[English review] “Crystal Rain” by Tobias S. Buckell
As you know, and I'll tell you if you don't, I've finally gotten into science fiction. With Black characters, of course. I looked for stories set in the West Indies for a very long time and I came across the “Xenowealth” saga by Tobias S. Buckell. The kindle versions of the first 2 parts were really cheap, so I jumped at the chance. I don't regret my choice.
For once, I don't feel like spoiling too much. Reason 1: I've only read the first part, "Crystal Rain" (2006), so I prefer to wait until I've read everything before passing judgment on the events of the story (yes, I'll be a bit annoyed if me predictions are wrong #impettylikethatsometimes). Reason 2. I read in English and, quite frankly, it was complicated because I'm not used to the peculiarities of phrasing, grammar or even vocabulary used in the English-speaking Caribbean. So I don't feel like going ahead or giving explanations only to realise a year from now that I had misunderstood. That being said, I can still give you a general opinion.
Shattered storytelling
Tobias S. Buckell uses the omniscient point of view. I don't usually like it, especially when there are a lot of characters. Moving from one point of view to another in the same paragraph gives me a headache, especially when it’s about a character I'm not interested in. And the language barrier made it even harder to concentrate. On the other hand, the effort required can be seen as positive because it means that the reader has to invest himself completely... In short, I started part 2 “Raggamuffin”, I see that the structure is similar, so it is indeed a narrative choice. I don't like it, but the theme is so interesting that I skipped over it.
3D universe
Colonization, deportation, massacre of people, these real events that have marked the Caribbean history are repeated here to create a rich and diverse universe. The confrontation between two populations with different cultures and cults is a backdrop to create a story about characters with characteristics familiar to the West Indians. One can have fun establishing connections with the French, English, Spanish-speaking islands and even with South American countries. The technology described mixes futurism and the past, especially with the hot air balloon/nacelle chase. In spite of a rather heavy writing style, the author brings this imaginary country to life and makes sure to give all the clues for the reader to understand how it works.
The multiple sides of Black Masculinity
If Tobias S. Buckell had written this novel in 2016/2017, I think he’d have dealt with the representation of disability in a different way. John, the main character, has lost a hand. The descriptions keep remind us this fact in a rather... clumsy way whenever he has to use his hook. Note that I don't know how I would write a character with a hook, so I’m not saying this just for the sake of being mean. I'm just saying it was repetitive to read and there was little variation in the descriptions. Apart from one character, all the important characters in volume 1 are men, which gives the opportunity to draw different portraits with all shades of black. Perhaps one could indeed use colourism as a reading lens to approach this book because the characters highlighted do not seem to be dark skinned. I'm not getting into the debate this time. In any case, whether they have shaved heads, dreadlocks, wether they’re immortal or not, these black men explore universal emotions such as fear, courage, cowardice... but also fragility, sensitivity, friendship, loyalty, parenthood, fidelity, love.
Conclusion: I can't say that the storytelling swept me off my feet. I would even say it was sometimes an obstacle. Nevertheless, I'm in demand for this kind of stories. The effort put into creating this universe entertained me enough for me to continue with volume 2.
T/n: this article was first published on myinsaeng.com on December 2nd 2017. You can read the French original version here.