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A review by liviajelliot
Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Far Removed is a powerful, grand but personal sci-fi/fantasy with themes of power, societal expectations, identity, and changing circumstances. It is told in a polished, succinct yet beautiful prose, and from the PoV of two compelling yet wildly different characters.
In terms of setting and worldbuilding, this gets incredibly detailed while never being overwhelming. Lansdell has crafted a unique, distinctive race—the knyads—whose social and political structure has deep implications for the plot. However, all of this is presented in a straightforward way, though bits woven into the plot events. It is a pleasure to read because, beyond progressing through the plot, we're also discovering this unique society.
To know more about the knyad society, I'd definitely recommend picking up her novelette The Tidelings of Dras Sayve. It's not a prerequisite reading but it adds a lot of depth. However, The novelette is far darker than Far Removed.
In terms of plot and expectations, I found this to be quite a curious read. It begins as a clearly political plot, with a setup that seems to be large scale and with the potential to affect a lot of characters. However, as the story progresses (especially around the halfway mark), this takes a turn to be a more personal story.
To explain that, I'll review the PoVs and characters. We basically follow Oklas (a Deputy Minister) and Prismer (a low-cast low-rank worker). It seems from the start, that both are quite entrenched in their ways, positions, and world-views—but the plot challenges that, playing with the character's agency in a way that's real-life and shocking. It is done superbly, and the more the story progresses, the more Oklas and Prismer jump from the pages with their very human-like (or knyad-like in this case?) reactions.
Now, something to note with regards to character progression here are the content warnings. Although the story is <i>never</i> explicit, some harsh themes and moments are expertly presented and that made it far more terrifying and realistic. I'll explain in spoilers.
One key theme in the book is mutilation, in particular, disfigurement, and body dysmorphia. Due to worldbuilding and knyad-related characteristics, the disfigurement is not violent; the scene in question fades to black... but gosh Lansdell presents the dawning of realisation, the ensuing panic, and the posterior disbelief and misery in such a raw way that it was very difficult to read. It was quietly powerful, yet never explicit.
In addition to that, something to note is that one of the PoV characters has already undergone the disfigurement over a decade before the plot... so the theme of body dysmorphia, and how others look down upon the disfigured—called, in-book, as scumbled or Maskad (because they cover their faces with masks)—is ongoing. I do recommend caution when reading this because of it, though. The emotions are very well presented.
Moving forward with the characters, something I truly loved within this story are the quiet, domestic details Lansdell added to the character lives that make them popup from the page. For example, Prismer has a collection of meaningful scarves, an sculpture she's working on, while Oklas has some projects that interest him. These mini-mini-mini-sub-plots may not necessarily "go anywhere" but they add depth and make the characters feel round and believable. It is through those details that we can see their emotions and past, making them even more compelling.
Another detail I loved are the overarching themes, and how they are so subtly presented. Discrimination and classicism are at the forefront of knyad society, and are a big part of why the plot happens the way it happens; there is also a subtle hint at religion used to empower/disempower peopleBasically, believe to be in the image of their creator, Adecai, and so the disfigured Maskad knyads are believed to be not in the favour of their god... the problem is that the government is the one doing the disfigurement to—you likely guessed it—knyads who stand up against their corruption. , societal perception and how it makes beutify standards more pervasive, how poverty limits growth opportunities, and how talented yet poor people may never be allowed to access well-deserved life-changing opportunities.
Regardless, these themes are subtly presented, woven into the plot gently and with care. I loved the depth and presentation of such meaningful topics.
Finally, something to note is that this book doesn't really start with a clear inciting event or motivation. It's the type of story that will take you on a journey of unpredictables, because perceived agency and power are important concepts for the character's journey—and how they deal with that is key for their character progression.
Regardless, the set up is incredible, and by the end of this book we have <i>a lot</i> of things brewing up that should likely blow up in the next book.
In terms of setting and worldbuilding, this gets incredibly detailed while never being overwhelming. Lansdell has crafted a unique, distinctive race—the knyads—whose social and political structure has deep implications for the plot. However, all of this is presented in a straightforward way, though bits woven into the plot events. It is a pleasure to read because, beyond progressing through the plot, we're also discovering this unique society.
To know more about the knyad society, I'd definitely recommend picking up her novelette The Tidelings of Dras Sayve. It's not a prerequisite reading but it adds a lot of depth. However, The novelette is far darker than Far Removed.
In terms of plot and expectations, I found this to be quite a curious read. It begins as a clearly political plot, with a setup that seems to be large scale and with the potential to affect a lot of characters. However, as the story progresses (especially around the halfway mark), this takes a turn to be a more personal story.
To explain that, I'll review the PoVs and characters. We basically follow Oklas (a Deputy Minister) and Prismer (a low-cast low-rank worker). It seems from the start, that both are quite entrenched in their ways, positions, and world-views—but the plot challenges that, playing with the character's agency in a way that's real-life and shocking. It is done superbly, and the more the story progresses, the more Oklas and Prismer jump from the pages with their very human-like (or knyad-like in this case?) reactions.
Now, something to note with regards to character progression here are the content warnings. Although the story is <i>never</i> explicit, some harsh themes and moments are expertly presented and that made it far more terrifying and realistic. I'll explain in spoilers.
In addition to that, something to note is that one of the PoV characters has already undergone the disfigurement over a decade before the plot... so the theme of body dysmorphia, and how others look down upon the disfigured—called, in-book, as scumbled or Maskad (because they cover their faces with masks)—is ongoing. I do recommend caution when reading this because of it, though. The emotions are very well presented.
Moving forward with the characters, something I truly loved within this story are the quiet, domestic details Lansdell added to the character lives that make them popup from the page. For example, Prismer has a collection of meaningful scarves, an sculpture she's working on, while Oklas has some projects that interest him. These mini-mini-mini-sub-plots may not necessarily "go anywhere" but they add depth and make the characters feel round and believable. It is through those details that we can see their emotions and past, making them even more compelling.
Another detail I loved are the overarching themes, and how they are so subtly presented. Discrimination and classicism are at the forefront of knyad society, and are a big part of why the plot happens the way it happens; there is also a subtle hint at religion used to empower/disempower people
Regardless, these themes are subtly presented, woven into the plot gently and with care. I loved the depth and presentation of such meaningful topics.
Finally, something to note is that this book doesn't really start with a clear inciting event or motivation. It's the type of story that will take you on a journey of unpredictables, because perceived agency and power are important concepts for the character's journey—and how they deal with that is key for their character progression.
Regardless, the set up is incredible, and by the end of this book we have <i>a lot</i> of things brewing up that should likely blow up in the next book.