Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Ace Books (New York, 1991). Book club edition. 282 pages.
Description
Sparrow's my name. Trader. Deal-maker. Hustler, some call me. I work the Night Fair circuit, buying and selling pre-nuke videos from the world before. I know how to get a high price, especially on Big Bang collectibles. But the hottest ticket of all is information on the Horsemen--the mind-control weapons that tilted the balance in the war between the Americas. That's the prize I'm after. But it seems I'm having trouble controlling my own mind. The Horsemen are coming.
User reviews
LibraryThing member narwhaltortellini
This is generally a very good book, and when I first picked it up and read the first chapter or so I figured I'd like it very much. It was very unique, the main character seemed interesting and sarcastic, the prose (of all things ^_^) caught my interest right away, it was throwing hoards of
In the end, though, I don't think I was into this as much as everyone else. Or as much as I thought I would be. I think the main thing was the other characters. It seemed like we didn't really have time to get to know any of them that well. Most likely cause there were just so darn many of them. You know basically what everyone is like, and they certainly seem interesting, but to me it never really stopped and focused much on anyone beyond that.
My main problem I guess was that in this kind of book I would have expected to see interesting looks into the characters' relationships, but Sparrow never has anything much besides 'Bah, I don't have friends!' to the 'Ok, so maybe I do have friends, I like all of you.' Nothing really more complex than that (besides maybe sometimes a few butterflies in the stomach when talking with Theo.) It wasn't horrible or anything. Kind of like watching a good movie with a big cast. It may be a great cast of characters, but you really don't have time to get into all of them and their relationships much, besides maybe the main character. But in a book that's character and psychologically driven, I would usually expect more T_T
The end effect for me was something that was terribly well written, but after the initial interest starting up (after I started realizing the non-emphasis on development of other characters and relationships), it just stopped drawing me in, and I wasn't terribly excited to read or finish it, though I never once considered not doing it, like I do with many books. I still found the book very impressive, and I think I'll try another book by Emma Bull again and maybe try to find something with a smaller cast of characters and see how well I'm hooked with that.
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wonderfully started supporting characters at me, and the plot was full of all that 'what the hell is going on?' of the fun kind. It can be rather slow, but that's cause a lot of it's driven by the main character's psychological development, which is awesome by me. (A review I read while thinking of trying this book said Sparrow doesn't understand the concept of loneliness, the same way fish don't have a word for water. Now that I know Sparrow, that makes me laugh ^_^;)In the end, though, I don't think I was into this as much as everyone else. Or as much as I thought I would be. I think the main thing was the other characters. It seemed like we didn't really have time to get to know any of them that well. Most likely cause there were just so darn many of them. You know basically what everyone is like, and they certainly seem interesting, but to me it never really stopped and focused much on anyone beyond that.
My main problem I guess was that in this kind of book I would have expected to see interesting looks into the characters' relationships, but Sparrow never has anything much besides 'Bah, I don't have friends!' to the 'Ok, so maybe I do have friends, I like all of you.' Nothing really more complex than that (besides maybe sometimes a few butterflies in the stomach when talking with Theo.) It wasn't horrible or anything. Kind of like watching a good movie with a big cast. It may be a great cast of characters, but you really don't have time to get into all of them and their relationships much, besides maybe the main character. But in a book that's character and psychologically driven, I would usually expect more T_T
The end effect for me was something that was terribly well written, but after the initial interest starting up (after I started realizing the non-emphasis on development of other characters and relationships), it just stopped drawing me in, and I wasn't terribly excited to read or finish it, though I never once considered not doing it, like I do with many books. I still found the book very impressive, and I think I'll try another book by Emma Bull again and maybe try to find something with a smaller cast of characters and see how well I'm hooked with that.
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LibraryThing member tigerblue
Bone Dance is an emotional rollercoaster through a dystopian future that explores society and gender and vulnerability in fascinating form.
What appears on first glance to be a mundane science-fiction exposition on the horrific capability of mankind to destroy instead reveals itself to be a novel
Those seeking genre tech obsession may find it an uncomfortable read focusing too heavily on psycoanalysis and emotions; those expecting page-tearing action will be thrilled and then left unfulfilled; and those hoping for a mystery may not find the impeccable pacing of a tightly-tuned thriller. But the reader who welcomes this book with an open mind and an open heart will discover perfection in imperfection, and a human touch to a cold genre, a masterpiece of all and of none.
What appears on first glance to be a mundane science-fiction exposition on the horrific capability of mankind to destroy instead reveals itself to be a novel
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embracing self-acceptance, self-love, and the necessity of change.Those seeking genre tech obsession may find it an uncomfortable read focusing too heavily on psycoanalysis and emotions; those expecting page-tearing action will be thrilled and then left unfulfilled; and those hoping for a mystery may not find the impeccable pacing of a tightly-tuned thriller. But the reader who welcomes this book with an open mind and an open heart will discover perfection in imperfection, and a human touch to a cold genre, a masterpiece of all and of none.
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LibraryThing member orangejulia
"Bone Dance" is a really great thought provoking book. It's set in a near future post-apocalyptic Minneapolis, and for quite a while it's unclear if the narrator of the book, Sparrow, is hiding something about a mysterious past, or if memories of the past have been obliterated through nefarious
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means. It's hard to describe, but an amazing read even for those who aren't a fan of sci-fi or futuristic books. Show Less
LibraryThing member pwaites
Bone Dance is a strange but enjoyable mixture of the post-apocalyptic with the supernatural. Sparrow is a trader of old videos and discs from before the nuclear missiles were set off by a group of psychics known as the Horsemen. But Sparrow’s been blacking out and losing memories. What’s going
Sparrow is an agender protagonist who’s never given pronouns. Sparrow’s only comment on the matter is this:
“You wouldn’t have so much trouble,” I muttered, straightening up carefully, “if you didn’t talk about me in the third person.”
While this is fitting with Sparrow’s somewhat prickly personality, it’s not helpful for writing this review. Therefore for the remainder of the review I will be referring to Sparrow with the singular “they/them” pronouns. Sparrow’s physical sex or gender is not discussed until about a hundred pages in, about where a number of different pieces of the book start coming together. There’s not a lot about this element I can say without running into spoilers (although I think there is a key point worth noting), but this article on Sparrow’s gender is worth reading if you’re willing to brave the spoilers.
“We’re all born nameless, aren’t we? And the name we end up with has only peripherally to do with our family tree.”
Sparrow was easily my favorite part about Bone Dance. When you first meet Sparrow, they are keeping themself permanently isolated and aloof from others. A large part of Bone Dance is diving into Sparrow’s concept of themself, as they learn to accept who they are and to open up to other people and form connections. Sparrow’s confident and snarky, but also in over their head with the current situation. They go through some real difficulties, and I was feeling for them the entire time.
The post-apocalyptic world of Bone Dance isn’t the lawless mad lands you tend to see in fiction. Sparrow lives in a city (clues point towards it being Minneapolis) that still has electricity, even if it’s controlled by the one man who rules the city government. There’s markets and nightclubs and people running theaters of salvaged televisions. In short, there’s some form of civilization, even though it’s only been fifty years since the nuclear missiles went off.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, Bone Dance is a mixture of science fiction and fantasy. The fantasy mainly comes in through the use of the psychics, tarot, and what the book calls hoodoo (I’ve got no idea if this is the same thing as voodoo, but it seems similar). These supernatural elements all play a large role in the plot. At times this can result in a mystical element that accounts for a large part of why I found the book strange.
I liked the prose of Bone Dance. Emma Bull really has a way with words, and I probably should have been marking pages for quotes as I read. Unfortunately, the pacing of Bone Dance is all over the place. The beginning is slow. Then there’s bits of action interspersed with large periods of reflection. While I think the reflection periods were important for Sparrow’s character growth, it did a number on the pacing.
I would recommend Bone Dance, though I’d want to note the poor pacing and strangeness of the plot. Still, I really love the lead character and there’s some interesting thematic material going on. I in no way regret reading it.
Originally posted at The Illustrated Page.
