Reviews

The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish

juliabeaumont's review

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

thedoctorsaysrun's review against another edition

3.0

A somewhat interesting read, more as a curiosity than anything else for this proto-science fiction/fantasy novella written in 1666. However, the prose was was particularly dull and tedious.

kat_smith24's review against another edition

4.0

17th Century Science Fiction provides an insight to the science and understanding of the natural world surrounding it.

jojo_'s review

adventurous challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

figgy_pudding's review

adventurous challenging medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

I read it for my degree. For the degree this text poses interesting questions about history and literature but as a text away from that context I wouldn't really shout about it from the rooftops. - The colonial context in which it was written is unavoidable when you read it.

tshepiso's review

adventurous challenging lighthearted

4.0

To be perfectly frank The Blazing World is easily one of the weirdest books I've ever read. It's almost impossible to convey the balls to the wall weird energy on every page of the story. From our protagonist being taken to a world of animal-human hybrids (that I lovingly refer to as The Furry World) to Cavendish literally inserting herself into the story halfway through nothing in this book from the get-go goes in any trajectory anyone can predict.

Don't get me wrong, I understand perfectly well that The Blazing World is an exploration of natural sciences and philosophy through the lens of science fiction and utopian writing. But, because this novel isn't as self-serious as most philosophy I was drawn to the wackiness to be found on every page rather than Cavendish's theories on governance, reality, and science.

What I love about this book is you can tell Cavendish was having a grand time writing it. The text is so self-indulgent and gleeful. Every random aside we're taken on feels so joyful because you can sense the fun and freedom Cavendish felt while writing it. Cavendish thew everything and the kitchen sink into her wild fantasies and I loved it all the more for it.

If you ever read The Blazing Word don't come in expecting anything close to even partially resembling a novel by today's standard. But do expect a wild ride and a weird time.

doomdodo's review

3.0

I loved reading this. It's basically Cavendish theorizing about natural phenomena and commenting on previous scientist's theories. It is however a pretty horrible story as barely anything happens. It shouldn't be read as a novel, it should be read as a fun, fiction-infused essay.

_nems's review

3.0

feels a little unfinished. also this lady needs to learn to use full stops.

rthesquirrelgirl's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

amybirdy's review against another edition

3.0

Weeeeeeird, but interesting.