Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Tor.com (New York, 2016). 1st edition, 1st printing. 160 pages. $14.99.
Description
"Long after the Towers left the world but before the dragons came to Daluça, the emperor brought his delegation of gods and diplomats to Olorum. As the royalty negotiates over trade routes and public services, the divinity seeks arcane assistance among the local gods"-- Long after the Towers left the world but before the dragons came to Daluça, the emperor brought his delegation of gods and diplomats to Olorum. As the royalty negotiates over trade routes and public services, the divinity seeks arcane assistance among the local gods. Aqib bgm Sadiqi, fourth-cousin to the royal family and son of the Master of Beasts, has more mortal and pressing concerns. His heart has been captured by a handsome Daluçan soldier named Lucrio. They become swept up in a whirlwind romance, but neither Aqib nor Lucrio know whether their love can survive all the hardships the world has to throw at them.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bokai
Want some classic "gay tragedy" angst with a neat sci-fi twist? Have I got a book for you. A Taste of Honey is short science fiction tale that reads more generally like fantasy. It's set in a country that vaguely resembles an African nation, which has begun holding negotiations with a nation that
The story is told in a split mode, with flashbacks and flash forwards bouncing around from chapter to chapter, so very early on you realize that things are not going to go so well for young Aqib. Wilson does a good job of keeping the angst from getting over the top and gives most characters just enough to make them sympathetic, even when they were essentially antagonistic. The only exception to this was Aqib's older brother, who was a worthless human being all around. There is a, shall we say, long and storied tradition of books with gay protagonists ending tragically, which makes perfect sense if you consider the position of gay men and women in society not just a few decades ago, so for some people another story where you get fucked over for loving someone may not sound that appealing, but the worldbuilding in this book makes it more interesting than your typical misery porn. The relationship between men and women is particularly interesting, in that in this world science is considered womanly (and therefore not particularly important) but for that reason women hold a certain invisible power in society, and have a closer connection with the "gods" of this world, who appear to be beings who are simply super-advanced technology wise. None of this flavor particularly matters to the central plot, which could have been told without a bit of magic (until the very end maybe) but it does make the world seem much more interesting. The problem was the more I learned about the sci-fi elements of the world the more annoyed I got that these almost supernatural gods were perfectly okay with one of the nations that worshiped them impaling men on spikes for being gay.
But that's a minor plothole gripe if it's anything. I thought the central romance was nice, if a bit of a whirlwind for lasting 10 days (I can't really blame a kid for getting passionate during his gay awakening), and the last scene I felt took a bit away from everything that had come before, but it had it's own interesting sci-fi thought experiment, so I can't be too annoyed at it.
All in all, this was a good, short novel that tugged at my heartstrings and made me thankful that, at least for some of us, the time of burying a core piece of yourself deep and living a live empty of of the edifying experience of love just to survive is over.
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vaguely resembles the Roman empire. The young son of the royal keeper of animals, Aqib, falls in love with a visiting military man, but his society is not kind to homosexuality, and Sadiq's position, not just as a gay man but as a gay man that doesn't conform to his people's idea of masculinity, makes his life fraught with danger and violence.The story is told in a split mode, with flashbacks and flash forwards bouncing around from chapter to chapter, so very early on you realize that things are not going to go so well for young Aqib. Wilson does a good job of keeping the angst from getting over the top and gives most characters just enough to make them sympathetic, even when they were essentially antagonistic. The only exception to this was Aqib's older brother, who was a worthless human being all around. There is a, shall we say, long and storied tradition of books with gay protagonists ending tragically, which makes perfect sense if you consider the position of gay men and women in society not just a few decades ago, so for some people another story where you get fucked over for loving someone may not sound that appealing, but the worldbuilding in this book makes it more interesting than your typical misery porn. The relationship between men and women is particularly interesting, in that in this world science is considered womanly (and therefore not particularly important) but for that reason women hold a certain invisible power in society, and have a closer connection with the "gods" of this world, who appear to be beings who are simply super-advanced technology wise. None of this flavor particularly matters to the central plot, which could have been told without a bit of magic (until the very end maybe) but it does make the world seem much more interesting. The problem was the more I learned about the sci-fi elements of the world the more annoyed I got that these almost supernatural gods were perfectly okay with one of the nations that worshiped them impaling men on spikes for being gay.
But that's a minor plothole gripe if it's anything. I thought the central romance was nice, if a bit of a whirlwind for lasting 10 days (I can't really blame a kid for getting passionate during his gay awakening), and the last scene I felt took a bit away from everything that had come before, but it had it's own interesting sci-fi thought experiment, so I can't be too annoyed at it.
All in all, this was a good, short novel that tugged at my heartstrings and made me thankful that, at least for some of us, the time of burying a core piece of yourself deep and living a live empty of of the edifying experience of love just to survive is over.
