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3.0 AVERAGE
3.0 AVERAGE
There's not much in this except for a certain confidently smug showing off of the beliefs of a typical English gentry-person of the seventeenth century, but it is remarkable that such a thing, couched in this super-imaginative sci. fi. veneer, exists at all. It is remarkable enough and, mercifully, short enough--to keep the novelty from wearing too thin for one to get to the end.
It did make me pause to consider if my own literary works manage to supersede the confidently smug beliefs of my culture, class, belief system, and historical moment to create something resembling a worthwhile work of art. Time will tell, I suppose.
It did make me pause to consider if my own literary works manage to supersede the confidently smug beliefs of my culture, class, belief system, and historical moment to create something resembling a worthwhile work of art. Time will tell, I suppose.
challenging
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I was interested in reading Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World (1666) as an early example of feminist science fiction — a precursor to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) — and an oft-cited example of early utopian, speculative and interstitial fiction.
Editor Kate Lilley calls The Blazing World, "...a narrative of the liberty of the female soul and the emancipatory possibilities of utopian speculation and writing specifically for women."
It starts off with an intriguing story. A woman who is abducted and then shipwrecked lands in a fantasy world populated by bear, fox and bird-men and becomes their Empress. It made me think of China Miéville's Bas Lag fantasy world populated by a mish mash of animal and insect men, so I was gratified to find that Miéville references Cavendish in his books Kraken and Un Lun Dun and to find this article "Trans-speciation: From Margaret Cavendish to China Miéville" by Amardeep Singh at The Valve, A Literary Organ.
The middle of the story lost interest for me. There is a long section of back and forth dialogue with philosophical discourse between the Empress and her various subjects (bird, bear and fish-men etc.). Without the effort of a closer reading or knowledge of 17th century discussions of the day, I found this hard to follow and skimmed much of it. In his introduction to a sample of the work in The Faber Book of Utopias, editor John Carey calls The Blazing World "tedious and rambling" and this section in particular "loquaciously unenlightening."
However, the end caught me up again in Cavendish's marvelous meta discussion. She appears as a character in the story and discusses creating worlds in fiction with the Empress.
The "and other writings" are two stories that appeared in Cavendish's publication Nature's Pieces (1656) "The Contract" and "Assaulted and Pursued Chastity." "The Contract" reads a bit like a fairy tale romance with the protagonist rather more empowered but the happily ever after marriage ending intact.
"Assaulted and Pursued Chastity," was fascinating. Our heroine, (Miseria, Affectionata, Travelia — her name changes throughout) goes to extremes to protect her virtue. She shoots a prince, takes poison but is revived, and then dresses as a man and escapes aboard a ship.
It was a great choice by Lilley to include these two works. They gave me a greater appreciation for The Blazing World and better understanding of Cavendish's perspective.
Cavendish is a fascinating personality and prolific writer. At a time in which it was rare for women to publish and sign their works, Cavendish put herself forward as an author. Like the Lady Gaga of her time, she was an eccentric in dress and action who sought and achieved fame. She wished for her writing to make its mark and has succeeded with writers from Virginia Woolf to China Miéville, if critically, noting her contribution. I'm a fan — and interested in learning more about her life, work, and the era in which she lived.
Pairs well with:
China Miéville's Un Lun Dun, Perdido Street Station and The Scar; Virginia Woolf's The Common Reader and A Room of One's Own; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland; and The Faber Book of Utopias.
Quotes:
"But your creating Fancy, thought it fit
To make your World of Nothing, but pure Wit.
Your Blazing-world, beyond the Stars mounts higher,
Enlightens all with a Celestial Fire."
— William Cavendish
"...although I have neither power, time nor occasion to conquer the world as Alexander and Caesar did; yet rather than not be mistress of one...I have made a world of my own: for which no body, I hope, will blame me, since it is in every one's power to do the like." — Margaret Cavendish
"What a vision of loneliness and riot the thought of Margaret Cavendish brings to mind! as if some giant cucumber has spread itself over all the roses and carnations in the garden and choked them to death." — Virginia Woolf on Margaret Cavendish in A Room of One's Own
"Nevertheless, though her philosophies are futile, and her plays intolerable, and her verses mainly dull, the vast bulk of the Duchess is leavened by a vein of authentic fire. One cannot help following the lure of her erratic and lovable personality as it meanders and twinkles through page after page. There is something noble and Quixotic and high-spirited, as well as crack-brained and bird-witted, about her. Her simplicity is so open; her intelligence so active; her sympathy with fairies and animals so true and tender." — Virginia Woolf on Margaret Cavendish in The Common Reader
Of note:
Cavendish has also been claimed as an early animal advocate and opponent of animal testing.
Editor Kate Lilley calls The Blazing World, "...a narrative of the liberty of the female soul and the emancipatory possibilities of utopian speculation and writing specifically for women."
It starts off with an intriguing story. A woman who is abducted and then shipwrecked lands in a fantasy world populated by bear, fox and bird-men and becomes their Empress. It made me think of China Miéville's Bas Lag fantasy world populated by a mish mash of animal and insect men, so I was gratified to find that Miéville references Cavendish in his books Kraken and Un Lun Dun and to find this article "Trans-speciation: From Margaret Cavendish to China Miéville" by Amardeep Singh at The Valve, A Literary Organ.
The middle of the story lost interest for me. There is a long section of back and forth dialogue with philosophical discourse between the Empress and her various subjects (bird, bear and fish-men etc.). Without the effort of a closer reading or knowledge of 17th century discussions of the day, I found this hard to follow and skimmed much of it. In his introduction to a sample of the work in The Faber Book of Utopias, editor John Carey calls The Blazing World "tedious and rambling" and this section in particular "loquaciously unenlightening."
However, the end caught me up again in Cavendish's marvelous meta discussion. She appears as a character in the story and discusses creating worlds in fiction with the Empress.
The "and other writings" are two stories that appeared in Cavendish's publication Nature's Pieces (1656) "The Contract" and "Assaulted and Pursued Chastity." "The Contract" reads a bit like a fairy tale romance with the protagonist rather more empowered but the happily ever after marriage ending intact.
"Assaulted and Pursued Chastity," was fascinating. Our heroine, (Miseria, Affectionata, Travelia — her name changes throughout) goes to extremes to protect her virtue. She shoots a prince, takes poison but is revived, and then dresses as a man and escapes aboard a ship.
It was a great choice by Lilley to include these two works. They gave me a greater appreciation for The Blazing World and better understanding of Cavendish's perspective.
Cavendish is a fascinating personality and prolific writer. At a time in which it was rare for women to publish and sign their works, Cavendish put herself forward as an author. Like the Lady Gaga of her time, she was an eccentric in dress and action who sought and achieved fame. She wished for her writing to make its mark and has succeeded with writers from Virginia Woolf to China Miéville, if critically, noting her contribution. I'm a fan — and interested in learning more about her life, work, and the era in which she lived.
Pairs well with:
China Miéville's Un Lun Dun, Perdido Street Station and The Scar; Virginia Woolf's The Common Reader and A Room of One's Own; Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland; and The Faber Book of Utopias.
Quotes:
"But your creating Fancy, thought it fit
To make your World of Nothing, but pure Wit.
Your Blazing-world, beyond the Stars mounts higher,
Enlightens all with a Celestial Fire."
— William Cavendish
"...although I have neither power, time nor occasion to conquer the world as Alexander and Caesar did; yet rather than not be mistress of one...I have made a world of my own: for which no body, I hope, will blame me, since it is in every one's power to do the like." — Margaret Cavendish
"What a vision of loneliness and riot the thought of Margaret Cavendish brings to mind! as if some giant cucumber has spread itself over all the roses and carnations in the garden and choked them to death." — Virginia Woolf on Margaret Cavendish in A Room of One's Own
"Nevertheless, though her philosophies are futile, and her plays intolerable, and her verses mainly dull, the vast bulk of the Duchess is leavened by a vein of authentic fire. One cannot help following the lure of her erratic and lovable personality as it meanders and twinkles through page after page. There is something noble and Quixotic and high-spirited, as well as crack-brained and bird-witted, about her. Her simplicity is so open; her intelligence so active; her sympathy with fairies and animals so true and tender." — Virginia Woolf on Margaret Cavendish in The Common Reader
Of note:
Cavendish has also been claimed as an early animal advocate and opponent of animal testing.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Obra popularmente conocida por ser la primera novela de ciencia ficción escrita por una mujer. Un libro muy completo, con muchos matices y temas distintos que obligan a una aproximación más académica que literaria. Como obra novelesca el estilo es bastante tosco, pero el trabajo imaginativo detrás del mundo, las perspectivas sobre cómo se desarrolla uno desde cero y las implicaciones que tienen las palabras de la autora sobre el proceso autorial para mí han merecido la pena.
Destaca la parte del libro dedicada a debatir con las distintas academias científicas del Mundo Resplandeciente. Ver personajes discutiendo naturaleza, leyes y procesos fantásticos a nivel académico es algo muy poco común en mi experiencia, y creo que es una práctica que podría enriquecer la scifi y fantasía con el tono correcto. Es también interesante la invasión de Not-UK, por dedicar tantas páginas a tácticas de guerra que acaban por leerse como crueles en lo que pretende ser un argumento a favor del absolutismo. Y sin ser yo familiar con el punto de vista de Maggie al respecto del amor entre mujeres y el poliamor, pues ella es muy cristiana y muy noble, el libro también tiene momentos bastante románticos que justifica como "amores platónicos" pero que con la perspectiva actual toman una lectura mucho más interesante.
Por último, destacar la cuidada edición que ha hecho Siruela en nuestro idioma, cuya introducción he encontrado bastante completa, bien escrita y de utilidad para percibir los temas principales de la obra.
No lo recomiendo para pasar una tarde, pero es una pieza académica muy interesante.
