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aberdeenwaters's review against another edition
4.0
The stories aren't the most engaging, but the writing is really good! I liked the concept of the novel ("the pope knew that if people used electricity, they'd be drawn to the atom!") This was originally going to be 3 stars, but the final 80 pages or so bumped it up.
suzemo's review
3.0
I wanted to read this because I know it's an early (first?) ancestor of the whole steampunk genre/style. I have also heard several references to it and wanted to check it out.
This novel is structured like a Pavane - 6 measures and a Coda as 6 short stories with a coda.
The stories take place in an alternate universe where Queen Elizabeth was assassinated, allowing Philip of Spain (and the Roman Catholic Church) to take over most of the world. The Protestants were quashed on the continent, and America is only mentioned and seems to be rather isolationist. These stories take place in modern times, but thanks to the stranglehold by the Church, science and technology have floundered and we're only at the technological level of semaphores and steam engines. The stories physically take place in England.
As for the stories:
The first was "The Lady Margaret," which is the foundation short story where a steam engine haulier has interactions with a lady love and a friend from his college days (all after the death of his father; who was the patriarch of the family business). I actually quite liked this story, I found it interesting.
Second was "The Signaller," which covered how a boy became an apprentice signaller (signallers were incredibly important and highly thought of, if not exactly trusted, in this steam-industrial world where science is kept at bay by the Church).
Third was The White Boat," which I thought was weak and it was not well connected (and not directly connected) with the other short stories. I don't feel like it really gave me any information about the universe taking place in the book. It was about a discontented fisher-girl who became obsessed and eventually stowed away on a mysterious yacht.
Fourth was "Brother John," which involved an artistic monk who was sent to record the stories of the Inquisition (I already forget what they called it, there was an alternate name, but it was most definitely the Inquisition); he discovers that he enjoys the torture and goes mad and inadvertently(?) starts a rebellion.
Fifth was "Lords and Ladies," which involves Margaret, the niece of the main character in the first story, she shares the story of how she met and had a relationship with the local aristocrat.
And last (sixth) was "Corfe Gate," the main character is the daughter of Margaret, and she becomes involved with/starts a regional rebellion. The actions of the Church, the King of England, and possible repercussions are explored.
The "Coda" is set further in the future and features the son of a character (not the aristocrat) from the previous novel; it discusses some of what's been going on "behind the scenes" of the world told about in the previous stories. I did not enjoy this one very much, even if it did give a sense of closure/completion to some of the set up in the rest of the short stories.
Overall, it was well written. I was not "into" a few of the stories, but the novel/collection is short and sweet and interesting.
This novel is structured like a Pavane - 6 measures and a Coda as 6 short stories with a coda.
The stories take place in an alternate universe where Queen Elizabeth was assassinated, allowing Philip of Spain (and the Roman Catholic Church) to take over most of the world. The Protestants were quashed on the continent, and America is only mentioned and seems to be rather isolationist. These stories take place in modern times, but thanks to the stranglehold by the Church, science and technology have floundered and we're only at the technological level of semaphores and steam engines. The stories physically take place in England.
As for the stories:
The first was "The Lady Margaret," which is the foundation short story where a steam engine haulier has interactions with a lady love and a friend from his college days (all after the death of his father; who was the patriarch of the family business). I actually quite liked this story, I found it interesting.
Second was "The Signaller," which covered how a boy became an apprentice signaller (signallers were incredibly important and highly thought of, if not exactly trusted, in this steam-industrial world where science is kept at bay by the Church).
Third was The White Boat," which I thought was weak and it was not well connected (and not directly connected) with the other short stories. I don't feel like it really gave me any information about the universe taking place in the book. It was about a discontented fisher-girl who became obsessed and eventually stowed away on a mysterious yacht.
Fourth was "Brother John," which involved an artistic monk who was sent to record the stories of the Inquisition (I already forget what they called it, there was an alternate name, but it was most definitely the Inquisition); he discovers that he enjoys the torture and goes mad and inadvertently(?) starts a rebellion.
Fifth was "Lords and Ladies," which involves Margaret, the niece of the main character in the first story, she shares the story of how she met and had a relationship with the local aristocrat.
