Lotus and Thorn

April 25, 2016
In the savage desert of the planet Gabriel, society is divided between plague-ridden scavengers dying in droves and their Curador overlords, a select few living inside a hermetically sealed dome. Leica, an exiled orphan whose six-fingered mutation means she is considered to be “corrupted” by sin, stumbles upon the remains of a shuttle that could mean a way back to Earth. After plague kills her work crew, she seeks refuge in the Curadors’ dome, but in order to gain entry she is forced to become a concubine to a mysterious young Curador, Edison. In a twisted exploration of atonement and survival, Etienne (Harbinger) draws inspiration from a lesser-known Grimm’s fairy tale, “Fitcher’s Bird,” preserving that story’s bloody moments in scenes that include a throat slit in a mercy killing or the discovery of “little skeletons tucked into bed.” Genetic tests fuse animal and machine; Curadores regard women as incubators, pets, or property; allies sometimes prove to be monsters; and lust is one of many complicated emotions to be negotiated. The world of Gabriel is dismal but beautifully rendered by Etienne in stark, terrifying detail. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel & Goderich.

Carly Robins masterfully narrates this adventure, which mixes Korean, Mexican, and American cultural influences on an earth colony estranged from the mother planet. A plague has killed off most of the people of Pleiades, leaving a fractured society. Robins gives Leica, the teen heroine, changing personas--tough girl, scared kid, and heroic young woman--as she moves through various challenging situations. Robins's skill is impressive as she deftly imparts the linguistic twists of the non-English vocabulary while also managing the voices of characters ranging from slaves to aristocratic overseers. She employs minimal voicing throughout but achieves first-rate character definition using exquisite pacing and the passions of the individual players. M.C. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine