Big Cats

"   As soon as the daughter is ready to breed, she becomes a direct threat to the mother. " David Attenborough

Women As Demons - Tanith Lee

Last Summer I fancied reading something different. I chose a book of short stories by a British female author called Tanith Lee. I heard she came highly recommended, so rather than plough through a whole novel to find out if I agreed with this outlook, I took  my preferred route when I check out a new persons books, and decided on reading a selection of their short stories. I find this system works well as you get a good feel for whether they are your cup of tea.
    Opening the book I first see the dreaded " sf " logo. Im not a fan of science fiction. Then I see the phrase " Womens writer " and Im not feeling this book is going to be me at all. The reason I chose this collection of stories is because its selling point was how women are seen through the eyes of men. Tonight I was thinking the book was no such thing, but it is done so subtly that I didnt even spot any give aways, its that skillfully done. A woman's view of a woman can make a me smile inside and Tanith Lee understands how to do this.
   Firstly her science fiction writing is so fresh and overwhelmingly full of human emotion that you forget the science fiction setting. The science fiction compliments the stories and yet  raises more male / female scenarios. Im thinking You Are My Sunshine or Discovered Country .
   Tanith Lee is also a master of changing the perception of a story by adding an explosive line in the last paragraph that changes the whole meaning of what youve just read. The Truce is an excellent example. Two warring tribes cannot put aside their differences despite the future of human race being at stake. In the last paragraph we learn the two tribes are solely of men or women. They live separately, they dont put their differences aside. The human race is doomed ! Nice.
   There are a wide range of styles in this book. All are done well, and some chapters gave me that fuzzy feeling in my stomach. You know the one when a book moves you ? The last time I felt this was in Simon Iff In America, so thats quite an achievement.
   There is something organic and strange about her writing. There are hints of knowledge about magic and occult thinking too. Despite all this her writing is never heavy going, and a knowing nod is often given to the dance that occurs between our sexes. Its the way she weaves this into different genre's thats so impressive. If a book doesnt hold my attention I wont finish it. My reading span is short, twenty minutes or so.This book caused me a few cold baths as In was so engrossed in the characters outcomes ! I guess thats the mark of a good book. No ?