Official SFFW Review: Kit Whitfield's Bareback

[kater]

I was lucky enough to see an advance copy and wholeheartedly recommmend this as one of the best books of the year, the review is here but as a brief rundown Bareback is set in a world where 99% of the population are lycanthropes - werewolves. Those few 'unlucky' enough to be born what we consider normal (called a 'non' or more insultingly 'bareback') have to join DORLA, the Department for the Ongoing Regulation of Lycanthropic Activity. DORLA polices the twilight world when the moon is full because once a month the whole world shuts down as most of the populations gets furred up, locks themselves in special cages at home or in shelters and trys not to cause too much damage. The world is rich, detailed and intelligent, Ms Whitfield has thought of every possible issue that her world throws up and writes fantastic prose and dialogue. I absolutely loved this book and I haven't said that about one in a good long while, plus it's her debut novel which makes it all the more staggering ... and a little sickening

[DrBloodmoney1]

Once again the US market is getting a TPB where the UK market is getting a hardcover release. Looks like I'll be importing this one too.

Oh by the way, the title in the states is Benighted

US
UK

[switchable]

Nice review, though you didn't really get into what the book was about.

Sure it's about some "non" in a world of lycans, but what is the book about ?
What is the story within the story ?

Anyhow, the story sounds orginal and intressing, and if as you say the author really manages to fit the story in the world she created, I will probably read the book.

[Hobbit]

It's a tough market at the moment, with both vampires and werewolves being touted big time; to make the sort of impact you've written about, Kater, must mean that it is better than the majority.

Usually werewolves are tied in with the ideas of 'outsiders', of being different, and the racial issues (or at the very least 'differences') that are a result of that. Here it sounds different in that the outsiders are people who are 'normal'; which makes the book a little different.

Hobbit

[kater]

Once again the US market is getting a TPB where the UK market is getting a hardcover release. Looks like I'll be importing this one too.

Oh by the way, the title in the states is Benighted

Thanks it's a good point and I received the UK version where the cover and the whole production values are really strong, almost non-fiction like.

Nice review, though you didn't really get into what the book was about.

Sure it's about some "non" in a world of lycans, but what is the book about ?
What is the story within the story ?

Anyhow, the story sounds orginal and intressing, and if as you say the author really manages to fit the story in the world she created, I will probably read the book.

Yeah tbh I wanted to avoid giving away as much as possible, which does make it a bit too vague. The storyline is that Galley's partner had his hand bitten off by a lyco during a full moon, unfortunately due to the DORLA staff shortages Galley has to defend her partner's attacker and just as the attacker was due to stand trial Galley's partner was shot in the back of the head from close range - by a silver bullet, something only 'nons' use. Like the tip of the iceberg though there is way more going on underneath, events that got to the very heart of what DORLA is.
Edit: I've altered the review to add more of the storyline, thanks for the feedback

[Yobmod]

Talk about a poor choice of title. Try putting 'Bareback' into google - anyone think the author knew what it meant in the real world?

[switchable]

Now it sounds even more intressing ...
Nice amendment.

Seem "my" bookstore doesn't have it yet, though.
Curse of being Swedish I guess, but I'm sure they'll get it soon.

[Yobmod]

Btw, seems like a very good review

One criticism (of the site really) is that i couldn't see an easy way to find reviews according to reviewer: hence 'one of the best books i've read this year' doesn't tell me much. Maybe you've only read one book from this year? who knows!

[kater]

Talk about a poor choice of title. Try putting 'Bareback' into google - anyone think the author knew what it meant in the real world?

Unclear but I don't really think it's relevant, the title plays a fairly integral part in the storyline and refers to the major conflict in that world so it's meaning outside of the story is probably unintentional - although the inference may be greater in the US hence the change of name.

As for your other point - it would be nice to have titles listed by reviewer but there are so many things we're trying to do with the site that it will take time Plus even then it wouldn't be a fair reflection because what a reviewer reads and which books they actually review may be quite a significant distance apart, we have 'lives' as well (shhhhh )

[Yobmod]

Unclear but I don't really think it's relevant

I just thought it strange that a writer (who i'd expect to have greater knowledge of language that me) would use a sexually explicit slang word as the title of a book. Surely googling the intended title of a book is the minimum amount of research a writer should do?
Its not an especially obscure use of the word, very few of the links google finds is about horse riding, and there were all the jokes about Brokeback Mountain....

[werewolfv2]

Talk about a poor choice of title. Try putting 'Bareback' into google - anyone think the author knew what it meant in the real world?

yeah I know. Ive been laughing my butt off over the title since this thread was posted!

[KatG]

Oh for goodness sake, bareback's original meaning was and is riding a horse without a saddle. It can also refer to a back which is bare. That it gets used as a sexual slang word means nothing. If we couldn't use all the regular words that get turned into sex terms, you'd be getting rid of a large vocabulary, starting with screw. And there's nothing wrong with her using the term as a title, if it's a main term in her story, and having it be provocative precisely because it's also used as slang. If that's the reason that they changed it in the U.S., then they're wussies.

I'll take Kater's word for it that the world is very believable in execution and the story sounds interesting, but it also sounds like a completely unworkable society to me.

[kater]

I just thought it strange that a writer (who i'd expect to have greater knowledge of language that me) would use a sexually explicit slang word as the title of a book. Surely googling the intended title of a book is the minimum amount of research a writer should do?
Its not an especially obscure use of the word, very few of the links google finds is about horse riding, and there were all the jokes about Brokeback Mountain....

Having just had the interview questions back and I can happily say I am wrong I asked about it and her honest answer can be found in the interview here.

[KatG]

She's British, yes? Does the novel take place in an alternate England, or some other country, real or imaginary?