[LMB] QOTD #7: Emotional genre, re: ACC dedication (Sat. Mar. 1st)

[Chen Yen]

Well, my >s don't work properly, so I'm just going to have to top post.

I have never read any Sayers or Heyer, but am going to cure that deficiency
asap.

However, I am a HUGE Jane Austen fan, and 'Pride & Prejudice' is one of
those books that gets an annual read.  I agree with sylvus in that Bronte
resonates less in LMB's work, but it probably means allusions are more
subtle than I can pick up as I am not a huge Bronte fan.

The obvious similarity is that 'ACC' is a comedy of manners like 'P&P',
'Emma', 'S&S', with all the attendant misunderstandings, and plays on all
levels of social rules.  Every time I read 'P&P' I am utterly amazed at how
Austen's heroine really strains against the boundaries of rules of that
society.  It's like this invisible net that holds the whole story together.
The rules are sometimes so oppressive that it's a wonder anyone managed to
muddle through and get together in the end!  But they do.  What is revealed
in the process of the story is a very clear view of those societal rules.

Now, the implications of that are fascinating when you impose it on a
made-up world, as in sci-fi or fantasy.  Imagine a genre of story that tests
the boundaries and rules of the world invented by the author.  The most
common examples of this that I have seen are mysteries set in sci-fi
settings - Larry Niven's Gil Hamilton short stories and books come to mind
as classic examples.  A fair mystery is one that is solvable within the
technological and biological boundaries - the reader feels cheated if it
isn't so - and the sci-fi mystery writer is given the double task of
conveying those sci-fi-ish ideas, and telling a story which tests the limits
of those ideas, preferably (if s/he is very skilled) shedding new insights
on those ideas.

'ACC' being both sci-fi and comedy of manners faced a similar task, with
technology, biology, and Barrayaran societal rules.  We see it on many
levels: Ekaterin's mourning year; Kareen's sexuality culture clash (also
generational clash with the parents' old rules); Dono's sex-change and the
implications on the District Count succession (ah, throw in a bit of
politics too! - which was also explored with Rene's dilemma); all the
biological implications of galactic medicine and uterine replicators.  For
example, I really enjoyed the Count Vormuir side-mention, a nice meld of
biology and politics, with an unforeseen legal twist.  This brings to mind
something I was once told by a lawyer, that when he was drafting contracts
he was trying to imagine every possible scenario that could possibly happen
within the legal rules and make sure his contract covered every possible
outcome.  Okay, so I am really showing my prejudices, but I really adored
Miles' rescue of Enrique on the basis of jurisdiction!  Yeah, lawyer boy.

I have to say, I have a much richer view of Barrayaran society and politics
after reading 'ACC'.  And all revealed by the by of a rip-roaring story.

One more thing I have to mention: plotting.  One thing that has always
fascinated me about 'P&P' is the plotting.  I remember once sitting down and
trying to map out all the plots and sub-plots (yes, yes, I know, very geeky,
this is what I do for fun) and being absolutely amazed by how all the
sub-plots bolstered the main plot.  I guess everyone's "cunning plan"
romance-wise is sub-plot to Miles' main dilemma, all variations of the same
dilemma.  It pleased the plot-voyeur in me.  And I am SO glad we had a
wedding at the end of the book, and what a wedding it was too!

Chen Yen
M.O.M.

PS. Thanks to sylvus for mentioning specific titles by Sayers - I've ordered
them in, also 'False Colours' by Heyer that was discussed many posts
earlier.  Any more recommendations anyone?




-----Original Message-----

Question of the Day (QOTD) #7: Emotional genre, re: ACC dedication
(Sat. Mar. 1st)



Would you view LMB's work as in the same genre (emotionally, not
technically) as the four authors cited in the dedication of "A Civil
Campaign"?



(contributed by Dorian E. Gray israfel at eircom.net)


Reminder:

from _A Civil Campaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners_

DEDICATION

For Jane, Charlotte, Georgette, and Dorothy --- long may they rule.

(Tora's addition: Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Georgette Heyer, and
Dorothy Sayers, I believe)