Carnival

By: Elizabeth Bear

Narrated by: Celeste Ciulla

Garnering rave reviews from multiple publications, Elizabeth Bear is a rising voice in science fiction.

Michelangelo Kisanagi-Jones and Vincent Katherinessen, former abassador-spies, have been ordered to New Amazonia to bring back information about the planet's cheap, renewable energy source. But secretly, one of the men devises other plans.

©2006 Elizabeth Bear (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"[An] action-packed, thought-provoking story." ( Booklist, starred review)

Amazon utopia

Elizabeth Bear’s Carnival feels much like a forced tale. The universe consists of ‘old Earth’ which is governed by a stringent AI system that has forced many to flee to establish societies on other planets. Earth has been attempting to pull them back into its clutches. One such planet is a society of Amazons, where males are essentially slaves. The planet also possesses alien technology that offers unlimited energy. Two diplomats from Earth go in under cover to ascertain the nature of the technology. While on the surface, the society comes off as a utopia, but beneath the surface there are multiple factions vying for overall control.

Bear offers a society of completely reverse gender roles with women strapping on pistols and dueling each other over honor slights. The relationship of the energy source with the settling of the planet is not fully detailed. The Earth diplomats just happen to have a prior ‘bromance’ that adds some color commentary, while the Amazon society is a hodge-podge of various factional groups that appear to be at each other’s throats. Many of the character names appear intended to be disorienting.

The narration is reasonable with moderate character distinction. Pacing is on the slow side.

Best book I've 'listened to' all year

I really enjoyed Carnival. It is a really interesting and intriguing space opera/sci fi story with a fun gay couple as the protagonists. And this is a gay couple with mega baggage from their previous encounter, but a lot of love for eachother. Vincent and Angelo are both diplomats, but Vincent is out to succeed in his mission and Angelo is out to sabotage it. Their reasons are complex and heart-wrenching. They also have to deal with New Amazonia- a planet where men aren't well regarded, and the politics and aliens on this stange new world. I though the narrator did a wonderful job with these characters, and their lives. The only thing is I felt like there should be a prequel to Carnival. A story where Vince and Angelo first meet. There is so much history there it really needed to be explored.

Overall, I really liked it and am looking for more books like this one.

There is some sex, but its light and nderstated and this is not an erotic book although there is romance.