Birdverse: The Unbalancing

Birdverse: The Unbalancing
R B Lemberg
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NZ$ 34.99
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NZ$ 27.99
Paperback
h203 x 127mm - 256pg
20 Sep 2022 US
International import eta 7-19 days
9781616963804
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In this first full-length novel from the acclaimed Birdverse, new love blossoms between an impatient starkeeper and a reclusive poet as they try together to save their island home. Nebula, Locus, and Ignyte finalist R. B. Lemberg (The Four Profound Weaves) has crafted a gorgeous tale of the inevitable transformations of communities and their worlds. The Unbalancing is rooted in the mystical cosmology, neurodiversity, and queerness that infuses Lemberg' s lyrical prose, which has invited glowing comparisons to N. K. Jemisin, Patricia A. McKillip, and Ursula K. Le Guin. Beneath the waters by the islands of Gelle-Geu, a star sleeps restlessly. The celebrated new starkeeper Ranra Kekeri, who is preoccupied by the increasing tremors, confronts the problems left behind by her predecessor. Meanwhile, the poet Erigra Lilun, who merely wants to be left alone, is repeatedly asked by their ancestor Semberi to take over the starkeeping helm. Semberi insists upon telling Lilun mysterious tales of the deliverance of the stars by the goddess Bird. When Ranra and Lilun meet, sparks begin to fly. An unforeseen configuration of their magical deepnames illuminates the trouble under the tides. For Ranra and Lilun, their story is just beginning; for the people of Gelle-Geu, it may well be too late to save their home. About the Birdverse: The Birdverse is the creation of fantasy author R. B. Lemberg. It is a complex, culturally diverse world, with a range of LGBTQIA characters and different family configurations. Named after its deity, Bird, Birdverse shorter works have been nominated for the Nebula, Hugo, Tiptree award, and Rhysling awards. The Four Profound Weaves is the first full-length work set in the Birdverse. ' An enchanting world of star lore, magic and gender identity with a roster of heartfelt characters. ' -Tlotlo Tsamaase,The Silence of the Wilting Skin' The finely wrought first full-length outing into Lemberg' s inclusive and lushly folkloricBirdverseuniverse (after the novellaThe Four Profound Weaves). . . Bittersweet and lovely. ' -Publishers Weekly

