I’m chatting today with Amanda and AJ. AJ is one of our new reviewers, and AJ and Amanda both are obsessed with Gideon the Ninth. They both have book hangover. There might be Halloween costumes in the planning stages inspired by this book. They are dying to talk about someone with it. So, we connected and recorded their conversation, and tried to answer a lot of questions. What genre is this book? Who were their favorite characters? Why did it give them both some epic levels of book hangover?
What’s Gideon the Ninth? It came out September 10, it hit the NYT, and the tagline was “lesbian necromancers in space.” Folks who read it seem to be obsessed.
Here’s the cover copy:
The Emperor needs necromancers.
The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.
Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.
Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
WARNING: we spoil the heck out of Gideon the Ninth, FEED, Harry Potter, and, in a moment of great scandal, talk about where we bailed on the Potter series.