Destaca la parte del libro dedicada a debatir con las distintas academias científicas del Mundo Resplandeciente. Ver personajes discutiendo naturaleza, leyes y procesos fantásticos a nivel académico es algo muy poco común en mi experiencia, y creo que es una práctica que podría enriquecer la scifi y fantasía con el tono correcto. Es también interesante la invasión de Not-UK, por dedicar tantas páginas a tácticas de guerra que acaban por leerse como crueles en lo que pretende ser un argumento a favor del absolutismo. Y sin ser yo familiar con el punto de vista de Maggie al respecto del amor entre mujeres y el poliamor, pues ella es muy cristiana y muy noble, el libro también tiene momentos bastante románticos que justifica como "amores platónicos" pero que con la perspectiva actual toman una lectura mucho más interesante.
Por último, destacar la cuidada edición que ha hecho Siruela en nuestro idioma, cuya introducción he encontrado bastante completa, bien escrita y de utilidad para percibir los temas principales de la obra.
No lo recomiendo para pasar una tarde, pero es una pieza académica muy interesante.
"I have often wished that I could have been a prince, to have a kingdom, and to rule over a people; and though I am not a prince, I can yet rule over my own thoughts, and that is a kingdom no man can take from me."
"For to be a woman, is to be like a ship that sails through the tempest, and doth at last find a harbor of peace."
Reading The Blazing World and Other Writings by Margaret Cavendish felt like stepping into a visionary landscape where the boundaries of reality and imagination dissolve. As a writer, Cavendish’s work is a bold exploration of science, philosophy, and feminism, and this collection showcases her distinctive voice in a powerful way.
The central piece, The Blazing World, is a pioneering work of science fiction, and Cavendish’s vision of a utopian world is as engaging as it is ahead of its time. Through a blend of philosophy and adventure, the story follows a heroine who travels to a parallel world, discovering a society governed by rational thought, where women have full autonomy and power. Cavendish’s reflection on gender, power, and autonomy is revolutionary, especially considering the historical context in which she was writing.
What makes Cavendish’s work stand out is not just her imaginative plots, but her fearless critique of the social norms of her time. She questions gender roles, the limitations placed on women, and the structures of power in a society that is meant to be liberated. Her writing is unapologetically speculative and intellectual, yet deeply human in its portrayal of characters, making it both thought-provoking and surprisingly relatable.
The prose, while reflecting the style of her era, is marked by a clarity and intelligence that feels timeless. Cavendish’s ability to weave philosophy, critique, and fantasy together makes her an enduring figure in early feminist and science fiction literature.
I rated this collection highly not only for the depth of its content but also for the way Cavendish, often overlooked in literary history, manages to speak across centuries with remarkable relevance. Her works invite us to examine our own society critically, to question the established order, and to imagine worlds where the rules of reality are bent to suit the needs of the imagination.
If you enjoy works that challenge traditional thought, merge intellectual rigour with imaginative narratives, and explore the complexities of gender and power, this is a must-read. It’s a brilliant reminder of why Cavendish’s voice continues to be an essential part of literary history.
"For to be a woman, is to be like a ship that sails through the tempest, and doth at last find a harbor of peace."
Reading The Blazing World and Other Writings by Margaret Cavendish felt like stepping into a visionary landscape where the boundaries of reality and imagination dissolve. As a writer, Cavendish’s work is a bold exploration of science, philosophy, and feminism, and this collection showcases her distinctive voice in a powerful way.
The central piece, The Blazing World, is a pioneering work of science fiction, and Cavendish’s vision of a utopian world is as engaging as it is ahead of its time. Through a blend of philosophy and adventure, the story follows a heroine who travels to a parallel world, discovering a society governed by rational thought, where women have full autonomy and power. Cavendish’s reflection on gender, power, and autonomy is revolutionary, especially considering the historical context in which she was writing.
What makes Cavendish’s work stand out is not just her imaginative plots, but her fearless critique of the social norms of her time. She questions gender roles, the limitations placed on women, and the structures of power in a society that is meant to be liberated. Her writing is unapologetically speculative and intellectual, yet deeply human in its portrayal of characters, making it both thought-provoking and surprisingly relatable.
The prose, while reflecting the style of her era, is marked by a clarity and intelligence that feels timeless. Cavendish’s ability to weave philosophy, critique, and fantasy together makes her an enduring figure in early feminist and science fiction literature.
I rated this collection highly not only for the depth of its content but also for the way Cavendish, often overlooked in literary history, manages to speak across centuries with remarkable relevance. Her works invite us to examine our own society critically, to question the established order, and to imagine worlds where the rules of reality are bent to suit the needs of the imagination.
If you enjoy works that challenge traditional thought, merge intellectual rigour with imaginative narratives, and explore the complexities of gender and power, this is a must-read. It’s a brilliant reminder of why Cavendish’s voice continues to be an essential part of literary history.
this was so funny she was just writing self insert fan fic