AvonVilla reviewed Norstrilia by Cordwainer Smith
A future mythology of "my" country
5 stars
Cordwainer Smith (real name Paul Linebarger) visited Australia and was quite taken with the place. It was the inspiration for Norstrilia, the planet of the far future where giant alien sheep are farmed, not for mutton, but to produce the life-extending drug stroon. Norstrilia is the only place where this substance exists, so the planet is immensely powerful and wealthy. This concept pre-dates the Spice from Frank Herbet's Dune by several years.
Considering the vast canvas this novel covers, the Australian inspiration is a small element. It persists through the protagonist Rod McBan, who embarks on a mythic quest to old earth, where he joins the underpeople, an oppressed class of human-animal hybrids. There's a risk that when a foreigner tries to depict a country they have only briefly experienced, it comes across badly. But this is not a depiction of Australia, it's a phantasmagorical SF story. The inspiration seems …
Cordwainer Smith (real name Paul Linebarger) visited Australia and was quite taken with the place. It was the inspiration for Norstrilia, the planet of the far future where giant alien sheep are farmed, not for mutton, but to produce the life-extending drug stroon. Norstrilia is the only place where this substance exists, so the planet is immensely powerful and wealthy. This concept pre-dates the Spice from Frank Herbet's Dune by several years.
Considering the vast canvas this novel covers, the Australian inspiration is a small element. It persists through the protagonist Rod McBan, who embarks on a mythic quest to old earth, where he joins the underpeople, an oppressed class of human-animal hybrids. There's a risk that when a foreigner tries to depict a country they have only briefly experienced, it comes across badly. But this is not a depiction of Australia, it's a phantasmagorical SF story. The inspiration seems to be imbued with a lot of affection for our wide brown land, and I love the book all the more for this. I also like the references to civil rights and disability - or perhaps neuro-diversity. I hope I'm not drawing too long a bow by using those modern words to describe Rod's impairment compared to his fellow Norstrilians.
I would be tempted to take half a star off because the story lacks logic and coherence. A lot of things seem to happen as a result of the forces of destiny, which mystical sages can understand, but Rod McBan, and indeed the reader, must simply accept. But I've read enough fantasy and mythology to recognise that this can be a strength, rather than a weakness, if you don't mind a bit of softness in your SF. A Ray Bradbury fan might know what I mean.