Show Less
LibraryThing member greeniezona
I snatched this book up as soon as I saw it at the library -- I'd seen it on a few "diverse sf" lists and was intrigued. I felt a little bit let down by the execution, however.
There were interesting elements, to be sure. There were signs and promises of a complex world that never felt fully
There are lovely things here, and I'm curious to see where Wilson goes from here, but this is another book I'm very happy to have checked out rather than bought.
There were interesting elements, to be sure. There were signs and promises of a complex world that never felt fully
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realized. The gods that may not be exactly gods. The society that seems to follow traditional rules -- homosexuality if forbidden, proscribed roles for men and women -- yet with subtle, interesting differences -- math is for girls. But there are only tantalizing glimpses of these things, for this story has decided that it's a romance, not a sf story. But I'm not really sure it works as a romance either -- it seemed a bit clunky, uneven to me. It doesn't bask and glory in its love enough, or despair enough in separation.There are lovely things here, and I'm curious to see where Wilson goes from here, but this is another book I'm very happy to have checked out rather than bought.
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LibraryThing member dukedom_enough
Aqib is a Royal Cousin, the adolescent-and marriageable-son of a family close to the throne of the kingdom of Olorum. One evening, as he's taking the royal cheetah for a walk, a stranger calls to him from an open doorway. Lucrio is a soldier from distant Daluz, a member of a delegation sent to
Wilson's fine novella presents Aqib's story out of chronological sequence, and the scene of Lucrio sailing away on the eleventh day, leaving Aqib behind, comes early. Events from the two men's intense few days together are interspersed with visions from Aqib's future life, as he marries, raises a beloved daughter, meets the gods of Olorum, loses his wife to their service, and grows old, bearing the memory of his lost love.
Around the love story, Wilson builds a fascinating world. Aqib, who eventually inherits the job of keeper of the royal managerie, has the evidently magical ability to talk to animals, and his daughter has telekinetic powers, but the people of Olorum clearly have computers, and its gods appear to be technologically enhanced humans. Math and physics - and even literacy - are women's business, but the sexes appear to be roughly equal. As Aqib is a man, the world of women remains largely mysterious to the reader. The highborn people treat the lowborn with condescension that seems perfectly natural to everyone. The tropical heat of Olorum is palpable. Much about this world is only hinted at, or perhaps left for future stories. The world of the story is the same as in Wilson's [A Sorceror of the Wildeeps], which I clearly must soon read.
Wilson's language has a slight degree of formality which accords with Aqib's aristocratic outlook, an outlook which masks the Royal Cousin's character as an unreliable narrator. We must figure out many things that Aqib misses - among them, that his older brother is much more physically abusive than Aqib will admit to himself. Wilson supplies plenty of surprises. I thought I had figured out that the story's title referred to the few, sweet days of the men's affair: no, not only that.
[A Taste of Honey] is a vivid investigation of choice, desire, regret, and family dynamics, and Wilson is a major new writer.
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negotiate a treaty. Their erotic and romantic bond is strong and immediate. Aqib will have ten days with his new lover, before the delegation goes back to Daluz. Will he leave Olorum and follow his love, or remain behind? The couple does not have the option of staying together in Olorum, which is a land that forbids sexual relationships between men.Wilson's fine novella presents Aqib's story out of chronological sequence, and the scene of Lucrio sailing away on the eleventh day, leaving Aqib behind, comes early. Events from the two men's intense few days together are interspersed with visions from Aqib's future life, as he marries, raises a beloved daughter, meets the gods of Olorum, loses his wife to their service, and grows old, bearing the memory of his lost love.
Around the love story, Wilson builds a fascinating world. Aqib, who eventually inherits the job of keeper of the royal managerie, has the evidently magical ability to talk to animals, and his daughter has telekinetic powers, but the people of Olorum clearly have computers, and its gods appear to be technologically enhanced humans. Math and physics - and even literacy - are women's business, but the sexes appear to be roughly equal. As Aqib is a man, the world of women remains largely mysterious to the reader. The highborn people treat the lowborn with condescension that seems perfectly natural to everyone. The tropical heat of Olorum is palpable. Much about this world is only hinted at, or perhaps left for future stories. The world of the story is the same as in Wilson's [A Sorceror of the Wildeeps], which I clearly must soon read.
Wilson's language has a slight degree of formality which accords with Aqib's aristocratic outlook, an outlook which masks the Royal Cousin's character as an unreliable narrator. We must figure out many things that Aqib misses - among them, that his older brother is much more physically abusive than Aqib will admit to himself. Wilson supplies plenty of surprises. I thought I had figured out that the story's title referred to the few, sweet days of the men's affair: no, not only that.
