The Shadow Queen, by Anne Bishop

There has been a recent theme in chick fantasy, to emphasize alternative forms of sexuality. I'm specifically thinking of Jacqueline Carey and Laurell K. Hamilton. They're newcomers to the 'hawt fantasy' genre, if I can coin a phrase. Anne Bishop does it without being obvious...without making it the center of the story. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Hamilton and Carey, but I must admit that I find the contributions of the storyline to be very secondary to the main themes of feminine awakening and empowerment. Bishop tends to put the societal pressure of womanhood at the top of her list of narrative priorities, instead of somewhere around the middle--after the hawt, shirtless werewolves and vampires. I find several interesting themes in Anne Bishop's work. Mostly, I am deeply amused and intrigued by her literal interpretation of the notion of "The Battle Of The Sexes". Bishop focuses on the idea that men and women are locked in a constant, temporal conflict based on biology and spurred on by the fantastic elements in her story. I've always viewed fantasy as the way in which people can express their opinions and work out problems with no real world consequences. JRR Tolkien used The Lord Of The Rings to work out his notions concerning the inevitability of war, ethnic cleansing, and the economic effects of the decimation of a population. CS Lewis expressed his religious philosophy through his masterwork Ransom Trilogy. Perhaps most famously, Isaac Asimov fantasized (yes, yes, I know it's considered science fiction, but it's my review, so I'll mashup when I please) about the fall of a Galactic Empire in his Foundation Series; as we know, it was based on Gibbon's "Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire," Not to grant Bishop too much consequence, but her observations on the relations between the sexes at times rise to the insightfulness found in those magna opera. I'm particularly reminded of the scenes in the Shadow Queen between Jaenelle and Daemon, in which the simple wearing of a lover's shirt is a sign of possession and belonging. Bishop strikes a chord with me; for the first time, I find myself doing the same, as I borrow my fiance's shirt and return it to him, scented with my perfume. It seemed a gesture of familiarity and affection; perhaps Bishop is right, that it serves not only as comfort for me, but a base acknowledgment of possession by him? Regardless, Bishop's examination of the self-esteem issues suffered by a woman placed in unexpected authority over powerful, influential men strikes yet another chord with me. I have some sympathy with the struggles of Cassidy, a woman who has set herself to the task of leadership. She works without the support of those she has dominion over; she lacks their faith, but demands their respect. Over time, her choices lead them to see her in a different light, but these men have been poorly treated by women who have been placed in authority over them before. The real problem is the notion of rulership without accountability, or privilege without responsibility. This is fantasy, so I'll simply choose to accept that over time, Cassidy can earn the respect of the men she rules, but I'm certainly glad that Bishop presumes upon my capacity to suspend my disbelief. In general, I find the Black Jewels Series (of which this is a part) to be entertaining, but hardly serious epic fantasy. Do not think that I believe that only men can write epic fantasy; I believe that Janny Wurts and Kate Elliott--among others--have written truly magnificent entries into the genre. Still, if I ever write my own series, it would be no bad thing to be, as Bishop is, a must-read for relaxation and the occasional deeper point.