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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
impressive when you consider the context, profoundly boring when you don't.
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I found 'The Contract' and 'Assaulted and Pursued Chastity' to be of more interest than the main story 'The Blazing World'. 'Blazing World' was repetitive with lists after lists. It started with an idea of a utopia, then it went forward with a plot that did not keep my interest. All three stories contained the same themes of a young damsel soon to be saved by some man, whether through a husband or father figure. It was interesting that a woman writer during Cavendish's time would stick to this idea instead of having more independent women characters.
Loved the idea of reading a proto-science fiction book and loved the animal people and the submarines, the pages of philosophizing was not to my taste. The romance stories that went before The Blazing World were fun, if also not particularly to my taste. Loved seeing the foundations of the genre I love.
I've only read The Blazing World. A Sci-fi from 1666 and by a woman! Safe to say I was intruiged to read this when I found it. It was very cool to read a Sci-fi from 1666, didn't know the genre started so early, not sure if there is even earlier Sci fi stories out there. It had some really cool elements but didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted but I'm glad I had this experience
for class. interesting philosophical/scientific questions and explanations for the time period, and fascinating depiction of woman friendships, but wow. colonialism 101. still, better than utopia.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very Christian and pro-monarchy. However, also lro learning, sharing knowledge, and using science for good. Very full of 17th century philosophy which can be tiresome. The spiritual and "platonic" sould sharing seemed very gay coded. Also the utopian dream ending seemed like a interdimensional polycule.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Kidnapping
Such a fascinating book! It's really interesting to see how this inspired the science-fiction genre - Cavendish is so full of ideas. The writing is pretty incoherent, but the content makes up for it!