Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 21:11:54 -0700 From: Jennifer Krauel Subject: [*FSF-L*] BDG: The Falling Woman To: FEMINISTSF-LIT@UIC.EDU It's time to start talking about Pat Murphy's The Falling Woman. Note that this doesn't mean we have to stop talking about Nekropolis. This story, at least on the surface, is about an anthropologist who sees ghosts of the past (useful when they lead you to unmarked tombs) and her estranged daughter. Their reunion at a remote Mayan dig coincides with some pretty heavy special days on the ancient Mayan calendar, and a dead priestess looking for some revenge. Here are some questions to start the discussion: 1. Did you enjoy reading the book? Did you find the story engaging, the characters fleshed out, the dialog believable? 2. Did the ghost story work for you? What did you think of the ancient priestess? Do you think she was evil or not? 3. Did you find the interaction between the mother and daughter believable? Did it work for you? How about the other relationships? 4. What did you think of the climax of the story? 5. Would you like to be able to see ghosts like that? The interviews with McHugh on Nekropolis were so valuable I tried to find something for Falling Woman. Alas, it's been out so long that this was the only mention I could find: http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue175/interview.html Only a brief excerpt mentions Falling Woman: Q: The Brazen Hussies manifesto says that part of your mission is to bring lapsed science fiction readers back into the fold, kind of like Jesuits. Have you been successful in converting readers who thought science fiction and fantasy is just for kids? A: We've had some success in that regard. I've had folks tell me that they use The Falling Woman to convince people to give science fiction a try. They report that people read it and say, "But that's not science fiction." Well, it's not science fiction with rocketships and rayguns, but it certainly is science fiction. Let the discussion begin! Jennifer ========================================================================= Date: Fri, 9 May 2003 19:24:42 -0400 From: Gwen Veazey Subject: [*FSF-L*] Falling Woman To: FEMINISTSF-LIT@UIC.EDU > 1. Did you enjoy reading the book? Did you find the story engaging, the > characters fleshed out, the dialog believable? Yes, enjoyable, but not compelling due to the lack of narrative tension (until the last 100 pages or so.) I loved all the sensory details and careful, literary writing. I thought the strengths of _Falling Woman_ were its powerful setting/sense of place and the absolutely convincing characters. With the present-day and real nature of the setting, my response to the story often mirrored Elizabeth’s and Diane’s experience of alternate reality. Is this "real" as in a mainstream novel? Or is this speculative fiction? Believable dialog throughout except for some stilted interactions between Diane and Marcos. Perhaps intended? > 2. Did the ghost story work for you? What did you think of the ancient > priestess? Do you think she was evil or not? Well, I’m an agnostic on ghosts so they are the only thing making this novel speculative fiction. Evil? Maybe. The priestess was having to live with (and be dead with) a devastating decision. I understood her pain and twisted attempts at "correcting" things, bad though they were. > 3. Did you find the interaction between the mother and daughter > believable? Did it work for you? How about the other relationships? Yes, all believable. Although Elizabeth is not a traditionally likable kind of heroine, I could empathize with her. While reading this book, I was reminded of women I have met in the past as a pro-choice activist. I have never spoken to a woman who regretted having an abortion, but I have heard from several who regretted having children. (Obviously, readers are not supposed to assume Elizabeth "should" have had an abortion, but that issue arose for me. Can’t find a reference to how old Diane was, but with the story written-and set?- in mid-eighties, perhaps abortion was not a comfortable, safe option for Elizabeth at the time of her pregnancy, and my memory - always suspect- is that Elizabeth never even thought about it.) > 4. What did you think of the climax of the story? I enjoyed the inspirational, upbeat finale after some scary, dark foreshadowing. Who’s going to die in the cenote? Be stabbed with the ceremonial knife? Sorry to see Tony go. Was this for the plot? So he wouldn’t be the male savior? > 5. Would you like to be able to see ghosts like that? No! Although it would be nice to have answers to some of history’s mysteries. Thanks for recommending this book. I've heard about it for a long time, but never had the motivation to read it until now. Best, Gwen ========================================================================= Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 16:18:43 -0400 From: "Janice E. Dawley" Subject: [*FSF-L*] BDG: The Falling Woman To: FEMINISTSF-LIT@UIC.EDU I have had a copy of *The Falling Woman* on my book shelf for nearly 10 years, but had never read it before this book discussion. So thank you to Jennifer for spurring me to it at last. Unfortunately, I didn't like the book much. I felt the author tried too hard to be "literary" and atmospheric with the description and imagery (much of which was repetitious), and the result was that nothing happened for most of the book. It just wasn't very interesting. And when things did start happening, they weren't very plausible. I think I may have exclaimed aloud, "Oh, come on!" at the scene in which Elizabeth's crew tries to lift the stela and it is hit by lightning and breaks in two. I half expected Victor Frankenstein to step out of the trees and announce that all was going according to plan. Just too lurid and ridiculous, particularly in contrast to the preceding 180 pages. I did like the very end of the book, though. We've been expecting a horrible Lovecraftian ritual that will result in tragedy for the main characters, but the sacrifice of Zuhuy-kak's daughter is more sad than evilly thrilling. And the cycle of violence is reversed by Diane and Elizabeth, as daughter saves mother and comes to understand and value their shared "craziness". Up to that point, I had found the book to be more anti-woman than pro-. Zuhuy-kak came across pretty much like a scary witch, plotting to return her evil goddess religion to power. (The male-dominated religion that took its place seemed fairly evil, too, but it wasn't planning a comeback.) The native women, except for the curandera, were portrayed as hostile as well as superstitious, with no attempt to explain why. And all the women at the dig, except for damaged Elizabeth, really seemed to enjoy playing sexual power games with men. Ugh. The whole plot line of Diane's relationship with Marcos seemed not only frustrating, but distasteful as well. What was the point? Sorry if this late contribution to the discussion seems like a bunch of sour grapes, but I was really underwhelmed by *The Falling Woman*. Maybe the expectation that had built up over all those years was impossible to live up to! ----- Janice E. Dawley.....Burlington, VT http://therem.net/ Listening to: The Delgados -- Hate "I've built my white picket fence around the Now, with a commanding view of the Soon-to-Be." -- The Tick