Mini Review: “High Couch of Silistra” by Janet Morris

This post is a part of a series of mini-reviews of books that I read while on blogging hiatus last fall.

The High Couch of Silistra by Janet Morris is set on a post-apocalyptic planet that had been ravaged by nuclear war.  Genetic mutations have made it very difficult to procreate, and so society has been arranged to glorify promiscuity in the hopes that some genetic combinations may prove fruitful.  Civilization is centered around the Wells, which are pretty much centers of prostitution, and women hold most of the power in society.

When Estri, the Well-Keepress of Astria, receives a mysterious letter detailing her conception, she begins a journey to discover more about her past and origins.  She hopes that if she is able to find out who her alien father is, she might learn more about herself and what kind of man would allow her to produce a child.  However, for most of the novel, she just wanders around and has kinky sex with a lot of people.  Mind you, I don’t mind sex in my pulp fiction novels (Case in point:  I strangely enjoy the John Norman’s Gor novels), but in High Couch of Silistra, it was too much of a distraction from an otherwise very interesting plot.  The last 50 or so pages of the novel were a drastic improvement, and as such, I’d be willing to pick up the next book in the series if I ever come across it at a used book sale.  At the same time, I wouldn’t go as far as actually recommending High Couch of Silistra unless you are extremely bored.

“The Color of Rain” by Cori McCarthy

“The Color of Rain” by Cori McCarthy is a YA dystopian novel about prostitutes in space.  Set in a distant future, the novel features Rain White, a young woman living the industrial planet of Earth City.  Rain’s parents are dead, and her younger brother is Touched, which means that he has a neurodegenerative disease similar to Alzheimer’s.  There is no cure for the Touched on Rain’s planet, but there are rumors that advanced medical technology exists beyond the Void.

When a handsome pilot named Johnny arrives on Earth City, Rain sees a chance to save her brother.  She sells herself to Johnny in exchange for passage for her brother’s passage, but after arriving in space, she discovers that Johnny’s up to something much more sinister.  Not only is he running a prostitution ring, but he’s also trafficking a hold full of the Touched to be sold as slaves.  Rain must use every tool at her disposal to put an end to Johnny’s plans.

Although the novel is being marketed as Young Adult, I think that it’s a prime example of the New Adult genre.  It’s written in a similar style as YA novels, but because sexual violence and coercion is a major plot element, it’s more appropriate to older teens or college students.

The relationship between Rain and Johnny can best be described as a battle of wills.  Both of them are the type of people, for better or worse, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.  The scenes between Johnny and Rain resemble a game of cat-and-mouse, but Rain quickly realizes that she can manipulate Johnny by playing up his view of the ideal woman.

Much like in “The Hunger Games,” Rain finds herself almost entirely on her own aboard Johnny’s ship, because he uses violence and social stratification to keep his prisoners in check.  She very quickly learns that any friendships she has will be used against her.

Rain’s one ally is a Mec named Ben, who becomes the book’s primary love interest.  The Mecs are cyborgs, enhanced since birth to have increased perception and physical strength.  People are suspicious of Mecs because they’re afraid of them and don’t understand their humanity, but Rain is able to look past her initial perceptions and see him for the good person that he truly is.  Ben and Rain make a great team and a cute couple, and they bring out the best in each other.

Cori McCarthy brings us an action-packed sci-fi thriller.  Recommended for fans of dark-and-edgy dystopian fiction.