#01: Four Profound Weaves, The
Unbalancing, The

Book Riot Notable Nonbinary Books You Should Check Out"The lush lyricism of the mythology, culture and history in The Unbalancing is illustrious and transportive. It' s an enchanting world of star lore, magic and gender identity. " --Tlotlo Tsamaase, The Silence of the Wilting Skin"In all their fiction from the fascinating Birdverse world, Lemberg centers marginalized identities: queer, trans, neurodiverse, elderly, and more The Unbalancing is Lemberg' s first novel-length book to take place in the Birdverse. It' s a poetic and magical Atlantis-esque novel and a perfect introduction to the Birdverse. . " --Buzzfeed"The finely wrought first full-length outing into Lemberg' s inclusive and lushly folkloric Birdverse universe (after the novella The Four Profound Weaves) begins centuries after the goddess Bird carried 12 stars into the world. One of these stars has become increasingly unstable, tormented by nightmares as it sleeps beneath the Gelle-Geu archipelago. Neurodivergent nonbinary poet Erigra Lilun has a subconscious connection to the star, but they' re uninterested in assuming the powerful position of starkeeper, preferring their quiet life of contemplation and gardening. Meanwhile, the brash and determined new starkeeper, Ranra Kekeri, discovers that the islands' circumstances are far more dire than anyone realizes: unless the people of Gelle-Geu can stabilize the star, the archipelago is headed for environmental collapse. When Erigra and Ranra meet, they' re instantly drawn to one another as they rush to galvanize their community to mend what has been broken. Brisk action balances the meditations on gender and glimpses of the complex magic system as this unpredictable tale wends to an intense and deeply moving climax. It' s bittersweet and lovely. " --Publishers Weekly"The intricate world of magical names and variations of gender identity provide nuance and character growth while still providing enough action to build to its climactic end. VERDICT Lemberg' s first full-length novel in their lauded ' Birdverse' (following the novella The Four Profound Weaves) showcases elegant and lyrical prose to create an immersive romantic fantasy. " --Library Journal"In a narrative by turns gentle and implacable, Lemberg writes movingly and magnificently about disaster, survival, and hope. " --Kate Elliott, author of the Crown of Stars series [STARRED REVIEW] "Lovingly crafted with a deep and rewarding world full of complex characters who are often LGBTQIA+ and/or neurodiverse, this is an outstanding novel from a rising star in fantasy fiction. " --Booklist"Readers of Lemberg' s poetry and fiction will delight in The Unbalancing, which expands the geography of the Birdverse beyond the city of Iyar and the Great Burri Desert, the backdrops for events in Lemberg' s Nebula-award finalist, The Four Profound Weaves (2020). " --FEMSPEC"Beautiful and queer and challenging and tender. And it' s a story that could not have been told without Erigra' s autistic point of view, without a deep respect for needs like Erigra' s, which comes from lived, thoughtful experience. " --Autistic Book Party"Lemberg' s stories embrace truths that we are afraid to confront: that sometimes failure is inevitable, but that hopeful futures can still be found amid the destruction. Despair, love, survival, death, identity, and community are intimately intertwined in the Birdverse. This is one of the most beautiful and important books I' ve read this year. " --Nibidita Sen, Hugo, Nebula, and Ignyte Award-nominated author "[The Unbalancing] impacted me greatly, yes, you should read this book. [It] is a respite and a consolation. It made me cry, and gave me strength. " --Trans Narrative"R. B. Lemberg' s Birdverse is one of my favorite places to visit, full of queer possibilities and deep emotional and philosophical musings. In The Unbalancing they give us wonder, devastation, resilience, and love. " --Julia Rios, Hugo Award-winning editor of Uncanny Magazine"A beautiful and nuanced work about love, power, and magic. " --Quick Sip Reviews"A novel at times raging, at times romantic, but through everything beautiful and powerfully human. " --Charles Payseur, author of The Burning Day"Reading this book is like diving into the most beautiful language exploring various aspects of human possibility. Everything in this book is so fluid from the words, the setting itself, but also the characters--the way they think, the way they feel, and the way they present. " --Infinite Text"Beautiful and queer and challenging and tender. And it' s a story that could not have been told without Erigra' s autistic point of view, without a deep respect for needs like Erigra' s, which comes from lived, thoughtful experience. " --Ada Hoffmann, Philip K. Dick Award finalist and author of The Outside5/5 stars. "This is a story about a magical star with dark origins, a beautiful archipelago, a wise and appealing culture whose people are free in their lives and loves, some of the best nonbinary rep I' ve seen in SFF fiction . . . The Unbalancing is a beautiful novel, and a welcome ramping-up of Lemberg' s Birdverse. " --Crane Hana Books"An exquisite marriage of imaginative world-building, insightful relationships, and a compelling story . . . As with Lemberg' s previous novella, The Four Profound Weaves, The Unbalancing is a tale of emotional power and superbly handled prose that often approaches poetry in its nuance and poise. Highly recommended. " --Deborah Ross 5/5 stars. "A a beautiful read . . . I love this diverse world with queer characters and all kinds of families. " --Book Blogging"The Unbalancing is amazing. R. B. Lemberg is a skilled worldbuilder, and the Birdverse is a perfect and rich example of what speculative fiction is meant to do. " --Dori Mondon Praise for The Four Profound WeavesBuzzfeed Best Book Releases of the Week Publishers Weekly 2020 Top-10 Fall SF, Fantasy, and Horror Autostraddle Queer and Feminist Books Coming Your Way in 2020Ms. Magazine Reads for the Rest of Us 2020 Washington Post Gift Guide 2020 UK Independent Gift Guide"The Four Profound Weaves contains imagery that glows on the page. " --Patricia A. McKillip, author of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld[STARRED REVIEW] "Nebula-nominated Lemberg' s first novella, set in their deeply queer "Birdverse" universe, presents a beautiful, heartfelt story of change, family, identity, and courage. " --Library Journal"Thoughtful and deeply moving, The Four Profound Weaves is the anti-authoritarian, queer-mystical fairy tale we need right now. " --Annalee Newitz, author of Autonomous and The Future of Another Timeline[STARRED REVIEW] "Lemberg' s outstanding debut novel expands on the short stories of the Birdverse that they have been publishing for about a decade . . . This diverse, folkloric fantasy world is a delight to visit. --Publishers Weekly"R. B. Lemberg writes with a luminous pen, spraying light all around their words and ideas. " --Jewelle Gomez, author, The Gilda Stories
R. B. Lemberg is a queer, bigender immigrant from Eastern Europe and Israel. Their stories and poems have appeared in Queers Destroy Science Fiction!, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Uncanny Magazine, Sisters of the Revolution: A Feminist Speculative Fiction Anthology, and many other venues. Lemberg' s work has been a finalist for the Nebula, Crawford, and other awards. Their debut Birdverse novella, The Four Profound Weaves, came out from Tachyon in 2020; the novella was nominated for the World Fantasy, Locus, Nebula, and Ignyte awards and it was selected for the Otherwise Award Honor List. You can find more of their work on their Patreon (patreon. com/rblemberg) and a full bio at rblemberg. net.
Status: Indent title, imported to order
ISBN-13: 9781616963804
Published: 20 Sep 2022
Published In: United States
Imprint: Tachyon Publications
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Format: Paperback
Height: 203mm
Width: 127mm
Weight: 368g
Pages: 256

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