Venus of Dreams

I am a bit disappointed by this book. I really like Pam Sargent: she edited the Women of Wonder Anthologies, and the introduction to the Classic Years anthology was full of interesting information and analysis. One of her more recent short stories really got me. I found this book at a sci-fi convention and was really excited about it.

The world is interesting: in the future, after some obligatory big die-up, the world is ruled in a global empire by Muslims who dominate and manage every level of society through an intense bureaucracy. There are very interesting social conventions and gender roles. The main character Iris is considered odd for flouting these conventions and wanting to learn.

Iris's journey through life, her victories, and her mistakes are worth reading about. However, I can't recommend this book if you're looking for a good plot. There is something like a plot that abandons the characters in favor of getting them embroiled in politics. I wanted to see Iris succeed and she just kinda well... doesn't. The book doesn't really set up what that success would mean, other than settling on Venus, so I guess the ending was sort of surprising. However, there were other problems. Much of the last half of the book relies on a betrayal that is not set up at all. I just didn't get it, and kept thinking I would by the end, but didn't. I might need to reread the book to get it, but that's not a good reason to reread. YMMV.