Slow River

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This article is about the science fiction book. For the record label, see Slow River Records.

Slow River
LC Class
PS3557.R48935 S58 1995

Slow River is a

Lambda Literary Award
. The novel received critical praise for its writing and setting, while its use of multiple narrative modes was criticised.

Summary

The novel features three narrative strands. The first in the internal chronology tells of Lore Van Oesterling, the scion of a rich and powerful family, being trained for a high-ranking position in its industry of genetically modified bacteria. Lore has to contend with her abusive family members at the same time.

sewage treatment plant, before eventually confronting her family.[1]

Reception

The novel was first published in 1995. It won the

Lambda Literary Award in 1996.[4] Kirkus Reviews directed praise at Griffith's setting, writing that her "grim near-future" was convincing. Describing the book as an "explicitly lesbian drama", the review added that Griffith wrote with "skill and charm".[1] Publishers Weekly was critical of the switches between first- and third-person narratives, noting that it was "refreshing at first", but led to increasing confusion:[2] this criticism was echoed by Kirkus.[1] Publishers Weekly added that the viewpoint switches were Griffith's "only miss-step", and that the novel was "exceptionally well-written".[2] The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction wrote that the plot was "humane but at times contorted", and noted the depth in which Griffith explored her fictional near-future setting.[5]

Scholar Pia Møller described the book as both a thriller and a romance, and noted that this may have led to it receiving less attention from critics, particularly as Griffith may have "compromised character development for suspense".

lesbian romance, in particular, may have led to it being marginalised. She added that the story featured a "sophisticated depiction of environmental management", and praised Griffith for writing a book that made sociological themes accessible to a wide audience.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Slow River". Kirkus Reviews. 1 August 1995. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Slow River by Nicola Griffith". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. ^ "The Nebula Awards". Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  4. ^ Cerna, Antonio Gonzalez (14 July 1996). "8th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Lambda Literary. Lambdaliterary.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  5. ^ "SFE: Griffith, Nicola". SFE. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^
    ISSN 1076-0962
    .
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