[A Taste of Honey] is a vivid investigation of choice, desire, regret, and family dynamics, and Wilson is a major new writer.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Gretchening
Wilson's style is distinctive and enfolding, almost unique in its commitment to creating not only a depth of character but an insight into culture through language, dialogue, and narrative diction. This slim novella follows the possible future life of Aqib, higher-caste youth whose forbidden affair
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with an older foreign soldier trips him past a turning point in which one fateful decision changes his future. The bounty of this story lies less in the romance at the story's heart and more in the unsentimentally balanced insight into all aspects of a life lived fully despite constraints and choice. Aqib's possible future without Lucrio, without outwardly acknowledging his queer desires and folding himself into his famililal and cultural duties, is not a barren existence, and contains both grief and love that is specific and individual. The twist ending of this book gives it a weight and a joy beyond its prose, and I appreciated the complex depiction of a complex character and the life he does--or doesn't--live. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
Aqib felt now as he had all throughout childhood: that everyone was moving deftly within norms long established, confidently speaking in terms already defined, but that no one had remembered to clue in poor little Aqib.
This started very strongly, with a romance between two men, one a
This started very strongly, with a romance between two men, one a
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minor royal from a homophobic vaguely Arabic culture, the other a legionnaire in a somewhat more open vaguely Roman visiting society. Wilson's writing is evocative, both culturally and characterfully, and the romance is very sweet, very convincing, and very real. After the first third, though, I started to lose the thread of it all and got confused as it became very jumpy. I think I worked it all out by the end, but my emotional investment had been damaged too much to recover. It's possible this is my fault, not the story's (I was a little distracted while reading parts of it), but that's the reaction I had and it's too late to change it. Show Less
LibraryThing member amanda4242
*This* is what I wanted The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps to be. Well-written characters, strong story, and rich descriptions which never descend into purple prose.
LibraryThing member jdifelice
I don't think I got this story. I didn't really get on with the writing - it was confusing at points and got very descriptive and flowery. I didn't really connect with the main character, and the world created didn't really interest me. I just found it confusing and boring.
LibraryThing member eldang
A beautiful story of paths taken and not taken.
LibraryThing member crtsjffrsn
Aqib bgm Sadiqi finds that his association to the royal family (fourth cousin) can be a blessing and a curse. Sure, relative fame and fortune have their privileges. But there are expectations that come with a role that he never asked to take on. And those expectations may stand in the way of Aqib's
Reading this novella, for me, was like falling down a hole into this world, a world in which I have never been, to the point where I could feel the longing, the desire, the loss, the frustration, etc. that Aqib experiences. Wilson has created a rich fantasy world with enough backstory and the right connections to our own society that readers should have no trouble connecting with and understanding the characters, even though they are not our contemporaries. At the same time, the pacing of the story and the sequence of events allows readers to get lost in this world, with no desire to come out until the story is finished. And being novella-length, this is one that you need not feel bad at all for devouring in one sitting.
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rapidly-blossoming affection (and lust) for Lucrio, a Daluçan soldier who would be well below his station even without the expectation that Aqib take for himself a blushing bride. Some things in life are worth fighting for, however, especially when one gets a small taste of what life could be and the path of least resistance means leaving that feeling and that life behind. But if society is good at anything, it's telling people how to live...and can Aqib and Lucrio stand up against that and make it through with that feeling and their life together still intact?Reading this novella, for me, was like falling down a hole into this world, a world in which I have never been, to the point where I could feel the longing, the desire, the loss, the frustration, etc. that Aqib experiences. Wilson has created a rich fantasy world with enough backstory and the right connections to our own society that readers should have no trouble connecting with and understanding the characters, even though they are not our contemporaries. At the same time, the pacing of the story and the sequence of events allows readers to get lost in this world, with no desire to come out until the story is finished. And being novella-length, this is one that you need not feel bad at all for devouring in one sitting.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
Not the story that it first appears to be, but intricate in relationship themes -- the complexities of abuse/bullying/family, the ways that bullying on to one character translates into the treatment of underlings, the heady same sex relationship and the consolations of a friendship based
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co-parenting situation. It's weird and uncomfortable, frequently, but it's also very interesting. I do feel like its a society full of stereotypes, but I am intrigued by the disdain of women's work (physics, math, reading) and the subversion of what that work is and how that creates a really different society. Show Less
LibraryThing member MillieHennessy
DNF at about 50%. I just couldn't get into it and was a little confused and bored by the plot. I'm not sure if I'll give it another go.
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novella — 2017)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novella — 2016)
Locus Award (Finalist — Novella — 2017)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Long Fiction — 2017)
Chesley Award (Nominee — 2017)
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (Finalist — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-10-25
Physical description
160 p.; 5 inches
ISBN
9780765390042