Marie Brennan's "VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK: A MEMOIR BY LADY TRENT"
Review by Dennis D. McDonald
This novel is a tour de force of storytelling. It masterfully combines fantasy, 19th-century voyages of natural science, and a subtle yet powerful rebellion against female repression.
Like the first novel in the series about the fictional "Lady Trent" and her journey to becoming a preeminent expert on the various species of dragons that coexist with humans, this installment is filled with realistic and detailed descriptions of dragon behavior and physiology. These details reflect a clever imagining of 19th-century geopolitics, long voyages of discovery funded by investors, and the struggles to understand the evolving sciences of evolution and natural selection.
Lady Trent is relentless in her pursuit of knowledge in a world where various kinds of dragons live alongside humans. Sometimes these dragons are treated with respect, while at other times, they are exploited by black marketeers who value their bones, feathers, or scales.
Are dragons related to birds? Are their wings truly "dragon-like"? Why do some dragon bones decompose rapidly when exposed to air? Can the lightweight yet strong structure of dragon bones be replicated through industrial chemistry?
These are just some of the questions that drive the plot as Lady Trent's world faces the challenges of mechanization and industrialization. To top it all off, she decides to take her nine-year-old son along on her voyage of discovery—a decision that will have significant consequences as the plot unfolds.
A special attraction of this book is the artwork by Todd Lockwood. His illustrations of various animal types are simply wonderful and more than make up for the unfortunate decision by the publisher, Tor, to print the hardback version of the book using a difficult-to-read light blue ink. The novel tackles a wide range of topics, exploring gender roles in surprising ways, as well as Lady Trent’s complex relationship with her son, whom she pretends at one point is not hers.
Review copyright 2024 by Dennis D. McDonald
