the Day" - Mata Hari
9. Nina Kiriki Hoffman, "Voyage of Discover" - Meriwether Lewis
10. Kristine Kathryn Rusch, "Relics" - Jesus Christ again
11. Carole Nelson Douglas, "Night Owl" - Florence Nightengale
12. Gary A. Braunbeck, "Who Am a Passer By" - Edgar Allen Poe
13. Rod Garcia y Robertson, "Forever Free" - JEB Stuart
14. Sandy Schofield, "Stepping Up to the Plate" - Babe Ruth
15. David Bischoff, "Sittin' on the Dock" Otis Redding
I was prepared to like the book. Certainly the cover description intrigued me enough to pick it up. But no. It was all stereotypes. All the stereotypes. Inscrutable, zenlike oriental, momma's boy wanting to please her during her last days, man-hating humorless feminazi who discovers her sensual feminine side, misogynistic racist asshole who resents his "inferiors" beating him in his chosen hobbies, backwater imaginary African nation whose leader has large Swiss bank accounts and is at risk of backsliding into tribal warfare, nerdy brilliant virgin inventor who doesn't know how to people especially with girls, Texas man forever trying to live up to the toxic masculinity expectations of his deceased father in all the testosterone-fueled activities, corrupt manager trying to refurbish his golden goose star, Caribbean voodoo curse, overbearing controlling mother who wants a living doll, rich and powerful man looking for a convenient puppet and working class orphan wanting only to be accepted, the horrors of autism!!!, more men with mommy issues and rich people wanting the personality equivalent of a food taster, star-crossed lovers reunited plus Lost Cause nostalgia and a terrible misuse of the Emancipation Proclamation, another nerdy man who doesn't know how to live, and the white man taking cultural appropriation to a whole new level and then essentially experiencing spiritual conversion. Yikes.
Admittedly, this book was published during the Clinton years, the period of neoliberal capitalism run amok, and it shows. The 0.01% characters who buy this unique personality transplant are self-made millionaires or have inherited wealth and lead empty lives. The ambience really reflects the conspicuous consumption reflective of the 1990s economic boom. But reading this in 2021, when income and wealth inequalities meet or exceed those the 1920s Gilded Age and we are seeing the consequences of this as the pandemic plays out around the world and labor strikes are on the rise, it feels inappropriate at best and seriously out of sync. Who cares about the psychological woes of the uber-privileged? Wah wah. And worse is the contrast with the lower class marginalized characters acting as guinea pigs or objects of redemption. Admittedly, we know a lot more about the autism spectrum than we did back in 1999, but still, that particular story rankled--Autism Speaks could certainly use it in its marketing of how autism destroys lives and needs to be cured. It's got tiny science fiction touches, such as cold fusion, the prevalence of androids in entertainment spectacles, and other little details that don't really add much or change the feel of the era. It's also got very dated details like tape recordings and some pop culture references. Definitely not a keeper.
Gut für ein verregnetes Wochenende geeignet. Ziehen Sie den Vorhang zu, stellen Sie eine Kanne Tee und Plätzchen bereit, und tauchen Sie ein, in Elizabeth Scarboroughs wunderbare Welt des Orients.
Even among Barque Cats, Chessie is something special. Her pedigree, skills, and intelligence, as well as the close rapport she has with her human, Janina, make her the most valuable crew member aboard the Molly Daise. And the litter of kittens in her belly only adds to her value.
Then the unthinkable happens. Chessie is kidnapped—er, catnapped—from Dr. Jared Vlast's vet clinic at Hood Station by a grizzled spacer named Carl Poindexter. But Chessie's newborn kittens turn out to be even more extraordinary than their mother. For while Chessie's connection to Janina is close and intuitive, the bond that the kitten Chester forms with Carl's son, Jubal, is downright telepathic. And when Chester is sent into space to learn his trade, neither he nor Jubal will rest until they're reunited.
But the announcement of a widespread epidemic affecting livestock on numerous planets throws their future into doubt. Suddenly the galactic government announces a plan to impound and possibly destroy all exposed animals. Not even the Barque Cats will be spared.
With the clock racing against them, Janina, Jubal, Dr. Vlast, and a handful of very special kittens will join forces with the mysterious Pshaw-Ra—an alien-looking cat with a hidden agenda—to save the Barque Cats, other animals, and quite possibly the universe as they know it from total destruction.
Disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock seems to be the perfect spy for the company. The frailty that was a liability in the military allows her to gain the trust of the Petaybean natives. But miraculously, with Yana’s relocation to the arctic planet comes the return of her health and strength. And the closer she gets to the people of Petaybee, the more determined she is to protect her new home. For something unusual and wonderful is happening on Petaybee. Something worth fighting for, even dying for—but especially, something worth living for. . . .
When the Manos are released into Petaybee’s waters, a tragic misunderstanding endangers the whole resettlement operation. At the same time, the mysterious sea otters who once rescued the twins’ father are suddenly revealed to be much more than they appear to be.
Now it is up to Ronan and Murel, with the intrepid assistance of their river otter friend Sky, to smooth the waters before a maelstrom of revenge destroys Petaybee’s harmonious way of life.
Until now.
In a bold two-pronged assault, the predacious Corporation has arrested Petaybee’s leading off-world champion, Marmion de Revers Algemeine, on trumped-up charges, while InterGal’s military arm has dispatched an invading force to subdue the planet once and for all. Marmion has allies within the Corporation who can halt the invasion. but if they cannot be found quickly, it will be too late for Marmion . . . and Petaybee.
While their parents work to foil the invasion of their world, Ronan and Murel are captured and sent to a desolate prison world where an old enemy, Dr. Mabo, waits to continue her cruel experiments on the shape-changing siblings. The twins’ only hope of escape lies in the uncharted seas of the prison planet. But in the murky depths, something else is waiting. . . .
The insidious enemy that has ravaged countless known worlds has left Khorii's illustrious parents too weak to oppose it. Now, as the deadly foe prepares to launch its devastating final assault, it falls to Acorna's children—Khorii and her newly discovered sister, Ariin—to halt the brutal attack once and for all. But victory may prove too difficult, elusive, and ultimately fragile—and even time itself may be conspiring against the daughters in their desperate battle to save their family . . . and their universe.
Now, confined with the rest of the survivors on Paloduro, the home planet of the disease, it seems as if the danger may be fading, and Khorii and her friends may be able to stem the tide of death and disease . . . until ominous signs indicate that the perpetrators are near and that the epidemic is only beginning. As old enemies reemerge and a shocking family secret is revealed, Khorii must unlock the malevolent mysteries of the deadly pestilence with the aid of her android "brother" before their unknown foes complete their covert mission to cripple the entire star system.
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