Ammonite (1992)

Of the "pony club" school of Feminist SF. Tiptree winner 1993 ( )

I really liked Ammonite. I think mostly because is has a good world and because I liked its pacing. It tells the story of Marghe, a scientist who goes to visit the world Jeep. Jeep was colonized a few hundred years ago and then forgotten. When Company sends a new exploratory team, they all get sick. All of the men die, and some of the women. It turns out this has also happened to the natives (the old colonists), but they haven't died out: they are still getting children. Marghe is sent to test a vaccine against the virus, and to try to figure out what's going on.

Marghe is not the most open or accessible person, but she is likable nonetheless. Her contacts with the natives are the most interesting and so are her experiences with the virus. Through her eyes, you get to know the world, which is wilder than most of us are used to. For me, it was rather startling sometimes to realize all the characters are women. I like that no fuss is made about women doing jobs that are traditionally reserved for men. Clearly, since there are no men, women are the only ones who can do them. The startling thing was not that it felt strange to have only women around, the startling thing was that I sometimes forgot. I like that the society is not idealized. It has some beautiful aspects, but it is also very practical and it has crime and ugliness like any other. I also like that Marghe comes in contact with the ugliness, but doesn't necessarily change it. Some things are the way they are, as are some people, and change is a difficult thing, and must usually come from the inside. It cannot always be forced.

Although the book has a clear ending, it also leaves room for a follow-up, so I wonder if there's going to be a sequel. If there is, I would definitely read it. ( )

Thought this was excellent, though with some small first-novel flaws* here and there. Reminiscent of Le Guin in concerns and world-building, but with her own angle and take on things. I'd like very much to read a sequel if there were one.

*The main character is a bit too good at everything to be true, for instance. ( )

Griffith wrote one of my favorite books so I was disappointed when I didn't care for this. It was well written but it was too much like primitive sf which I don't care for, and the messages just felt too obvious too me which hampered my enjoyment of the story. ( )

Very solid first novel from Griffith, whom I adore. It's interesting to go backwards and read this now that she's got several more books out- one notices some themes and tropes that will recur in a more mature and polished fashion. Griffith's characters are real and fully-fleshed. Her world is expansive and believable. I think if I had not read her later work, I'd give this one 4 stars.
( )