My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My first exposure to Aliette de Bodard was through her excellent Aztec noir series, which captured me through its depiction of a fantasy world outside the normal northern European model. But this author isn't only imaginative in terms of world-building or plot: she writes like a virtuoso violinist, artfully combining pathos and humor in very real, human characters.
At first I mourned this novel's brevity: compared to her other novels, its short and quick, obtusely so toward the beginning. By the end, though, I'd made peace with its length (though I'd not be adverse to more from these characters).
Potential reader should be put on guard that the novel assumes you're already familiar with the universe it inhabits. After starting and feeling about as adrift as some of the station passengers in the book, I checked the author's website and discovered its a universe she's developed through several short story publications. I think more explanation in the novel itself would be helpful, especially for readers not already familiar with parts of Asian culture, but the author fortunately provides some background on her website to get you up-to-speed.
One flaw I noticed (and which I've see in quite a few indie eBooks, even from such established authors) were simple grammatical mistakes. Sometimes words were transposed or left out. It was never enough to pull me out of the story or impede my understanding. Still, it was noticeable, and all the more glaring due to the otherwise excellent prose (and the lack in her books published under a traditional publisher).
The story itself is another excellent fusion of the author's research into another culture and her extrapolation of that world into a new one, this time in a future space station. Two women, each with conflicting desires and needs, are forced into reliance and competition. Its a domestic situation with perilous consequences for many beyond their humble circle. If you want to learn more, I suggest cracking the book itself: the length allows for easy reading within a few days.
Finally, the author has a new novela set in this universe, which I read immediately after finishing On a Red Station, Drifting. For people wanting an introduction to the universe and the cultures involved, though, I'd recommend reversing that reading order. As an added bonus, reading the novela first preserves the "twist" that I quickly saw coming, but enjoyed nonetheless.
This review was previously posted at Goodreads and Amazon. I did not receive anything from the publisher or author for this review (but they're free to send me something now if they'd like). The book is currently available from Immersion Press via Amazon in Hardback ($14.85) and eBook editions ($2.99).
