Ratings21
Average rating3.9
One of NPR's Best Books of 2016 and a Hugo, Nebula, John W. Campbell, and Locus Award finalist for Best Novella Professor Vellitt Boe teaches at the prestigious Ulthar Women’s College. When one of her most gifted students elopes with a dreamer from the waking world, Vellitt must retrieve her. "Kij Johnson's haunting novella The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is both a commentary on a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale and a profound reflection on a woman's life. Vellitt's quest to find a former student who may be the only person who can save her community takes her through a world governed by a seemingly arbitrary dream logic in which she occasionally glimpses an underlying but mysterious order, a world ruled by capricious gods and populated by the creatures of dreams and nightmares. Those familiar with Lovecraft's work will travel through a fantasy landscape infused with Lovecraftian images viewed from another perspective, but even readers unfamiliar with his work will be enthralled by Vellitt's quest. A remarkable accomplishment that repays rereading." —Pamela Sargent, winner of the Nebula Award At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Reviews with the most likes.
Teacher seeks student
ran off for love, stayed for math?
what a silly girl.
I liked some of the ideas, and characters, but I didn't love this one.
I'll start off by saying that I've never read HP Lovecraft's original story, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, but this certainly made me want to check it out. I don't think you need to read it in order to really enjoy Kij Johnson's own perspective on the story. This is a short, quick read, but packed with SO much I felt like I just read a 1000 page book. The world-building and the writing and the journey just pulled me right in and I felt swept away in a fantastical story like I haven't been for awhile. Vellitt Boe was a delightful character too. Highly recommended if you want a good fantasy/sci-fi to get swept up in, but can't commit to a 1000 page tome...this packs a punch in 165 pages. Warrants future re-reads as well!
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