And last (sixth) was "Corfe Gate," the main character is the daughter of Margaret, and she becomes involved with/starts a regional rebellion. The actions of the Church, the King of England, and possible repercussions are explored.
The "Coda" is set further in the future and features the son of a character (not the aristocrat) from the previous novel; it discusses some of what's been going on "behind the scenes" of the world told about in the previous stories. I did not enjoy this one very much, even if it did give a sense of closure/completion to some of the set up in the rest of the short stories.
Overall, it was well written. I was not "into" a few of the stories, but the novel/collection is short and sweet and interesting.
kingazaz's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is a masterpiece. An unblinking and seamless vision of an England that could have been, impeccable in realization, undeniable in power. If you let it, it will swallow you whole, chew you up, and spit you back out tearstained and wanting to go home, but not quite knowing where that is
tsharris's review
4.0
Understandably regarded as a classic, not necessarily because its alternate history scenario is so plausible or richly imagined - I found his "Catholic Church prevails and stops progress" scenario not all that compelling - but because the individual portraits in these short stories are so compelling. This is far better written than most genre fiction, although the writing was a bit opaque at times. Also, as some reviewers have noted, the "Coda" is problematic, in that it reframes the entire book as a parable about science, progress, and nuclear warfare.
chrismacilzeg's review
5.0
Oft cited alongside Lest Darkness Fall and Bring the Jubilee as one of the all-time great alternate histories, Pavane is set in a world where Great Britain is part of the New Roman Empire and the Catholic church has a stranglehold over the West as a whole.
Structurally, Pavane isn't quite a novel nor is it a collection of novellas. It walks a line between both - six interconnected stories that slowly unveil a world both recogniseable and otherwise. Each story is self-contained enough to be enjoyed alone, from small, quiet stories of people living lonely lives to tales of rebellion and civil warfare. Together, they weave a spellbinding tapestry of power, religion, tradition and technology.
Although there are recurring characters in a few of the stories, the through-line is expressed in the world. The smaller stories take place against a world that is changing slowly, and each story exposed different elements of that world. In each story the nature of the setting is important to both the plot and the characters, and as with the best world building they both seem extensions of the world itself, whilst remaining individually interesting.
The tales within Pavane are more in line with historical or period pieces, compared to any sci-fi or fantastical plot lines. All of the speculative elements are not confined to the world however. Traditional folk lore is worked into the story in subtle ways that leave the precise nature of the world ambiguous. They help bring together both the tension of new versus old, whilst also blurring the divisions between the two. It is the foreign powers that is keeping Britain all but feudal, but even more ancient ideas religion and spirituality in Britain remain.
At its heart, however, is the characters and their emotional journeys. The setting and all of its atmosphere are backdrops to stories of lonelines and tragedy. At their best they are bittersweet, with a dash of pathos scattered throughout. The Signaller and The White Lady, specifically, were my favourite of the novellas.
Stylistically, Roberts takes his time. He isn't rushed. The writing is detailed. To get the most out of this novel you have to be ready to sink into a story full of detail and often slow to get going. In most cases that would make the writing too stiff and dry, but Roberts imbues it with a sense of melancholy and wistfulness.
Pavane is a beautifully written and evocative book. Highly, highly recommended.
Originally posted on my blog: https://ty-real.blogspot.co.uk/
Structurally, Pavane isn't quite a novel nor is it a collection of novellas. It walks a line between both - six interconnected stories that slowly unveil a world both recogniseable and otherwise. Each story is self-contained enough to be enjoyed alone, from small, quiet stories of people living lonely lives to tales of rebellion and civil warfare. Together, they weave a spellbinding tapestry of power, religion, tradition and technology.
Although there are recurring characters in a few of the stories, the through-line is expressed in the world. The smaller stories take place against a world that is changing slowly, and each story exposed different elements of that world. In each story the nature of the setting is important to both the plot and the characters, and as with the best world building they both seem extensions of the world itself, whilst remaining individually interesting.
The tales within Pavane are more in line with historical or period pieces, compared to any sci-fi or fantastical plot lines. All of the speculative elements are not confined to the world however. Traditional folk lore is worked into the story in subtle ways that leave the precise nature of the world ambiguous. They help bring together both the tension of new versus old, whilst also blurring the divisions between the two. It is the foreign powers that is keeping Britain all but feudal, but even more ancient ideas religion and spirituality in Britain remain.
