The Grand Illusion
As with many, if not most, of my books, the “reviewer” reviews of Contrarian include those reviewers who often review me but didn’t, to those who didn’t like the book very much, to those who liked it, and those who liked it very much.
As some readers may know, more than thirty years ago, after having published eight novels and nine short stories, all science fiction, over the previous seventeen years, I took on a new challenge, that of writing a fantasy novel with at least semi-realistic economics and politics, and a logical and internally consistent magic system integrated within the economics and politics of that world. That novel was, of course, The Magic of Recluce.
At that time (1989), there were few fantasy novels that even attempted the goals I set out. And then, and even today, many readers were looking for escapism unconstrained by reality. In either arrogance or naivete, if not both, I thought it was possible to write a fantasy novel with realistic people, economics, politics, and logical magic that some readers would buy and enjoy, and I think it’s fair to say that I’ve done so repeatedly, or at least come close.
But along the way, I’ve come to realize that many of the readers and even some professional reviewers who reject more “realistic” fantasies don’t reject them because they’re realistic, but because they don’t understand, or don’t want to understand, certain aspects of the real world.
That’s why one reviewer of the Grand Illusion books can term them taut political thrillers while another rejects them as boring and unrealistic, why one person smiles knowingly when reading about a seemingly boring vote on agricultural subsidies or “incidental” appropriations and another puts down the book.
In the end, how interesting and exciting a book is – or isn’t – depends not just on the author, but also what the reader brings to the book… or doesn’t.
Each Reviewer and each Reader has their own Illusion of the what they read, what they see, and even what they Know.
Well sated on page 44 of Contrarian,
“What is…is. The Illusion is in our minds.”
And our minds read what our brains sense and have sensed, depending on memory and circumstance.
I just finished Contrarian: I enjoyed it a lot paticularly the parallels to our current politics and the insight as to how our Congress might work. I also realized – fairly early on – it’s not a trilogy: at least I hope it’s not. I have a couple of questions, if you don’t mind: why didn’t the Crafters rein in the Tribune like the Commercers did the Gestirn, esp. since the Tribune is burying facts? How did the Contrarians become known outside of the capital, with so few only local appearances? Finally, can you find a different word other that ‘sardonic’ & its various forms-it appears in one form or another on darn near every page of the book(s).
The Crafters still remember the evils of Commercer control; they’d rather not repeat them. Also, all the facts about Dekkard in the Tribune were in fact true, if highly mispresentative. As for the mentions of the Contrarians… it only takes a few appearances to create an image. I know. In one student demonstration in a college town in Massachusetts, three of us created a fictional organization that was referenced in national media with a single appearance. Yet two signs and three students in less than an hour once got that mention.
Your comments about “sardonic” are noted. The problem is that there’s no comparable synonym.
Rrgarding the Tribune, I kind figured that the Dekkard bits would be ignored for the rason you gave, but their coverage of the yacht incident did, imo, contain lies – at least sccording to what the Navy released. I really appreciate your promot reply. Not to sound too gushy, I love – & have every one of- your SF oeuvre – they’re on my re-read list. I also have several of your fantasy books, but I prefer the Grand Illusion in that area. I am hopeful the 4th book will arrive before too many years: I’m not getting any younger.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the series both for the political intrigue and for the rhythm of daily lives that is the background which makes the people seem real.
Are you ever going to expand or explain on the instances of Dekkard having “power” in his words and the several times when he sees the “essence” of people when they die or are traumatized?
Almost all amateur reviewers, and even some pros, tend to start from “I liked it” or not, as opposed to whether the work is representative of its type, is well-crafted, and so on.
I’m not objecting to that; it’s just that, unless they’re a more self-aware reviewer than average, they don’t state up front what their tastes are, so I can see if I share them.
I gave up on reviews a long time ago. I will sample an author’s works, and if I like what I am reading I will get more.
Poor writing usually shows in the first few chapters. Poor world-building and/or character development may take a little longer, but is generally obvious well before the end of the book.
Usually an author improves as they write more, but I have fallen upon a few that become repetitive or worse. When that happens…I quit buying.
I enjoyed it, even if some of it was uncomfortable (probably unavoidable in a story worth telling, but harder to take as the years go by).
I do appreciate that analogies between fantasy and reality are left to the reader, and not heavy-handed one way (or another). That’s also prudent, since half the country may still like your writing even if they would on some topics otherwise disagree with you.
I’m also hoping that the amount yet available for the characters to do, and a few things unexplained, leave the door open for another in the series.
Lee, once again you gave me a good time of escaping from reality, while also making me think about reality. Thank you. I agree with other comments that your social commentary comes very close, but you also help me see how money affects everything…
Glad I saw this thread last week as I lost track of when the next book was to be released. I just finished the Contrarian and loved it as much, or more than the prior two (which I reread earlier this year). Thanks for your continuing great work.
By the way, I never read any of the reviews. Like many folks once I find an author I like, I tend to read a lot of their works.