Conference noted::sf

1087.0. "Emma Bull's 'Bone Dance'" by RAGS::GINGRAS () Mon Jul 27 1992 17:01

I've just finished 'Bone Dance' by Emma Bull and I thought it was
excellent.  It has a real futuristic feel to it and the character
development was sufficient to help the reader identify with people
who were quite unusual.

I thought Emma did a great job combining elements of the occult with a
fantastic future scenario.  I have little knowledge of the occult, but
that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of this book.

The story hooked me in from the first page, although I wasn't sure at 
the very beginning if the writing might not be just a bit too clever
for my taste.

The story is narrated by the protagonist who speaks in a snappy, off-hand
manner and narrates using notebooks full of similes and metaphors (Such
as 'as useful as a domelight in a casket').  The abundance of witty 
descriptions slows down to a less distracting level and the narrative
flows very smoothly from there.

A difficult book to put down.  IMHO, it deserves its nomination for 
the '92 Hugo award.

  _Marty

    I enjoyed this as well.  It has a good street feel, and a nice
    mix of high-tech and voodoo.  I haven't read her previous book
    "War of the the Oaks"; can anyone else report on it?  /jlr