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A review by tracey_stewart
Illusion by Paula Volsky
5.0
Illusion. The cover comes first, because that was the reason I bought the book in the first place, and it was the first of Paula Volsky's books that I read. Michael Whelan, bless his brushes, is still my hero. This is nothing short of magnificent, and I'm still proud that I had coffee with the man once.
Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Queen, spoiled but clever and thoughtful when she bothers - and the leaders of what becomes the Reparation movement, the bourgeousie, the "canaille" - the commoners, the serfs and tradesfolk who are being taxed literally to death to support their betters, who are no more than property or servants in the eyes of those "betters"...
One can't help but think about conditions here and now, and wonder about the possibilities of another revolution here and now. I'm not about to pick up a torch or a pitchfork... but I can see how it could happen.
Many of Volsky's books call up echoes of classics, and for Illusion the echoes are (somewhat obviously) A Tale of Two Cities - and, less obviously, The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a beautiful, unexpected book.
Anyway... the book echoes the French Revolution (except that the Queen isn't exactly Marie Antoinette - hated like she was, though), and follows both Eliste - Exalted lady-in-waiting to the Queen, spoiled but clever and thoughtful when she bothers - and the leaders of what becomes the Reparation movement, the bourgeousie, the "canaille" - the commoners, the serfs and tradesfolk who are being taxed literally to death to support their betters, who are no more than property or servants in the eyes of those "betters"...
One can't help but think about conditions here and now, and wonder about the possibilities of another revolution here and now. I'm not about to pick up a torch or a pitchfork... but I can see how it could happen.
Many of Volsky's books call up echoes of classics, and for Illusion the echoes are (somewhat obviously) A Tale of Two Cities - and, less obviously, The Diary of Anne Frank. It's a beautiful, unexpected book.