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on?Sparrow is an agender protagonist who’s never given pronouns. Sparrow’s only comment on the matter is this:
“You wouldn’t have so much trouble,” I muttered, straightening up carefully, “if you didn’t talk about me in the third person.”
While this is fitting with Sparrow’s somewhat prickly personality, it’s not helpful for writing this review. Therefore for the remainder of the review I will be referring to Sparrow with the singular “they/them” pronouns. Sparrow’s physical sex or gender is not discussed until about a hundred pages in, about where a number of different pieces of the book start coming together. There’s not a lot about this element I can say without running into spoilers (although I think there is a key point worth noting), but this article on Sparrow’s gender is worth reading if you’re willing to brave the spoilers.
“We’re all born nameless, aren’t we? And the name we end up with has only peripherally to do with our family tree.”
Sparrow was easily my favorite part about Bone Dance. When you first meet Sparrow, they are keeping themself permanently isolated and aloof from others. A large part of Bone Dance is diving into Sparrow’s concept of themself, as they learn to accept who they are and to open up to other people and form connections. Sparrow’s confident and snarky, but also in over their head with the current situation. They go through some real difficulties, and I was feeling for them the entire time.
The post-apocalyptic world of Bone Dance isn’t the lawless mad lands you tend to see in fiction. Sparrow lives in a city (clues point towards it being Minneapolis) that still has electricity, even if it’s controlled by the one man who rules the city government. There’s markets and nightclubs and people running theaters of salvaged televisions. In short, there’s some form of civilization, even though it’s only been fifty years since the nuclear missiles went off.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, Bone Dance is a mixture of science fiction and fantasy. The fantasy mainly comes in through the use of the psychics, tarot, and what the book calls hoodoo (I’ve got no idea if this is the same thing as voodoo, but it seems similar). These supernatural elements all play a large role in the plot. At times this can result in a mystical element that accounts for a large part of why I found the book strange.
I liked the prose of Bone Dance. Emma Bull really has a way with words, and I probably should have been marking pages for quotes as I read. Unfortunately, the pacing of Bone Dance is all over the place. The beginning is slow. Then there’s bits of action interspersed with large periods of reflection. While I think the reflection periods were important for Sparrow’s character growth, it did a number on the pacing.
I would recommend Bone Dance, though I’d want to note the poor pacing and strangeness of the plot. Still, I really love the lead character and there’s some interesting thematic material going on. I in no way regret reading it.
Originally posted at The Illustrated Page.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
I didn't enjoy this as much as Falcon but it wasn't a bad read, just not really my kind of read.
Sparrow has secrets, some that even Sparrow is unaware of. The Apocylapse has happened and the balance of the world is about to change.
Sparrow has secrets, some that even Sparrow is unaware of. The Apocylapse has happened and the balance of the world is about to change.
LibraryThing member anyanwubutler
Sparrow lives in a dystopian unnamed city after The Bang. She is a procurer of hard to find videos and music and repairs electronics and is multilingual. She also keeps secrets from her friends and herself. One of the biggest is that are Horsemen, people who capable of taking over another’s body
“…Just as the cards in a tarot deck, if you believed it worked that way, always came off the stack in the right order. And Theo being a friend of Sher’s, and me knowing both of them; Sher being friends with China Black; meeting Francis on the bridge; Mick finding my body in the first place. Further back, that I had come to this City, and stayed, and further yet, that I’d been brought to life at all. We, the tarot cards, had come off the deck in order.”
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and who are responsible for the Bang. Meanwhile, indigenous and not so gods and goddesses also want in on Sparrow and the Horseman’s actions. “…Just as the cards in a tarot deck, if you believed it worked that way, always came off the stack in the right order. And Theo being a friend of Sher’s, and me knowing both of them; Sher being friends with China Black; meeting Francis on the bridge; Mick finding my body in the first place. Further back, that I had come to this City, and stayed, and further yet, that I’d been brought to life at all. We, the tarot cards, had come off the deck in order.”
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LibraryThing member peridotite
An interesting post-apocalyptic tale. Sometimes a bit heavy on the voodoo and symbolism, and Sparrow, the neuter protagonist, can be a little bland sometimes. Nevertheless the book is a well written story about isolation in a big city, the formation of communities, and gender and identity.
