The Deep, by Rivers Solomon

[sophia_sol]

This novella is just so impressive and powerful and transportative. Wow. Gosh.

But it's also one of those books that's good in ways that I find hard to talk about, which always makes me so mad because how am I supposed to convince other people to read a book if I can't explain just why it's so worth reading???

Anyway it's about an underwater community of people descended from folks who were thrown overboard from slaving ships, from the perspective of the Historian of this people, as well as the perspective of the Remembrances that the Historian carries on behalf of all of them.

And it's about like, generational trauma and healing, and neurodivergence, and queer love. And Rivers Solomon is just such a good writer!

Comments

[sholio]

Oh yeah, this has been on my to-read list ever since I saw it come up on some Pride reading lists at the start of the month! It looks really good.

[sophia_sol]

yeah, it's been on my to-read list ever since it was first announced, as being inspired by the song of the same name by clipping. I'm so glad it was nominated for the Hugos because that's what finally got me around to prioritizing reading it!

[mergatrude]

You have me convinced at "it's about an underwater community of people descended from folks who were thrown overboard from slaving ships" because I remember watching a documentary when I was young and being horrified at that. I want to believe they survived. :(

[sophia_sol]

I know, the history of slave ships has just so many different levels of awful to it :(

[mergatrude]

I have now read this (I suggested it for purchase by my library) and I understand exactly what you mean about how to explain it. But it's so good! Thank you for posting about it.

[sophia_sol]

Ah yayyy, thank you so much for telling me! It's so good.