At its heart, however, is the characters and their emotional journeys. The setting and all of its atmosphere are backdrops to stories of lonelines and tragedy. At their best they are bittersweet, with a dash of pathos scattered throughout. The Signaller and The White Lady, specifically, were my favourite of the novellas.
Stylistically, Roberts takes his time. He isn't rushed. The writing is detailed. To get the most out of this novel you have to be ready to sink into a story full of detail and often slow to get going. In most cases that would make the writing too stiff and dry, but Roberts imbues it with a sense of melancholy and wistfulness.
Pavane is a beautifully written and evocative book. Highly, highly recommended.
Originally posted on my blog: https://ty-real.blogspot.co.uk/
maria_pulver's review
4.0
***SPOILERS***
The book repeats the structure of the dance: six moves of the pavane and coda.
I loved the moves and hated the coda, hated it for real.
The six moves are six different, somewhat interlinked stories, that describe a future, where there the Roman Catholic Church held its power into the twentieth century and kept its Dark ages views and practices including inquisition, feudal society and veto on science advances. A simple yet powerful narration successfully describes such a future singling out individuals that can't find answers to various "why" questions. It seems, that the book is full of humanism, that is pro-science and in general states that stagnation is never a good thing.
However, the coda reverses this impression, as it justifies the actions of the church by saying that they were justified. Were the church not acting in such a way, there would be all sorts of atrocities caused by the rapid advance of science and not sufficient advance of philosophy and morals. The coda claims that the Holocaust, the entire WWII, among other terrible event were prevented by withholding technological advance till the moment when morals became adequate.
I will spare my breath and won't argue that the Holy Inquisition was no better, than Holocaust, or that women dying in childbirth for centuries are as much victims as those killed in WWII bombings. Instead I'll refer you to one of the books that guides me when it comes to looking for the moral ground: [b:Hard to Be a God|759517|Hard to Be a God|Arkady Strugatsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425850190s/759517.jpg|41364467]. It says something very basic: even if you think you know better, and you're in position to enforce your decision on others without their knowledge and without asking for their opinion or without giving them a chance to act on their own behalf, you're clearly in the wrong. You may be doing some good, but you're doing a lot of evil by denying people their choice and turning them to puppets.
The book repeats the structure of the dance: six moves of the pavane and coda.
I loved the moves and hated the coda, hated it for real.
The six moves are six different, somewhat interlinked stories, that describe a future, where there the Roman Catholic Church held its power into the twentieth century and kept its Dark ages views and practices including inquisition, feudal society and veto on science advances. A simple yet powerful narration successfully describes such a future singling out individuals that can't find answers to various "why" questions. It seems, that the book is full of humanism, that is pro-science and in general states that stagnation is never a good thing.
However, the coda reverses this impression, as it justifies the actions of the church by saying that they were justified. Were the church not acting in such a way, there would be all sorts of atrocities caused by the rapid advance of science and not sufficient advance of philosophy and morals. The coda claims that the Holocaust, the entire WWII, among other terrible event were prevented by withholding technological advance till the moment when morals became adequate.
I will spare my breath and won't argue that the Holy Inquisition was no better, than Holocaust, or that women dying in childbirth for centuries are as much victims as those killed in WWII bombings. Instead I'll refer you to one of the books that guides me when it comes to looking for the moral ground: [b:Hard to Be a God|759517|Hard to Be a God|Arkady Strugatsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425850190s/759517.jpg|41364467]. It says something very basic: even if you think you know better, and you're in position to enforce your decision on others without their knowledge and without asking for their opinion or without giving them a chance to act on their own behalf, you're clearly in the wrong. You may be doing some good, but you're doing a lot of evil by denying people their choice and turning them to puppets.
ornithopter1's review
1.0
DNF. Painstaking (and DULL) in its detail. No clear purpose in its various vignettes of an alternate history's society. No clear theme. No questions (other than, 'what is the point of all this?'). No answers. I was utterly unengaged with it. Read beyond the halfway point and still found nothing of interest. That makes two DNFs in a row for me - something I never imagined doing before.
indianajane's review
2.0
This is a murky book. I felt like I had to spend a way too much mental energy trying to figure out what was going on.