LibraryThing member juniperSun
Macabre. Since Bull was mentioned by deLint, I wasn’t expecting a tale so dark. Tho truthfully, it is only the first half (or 2/3s?) that is setting the stage of things gone awry after The Button was pushed. [Since the Cold War died down, I didn’t think anyone worried about The Button anymore,
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but Bull has found a novel approach to the responsible party’s identity.] No faery appearances, but hoodoo plays a major role in this changed world. Sparrow, the main character, gets a crash course in hoodoo and also learns about the value of friendship. I like Sparrow, who has some good values, like being honest, despite the background and I can empathize with the desire to be anonymous, unnoticed. I also like authors who give me something to think about for my own life, and Bull has done that with her explanation of how greed blocks energy flow, and how doing what we love, with our whole attention, creates energy. Sparrow starts with a rigid concept of the Deal, where every favor given creates a debt which must be paid. Sher teaches that “as long as you keep the energy, all kinds of energy, moving through the system, everything is free. But as soon as you block some of it off, take it out of circulation—wham. The payback is enormous.” And this could be called a tale of payback and setting free.. Show Less
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't what I read. Bone Dance is a dense book, even though it's not long. I didn't read it as closely as other books I've read, mostly because I found my eyes glazing over while digging through the spiritual/magic (those aren't the right words,
What I did like where the characters, especially Sparrow (our "hero"), Theo and Sherra (and eventually Frances, too). My favorite part of the book was right near the end, after the traumatic event to Sparrow, but before the climax of the novel. Sparrow's recovery/rehab was much more interesting than most of the novel. I liked it, but it more fantasy than science fiction; even if it did live up to it's dystopian promises.
I just wish I liked it more, since I loved the previous book of Bull's that I read (War for the Oaks).
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but they'll do) parts of the book. I also found it hard to read more than a chapter or two at a time, which meant that for such a short book, it took me a (relatively) long time. What I did like where the characters, especially Sparrow (our "hero"), Theo and Sherra (and eventually Frances, too). My favorite part of the book was right near the end, after the traumatic event to Sparrow, but before the climax of the novel. Sparrow's recovery/rehab was much more interesting than most of the novel. I liked it, but it more fantasy than science fiction; even if it did live up to it's dystopian promises.
I just wish I liked it more, since I loved the previous book of Bull's that I read (War for the Oaks).
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
I know there are many many people out there that loved this book. I was not one of them. I tried, but I found it hard to get into, the characters not likeable or unlikeable. The story was interesting, but it felt very much a book written in 1991. There is a very unsettling vibe to this book. This
One thing I did like was the setting of the book. The first half, it felt that the author was deliberately making the city as generic as possible. But, by the second half, Minneapolis landmarks and references were mentioned often. I liked that the Apple Valley Zoo was turned into a farm-coop.
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book felt like it was in between an age of science fiction - not quite cyber-punk- but not quite the modern science fiction of today. The writing was solid, but simple. One thing I did like was the setting of the book. The first half, it felt that the author was deliberately making the city as generic as possible. But, by the second half, Minneapolis landmarks and references were mentioned often. I liked that the Apple Valley Zoo was turned into a farm-coop.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
Voodoo meets cyberpunk in this post-apocalyptic urban fantasy....
A bit of a similar feel to the stories she did for Bordertown/Borderlands... but these characters are playing for higher stakes.... our protagonist is Sparrow, an androgynous character with a love for old movies and a talent for
good stuff!
A bit of a similar feel to the stories she did for Bordertown/Borderlands... but these characters are playing for higher stakes.... our protagonist is Sparrow, an androgynous character with a love for old movies and a talent for
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electronic tinkering; her friends include a young tarot card reader and a nightclub DJ/VJ... but when old legends of mysterious individuals who have the ability to switch bodies at will start surfacing, the average citizens of this decaying version of Minneapolis (?) are out of their depth....good stuff!
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Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1992)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novel — 1991)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 1992)
Philip K. Dick Award (Nominee — 1991)
Minnesota Book Awards (Finalist — 1992)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1991-05-02
Physical description
8.2 inches