vilakins | Bujold's 'Beguilement'

I am about a third through Lois McMaster Bujold's first book in the Sharing Knife series, Beguilement and I'm not enjoying it anywhere near as much as her others.

First of all, this appears to be little more than a romance. If I wanted to read romances, I would. I don't mind a bit in my SF or fantasy--Bujold's handled it fairly well in the past and her woman are usually satisfyingly intelligent and strong (despite her slight obsession with their main calling being reproduction)--but this has a bit of fantasy embedded in the romance. I'm also not at all happy with the power imbalance in the relationship between an ignorant and rather silly girl of 20, not much more than a child in looks and thinking, and a man twice her size and age who is very experienced in life and past loves, tough, and has skills and senses she does not. I do like the idea of the malices and the Lakewalkers' groundsense, but once again we have a medieval world complete with farmers and inns and villages. Can't magic or fantasy survive in any other society? It reminds me of the Atlantis episode in which Ronon doesn't realise he's been to a village before because they all look the same. ;-)

So anyway, those of you who've read Beguilement, does it get any better, and is the sequel worth getting from the library?

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In one sense, yes, it is primarily a romance, but I did like the characters. I like how the "ignorant and rather silly girl of 20" keeps on asking questions, keeps on learning. I like how the "man twice her size and age" who thinks he's past falling in love, does fall in love with her. But I do like his kind of character, and you might not.

I do like the idea of the malices and the Lakewalkers' groundsense,

So did I. We do find out more about them, but in dribs and drabs.

but once again we have a medieval world complete with farmers and inns and villages.

There is actually a reason for the farmers and stunted tech, though I can't remember if it was mentioned in this book or the next book.

I can't really advise you greatly, because if you loathe the characters (which I didn't) then there's no point for you in continuing.

Oh, I don't loathe the characters. I do like Dag a lot (despite his unfortunate name) and Fawn is bright and clever and quick despite her ignorance and past stupid behaviour. I just don't think it's an equal pairing and this bothers me.

So it's a romance. Well, I suppose 'Cordelia's Honor' was too, but it had a lot more action and tech, and Cordelia was truly kick-arse. I'll keep reading because it's very well-written, but the power imbalance had better even out because right now it's uncomfortably like a twisted father/child relationship.

But hey, Cazaril took a long time to grow on me (and then he really did) and I liked Dag straight away.

There is actually a reason for the farmers and stunted tech, though I can't remember if it was mentioned in this book or the next book.

OK, that sounds interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, but then I enjoy romance. I didn't think it was her best ever, a little slight, but I assume the next few books will expand and deepen things. (Though I do want more Cazaril!) I like the relationship between Dag (yes, very unfortunate name) and Fawn, and found more balance in it: I think because Dag has spent many years "shut down" emotionally, and is disconcerted at the effect Fawn is having on him - whereas Fawn is instinctive and unforced in her emotional reactions.

There is a scene towards the end of the book that had a lot of personal resonance for me, but as I don't think you're there yet I won't go into more detail yet.

On the setting: when a friend pointed out in his review that there are strong hints of a quite precise American setting, I became a lot more interested. I ran his point past a friend who is a scholar of Native American history and she had some very interesting things to say about that: I can link to her post when you're done with the book, if you like.

Perhaps they will become more equals as the book goes on. I can see why she's be attracted to Dag, but not what he sees in her--besides a bright little spark, of course.

I'd like the link, thanks. I shall probably finish the book this week, and you've given me hope that there will be a little more meat to it.

What I think Bujold is good on - and what I think is at work between Dag and Fawn - is the force of physical compatability.

Here (http://nhw.livejournal.com/798461.html)'s the original review that got me thinking on these lines, and here (http://eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com/161125.html?thread=1763173#t1763173)'s the brief discussion I had with my friend. Hold off until you've read the book, but food for thought.

Thanks; I will! :-)

OK, I've read the book and these links. It did occur to me that the world is very American (like Barrayar is Russian, Challion is sort of AU Spanish and the land north of it Germanic) but I didn't make see the Lakewalkers as native Americans, perhaps because they were described as the one who had the tech and the civilisation that fell. Perhaps they're darker skinned because they're a mix of US races far in the future, but in that case, why are the farmers white? European transplants? Their names are similar (taken from nature, though Dag's mother can't have thought much of him as a baby) so that wasn't much of a clue. The Lakewalkers have a more attractive (to me) society because it has a place for women; the Farmers are the usual boring medieval society we get in every fantasy and on most worlds encountered via Stargate. [rolls eyes]

It still needs to have more non-romance stuff to hook me. OK, I'm probably an anomaly because I don't care much about pairings unlike most females and fanfic writers, but I'll give the second one a go because I'd like to read more about Dag's people and how the world got that way. I hope.

I didn't make see the Lakewalkers as native Americans, perhaps because they were described as the one who had the tech and the civilisation that fell

That's a fair point. They reminded me a lot of Tolkien's Rangers in that way. I'm hoping for more about them too.

So far I haven't liked any of her fantasy I do like her Barryar universe though.
Ouch to the characters, it sounds like a Barnara Cartland set up!

There are fantasies out there that have a more advanced setting than Ye Dark Ages.
Temeraire for instance (I do like dragons! Roland Garrett's Darcy series is another (great if you like detective stories too)

Sorry Barbara Cartland (I have an earache and it's affecting my coordination - I hate typos)

You can edit comments now provided no one's answered in the meantime. :-)

You can if you are a paid account member, us freebooters have yet to be accorded the privilege

Ah. I didn't realise it wasn't universal.

I have actually enjoyed her previous Challion series, though it took me a while to get into the first one. They had an interesting (if medieval once again) world and I really liked their gods setup. Also having a middle-aged woman as the star of the second one was both refreshing and fascinating.

I have the Darcy series listed to read, and the Dresden Files too which are also set in a AU modern world with magic, I believe. The latter started on TV this week but I missed it so I'll have to download it. :-P

Bujold's 'Beguilement'

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