Welcome friend! I could not put down These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, a debut novella by Izzy Wasserstein and I must tell you about it. 🙂 Told from the perspective of a trans woman, I love how this book explores the queer trans experience in a dangerous futuristic world. Here is what the book is about:
Izzy Wasserstein | Goodreads
In a queer, noir technothriller of fractured identity and corporate intrigue, a trans woman faces her fear of losing her community as her past chases after her. This bold, thought-provoking debut science-fiction novella from a Lambda Award finalist is an exciting and unpredictable look at the fluid nature of our former and present selves.
In mid-21st-century Kansas City, Dora hasn’t been back to her old commune in years. But when Dora’s ex-girlfriend Kay is killed, and everyone at the commune is a potential suspect, Dora knows she’s the only person who can solve the murder.
As Dora is dragged back into her old community and begins her investigations, she discovers that Kay’s death is only one of several terrible incidents. A strange new drug is circulating. People are disappearing. And Dora is being attacked by assailants from her pre-transition past.
Meanwhile, It seems like a war between two nefarious corporations is looming, and Dora’s old neighborhood is their battleground. Now she must uncover a twisted conspiracy, all while navigating a deeply meaningful new relationship.
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart – Review
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart takes place in the dark pockets of a futuristic city. Society is divided into the coperates, the rich and the poor. Those with mental health concerns, addiction, anything and everything that is frowned upon or not the majority have been cornered into certain areas of the city. The neighbourhoods have long broken down and people find solace and safety in small communes. Dora used to be part of one such commune but a terrible accident involving her friend led her to leave. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is her return to the commune on hearing about the death of her ex, Kay.
Dora’s character is well fleshed out. Her voice is captivating. Sometimes with scifi that feels very different from my reality, I struggle to stay in the story. That was not the case with this book and that’s because of Dora. Dora is compassionate, empathetic, caring but also flawed, traumatised and struggling to stick to her morals. Her father wanted her to be the son she was born as and it took her years to run away and disassociate from him. The childhood trauma still follows her though. During the course of the story, Dora meets a clone of hers. It is illegal to clone people who are alive and Kay’s recent demise, leads Dora to believe that something sinister is going on. She has been on her own long enough and trusts very few contacts. When another of her clones decides to help her out, she is taken aback but does not refuse the help.
There is a lot packed in this short book. The desolate state of the world, the conflicts between safety and protection, the balance between trusting people and giving them a chance… the commune and Dora’s connection with it is an important aspect that drives her search for answers. There is corporate espionage and mistrust behind the scenes but the puppeteer is hidden well.
In the midst of all this, through succinct writing, Izzy Wasserstein beautifully explores what a clone of a trans woman may be like, the choices they could make, the people they could become, and in an extreme citation, how they might come to be, and a relationship that may spark between them. I adore the title of this novella. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart to me captures how small actions can captivate the heart. How meeting someone and spending time with them can hold a heart hostage. I love the concept and how it is depicted in this book.
I enjoyed the afterword of this book where Izzy shares the questions she wanted to explore in the science fiction context, the gap she noticed in the stories with clones, and how the story evolved beyond her initial imagination. I loved her insights. She created the world of this book with great care and meticulousness. I am excited to chat with her more about the book and share with you!
If you are interested in giving this book a read, add it to your Goodreads shelf. It will be published March 12th, 2024. Come back for a chat with Izzy tomorrow!
Many thanks to Tachyon Publications for a review copy of this book.
Be First to Comment