07/12/09 16:57
an interesting twist on gender roles
The first book does a good job of establishing the world and emphasizing the contrast between the fantasy world and modern day Korea. I think that it is interesting that the author decided to have a female as the lead instead of a man. When the character first goes to the world (a reversal on more traditional patriarchies), she expects that it will be a paradise. Yet, because she is confused for a man, she is chased and almost sold as a slave. Rather that take advantage of the fact that she is a woman, she is horrified at the state of humanity in this alternate reality. Rather than simply make the society a haven for women, where they are served by men, the author criticizes any society in which a certain group of people are arbitrarily made subservient to another.
The author refuses to back down from any issue, or to simplify the story and the issues at hand. Those who are repressed are not universally rebellious, and those who rebel are not universally righteous. Nor do all of the women, even those in positions of high power, beat or ill-treat the men in their lives. This book has really surpassed my expectations, and I cannot wait to see where it will go.