betty reviewed Rogue Clone by Steve L. Kent (Ace science fiction)
Review of 'Rogue Clone' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I grabbed this book because I realized I was about to leave the library with a stack of books written entirely by female authors, and I wanted a little manliness in the mix. This book was well chosen, in that case, because my god, this is a dudely book. No named female characters appear or speak until forty-five chapters in, and the book is only fifty-three chapters long. The military of the future is all male, although this isn't even commented on, it's simply that no woman ever makes an appearance.
Rather incredibly, despite the near complete lack of women, it's also rather hetero-normative. Given the near-complete lack of women, one might expect a little opportunistic homosexuality, but no. (Although I wonder if certain ambiguities about one character, Callaghan, were meant to suggest he was gay?)
That aside, which oddly, was not that difficult while reading, this is a solidly …
I grabbed this book because I realized I was about to leave the library with a stack of books written entirely by female authors, and I wanted a little manliness in the mix. This book was well chosen, in that case, because my god, this is a dudely book. No named female characters appear or speak until forty-five chapters in, and the book is only fifty-three chapters long. The military of the future is all male, although this isn't even commented on, it's simply that no woman ever makes an appearance.
Rather incredibly, despite the near complete lack of women, it's also rather hetero-normative. Given the near-complete lack of women, one might expect a little opportunistic homosexuality, but no. (Although I wonder if certain ambiguities about one character, Callaghan, were meant to suggest he was gay?)
That aside, which oddly, was not that difficult while reading, this is a solidly constructed book. It was a bit like reading Louis Lamour in space, although not quite so addictively nutrient-free. That there ought to tell you if the book's for you.
Although: What's up with white people writing about futures where, they assure us, everyone is an even tint of post-racial beige?
