Dreamsnake

This story follows a nomadic healer named Snake. She combines her trained knowledge with a trio of rare, trained, genetically modified serpents that augment her abilities. One of these snakes (named Grass), whose venom is used as a pain-revealing and soothing drug, is accidentally killed in a moment of confusion and miscommunication by the parents of one of her patients. Snake subsequently believes that she is not able to help the populace effectively, and travels the fractured landscape in search of another dream snake.

This is perhaps one of the most tender and emotional novels I've read this year, perhaps ever. An immense amount of time is given to detailing the feelings of characters and their relationships. I would give the characterizations high marks here. I felt like I understood and cared for Snake, and a few of the other main characters. Snake is a strong character, and an excellent representation of women in genre fiction. Side characters tended to be pretty much one-dimensional by comparison. I particularly found the ultimate villain at the end to be kinda laughable in his simplicity. Plot definitely takes a backseat to character work.

I also really enjoyed the setting; a dying world in which some sort of cataclysm has befallen earth, so long ago that most knowledge has crept back to medieval levels. I enjoyed the limited suggestions towards the deeper knowledge that Snake has about why her practices work (ex. snake venom being replaced with vaccine), while the populace perceives her with an air of myth and religion. I was rather puzzled at the inclusion of vague references towards an alien influence on the world. It felt shallow, not explored enough to really make it sensical to include.

In terms of actual writing quality, I was torn. The first chapter, which was first published and written as a stand-alone novella several years before the novel, was excellent. It was highly stylized, evocative, and mythical. I really enjoyed that strong sense of voice that McIntyre had. Unfortunately the rest of the book is written in a much more plain and direct style. Sometimes it could even be characterized as boring. I think it tended to fit well with the rest of what McIntyre was trying to do, but I personally could've done with a more complex style.

Dreamsnake struggles with the issue of self-worth and agency. Many of the characters introduced have low self-esteem and feel that they are trapped in their circumstances, that they can do nothing to escape. Snake herself struggles with feelings of inadequacy after Grass is killed, convincing herself that she can't help people anymore, that she must find a new dream snake to be a healer. Yet she shows her competency a every turn, doing everything that she can to help those around her in spite of her own perceived failings. She shows other characters how they can break from their own cycles, that they have value. Much of how this theme is presented reads as young adult fiction to me, even though the literal subject matter can be dark and graphic at times.

I think I enjoyed the first section of Dreamsnake, as Snake travels through the desert, the most. Afterwards it feels a bit more uneven to me, with some pretty boring sections peppering some otherwise enjoyable character work.