Booklog 14/2019 - Liz Williams: Phosphorus – A Winterstrike story

[jacey]

A novella set largely on Liz Williams' cold, bleak Mars of her novel Banner of Souls. There are two separate stories that eventually unite. Canteley, on Mars, is in Winterstrike with her family, but bombs are falling. She is taken to safety by Aunt Sulie. She keeps having dreams, strangely non-human-like dreams.

Across the galaxy Kesh, a hunter, is dead, along with her people. She alone has been reanimated for a purpose. Perhaps to protect her developing brood. All she has for company is her spear, Thousand Voice, as she journeys in space in an intelligent ship, searching for new hunting grounds.

Liz Williams writes excellent aliens, the richness of their civilisation described in few words, but every word counts and the background unfolds as the story progresses. Similarly in the Martian section of the story. You don't need to have read Banner of Souls to enjoy Phosphorus. This is a feminist cold Mars with canals and red deserts. The writing is so elegant you barely notice how good it is first time round, so this is not only worth reading, but worth reading twice.