Elle reviewed Seven Devils by Elizabeth May
Lesbians in Space
4 stars
When asked when there would be enough women on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsberg famously replied, "When there are nine". I think the same reasoning can be applied to when there will be enough queer characters, and Seven Devils comes close, without it being the point of the novel. They incidentally just are, like any other characters and that feels wildly refreshing.
The first half of a space epic, Seven Devils has a loving balance between exposition, interpersonal relationships, and political intrigue. It jumps around in timelines, but in a way that is carefully organized, with background being introduced at appropriate times to flesh out characters motivations when it becomes relevant.
As with most well done sci-fi, the book comes with prescient social commentary abstracted into the realm of a space epic while still be applicable to today. Class and race dynamics are front-facing without it specifically …
When asked when there would be enough women on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsberg famously replied, "When there are nine". I think the same reasoning can be applied to when there will be enough queer characters, and Seven Devils comes close, without it being the point of the novel. They incidentally just are, like any other characters and that feels wildly refreshing.
The first half of a space epic, Seven Devils has a loving balance between exposition, interpersonal relationships, and political intrigue. It jumps around in timelines, but in a way that is carefully organized, with background being introduced at appropriate times to flesh out characters motivations when it becomes relevant.
As with most well done sci-fi, the book comes with prescient social commentary abstracted into the realm of a space epic while still be applicable to today. Class and race dynamics are front-facing without it specifically placing our world's current issues in the forefront. Combined with flawed, multi-dimensional characters manages to make a fantastical world feel grounded.
The writing is at times slightly stilted with some repetitive phrasing, but not to the point of being an issue. Perhaps the result of it being the first of two books, it concludes without any sort of satisfaction, and feels a bit lacking in particularly resonant emotional moments that given the everything else about the book that they ought be right at home. The few instances of comedic relief, while still welcome, almost feel out-of-place due to their infrequency.
My overall impression was that Seven Devils works as a slow burn that effectively draws the reader in over time, but ends at a frustrating point, not really designed to be read alone, despite having 456 hardcover pages to do so. Overall imperfect, but a worthwhile venture for anyone who could use some more human diversity in their sci-fi.