Six Moon Dance (1998)

Complex matriarchal society with surprising twists and nuances revealed by the visit of an off-world official. The role of experience in coloring our observations is well done, along with challenges to sexual stereotypes. ( )

Yet another of Tepper's books that left me wistful at it having had to come to an end. And another that (like The Companions and Singer From the Sea) initially gave me a slight worry that she was heading off the deep end to beat me about the head with some sociological ax-to-grind - which (as also with the others) turned out to happily be not at all the case.

Tepper has such a talent for conceiving of non-human sentient life, in ways that are completely relate-able to the humans reading along. Her notions of non-human life, motivations, intentions, actions are alien-enough to really give you pause, but without being so alien as to make empathy impossible as often is the case with alien chars.

Tepper's notions and storylines of non-human life would/could be interesting and engaging enough all by themselves - but then she weaves it all in and through with human-relevant social/sociological what-ifs and speculation that never turn out to be as clear-cut or obvious in their eventual resolution (or non-resolution) as you think they'll be.

And the persona/character of the Questioner - I loved her. As brilliant, cold and calculating as you could conceive of AI being, but yet fallible and human and capable of mis-perception and mistakes.

Brilliant book. ( )

This was a very interesting look at how a people's beliefs and laws were challenged by some outside observers and by ancient secrets coming to the front. I liked how the Questioner's curiosity led her and others to the truth about Newholme. ( )