Gideon the Ninth

Gideon the Ninth is a 2019 science fantasy novel by the New Zealand writer Tamsyn Muir. It is Muir's debut novel and the first in her Locked Tomb trilogy, to be followed by Harrow the Ninth (2020) and Alecto the Ninth.[1]

Gideon the Ninth
Cover art
AuthorTamsyn Muir
Cover artistTommy Arnold
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesLocked Tomb
GenreScience fantasy
PublisherTor.com
Publication date
10 September 2019
Media typePrint (hardcover)
eBook
Audiobook (read by Moira Quirk)
Pages448
ISBN978-1250313195
Followed byHarrow the Ninth 

Plot

Gideon the Ninth is a science fantasy set in a galactic empire with nine planets, each ruled by a house that practices its own unique type of necromancy. The emperor, who rules the First House, uses his most powerful necromancers (known as "Lyctors") and his army (known as the "Cohort") to wage a war against an unknown enemy. The Emperor invites the heirs and cavaliers of the Nine Houses to compete to become new Lyctors.

The narrative begins when 18-year-old orphan Gideon Nav attempts to escape from the planet controlled by the Ninth House, where she was raised in indentured servitude. Gideon's plan is foiled by the Ninth House's heir, Harrowhark "Harrow" Nonagesimus, who enlists Gideon as her primary cavalier in Harrow's bid to become a Lyctor. Although advanced technology exists, cavaliers fight with a rapier and a complementary offhand weapon such as a dagger; Gideon's offhand weapon is a type of spiked gauntlet referred to as "knuckles," which is considered an unusual choice.[2] Harrow and Gideon travel to the planet ruled by the First House, where they explore a decaying mansion known as Canaan House along with the heirs and cavaliers primary of the other houses.

In their investigation of Canaan House, the heirs and cavaliers uncover ancient experiments and challenges that reveal powerful necromantic methods and the secrets of Lyctorhood. After a series of unexplained deaths, the remaining Houses turn to bribery, blackmail, and unsteady alliances. Gideon develops a crush on Dulcinea Septimus, the necromancer of the Seventh House. Gideon eventually learns that 'Dulcinea' was replaced by Cytherea, the emperor's first Lyctor. Cytherea has been murdering people in an effort to draw the emperor onto the planet, where she can attack him. Gideon sacrifices herself to make Harrow a Lyctor; Harrow kills Cytherea. Harrow is rescued by the Emperor, who states that his Lyctors have been slowly going insane for the past few millennia. The Empire is in danger, and Harrowhark agrees to serve the Emperor as Harrowhark the First.

Reception

Gideon the Ninth was named one of the best books of 2019 by several publications and organizations including NPR,[3] Vox,[4] the New York Public Library,[5] Wired,[6] Polygon,[7][8] Bustle,[9] Paste,[10] Shelf Awareness,[11] Book Riot,[12] and Gizmodo Australia,[13] and was selected by Amazon's editors as the best science fiction and fantasy book of 2019.[14] It has received endorsements from authors V. E. Schwab, Charles Stross, Robin Sloan, Warren Ellis, Martha Wells, Amal El-Mohtar,[15] Kiersten White, Annalee Newitz, Genevieve Cogman, Kameron Hurley, Django Wexler, Yoon Ha Lee, Rebecca Roanhorse, Richard Kadrey, Rin Chupeco, Max Gladstone, and Brooke Bolander.[16]

Writing in The New York Times, El-Mohtar called Gideon the Ninth a "devastating debut that deserves every ounce of hype it’s received" and praised it as "deft, tense and atmospheric, compellingly immersive and wildly original."[17] Jason Sheehan's NPR review also praised the novel's originality, appreciating its ability to balance many different genres: "Gideon the Ninth is too funny to be horror, too gooey to be science fiction, has too many spaceships and autodoors to be fantasy, and has far more bloody dismemberings than your average parlor romance."[18] Constance Grady in Vox said the novel was "sleek and compulsively readable," and commended Muir's ability to slide her "voice seamlessly from Lovecraftian gothic mode into a slangy contemporary mode without ever undercutting one or the other for cheap comedy."[19] Adam Rowe in Forbes also commented on the Muir's incorporation of "2019 language tics," calling it enjoyable. In Rowe's interview with Muir, she said of the novel's prose that the "irreverent tone" was intended "to balance out the horror aspect and some of the heavier, more Gormenghastian stylings."[20] Critics also complimented the fight scenes,[21] which Muir wrote in consultation with an experienced sword-fighter.[22]

Liz Bourke and Carolyn Cushman gave a more critical review in Locus, saying that the novel failed "in its interrogation of the central hate-co-dependence-need relationship between Gideon and Harrow."[23]

The novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Nebula Award for Best Novel,[24] the 2020 World Fantasy Award,[25] and the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel,[26] and won the 2020 Locus Award for Best First Novel.[27]

References
  1. Engle-Laird, Carl (19 March 2018). "Enter the Ninth House: Announcing Tamsyn Muir's Debut Trilogy". Tor.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  2. Muir, Tamsyn (13 September 2019). "From Skulls to Swords: Dissecting the Cover for Gideon the Ninth". Tor.com. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  3. "Best Reads Of The Year, Picked By NPR Book Editor". www.wbur.org. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  4. Grady, Constance (6 December 2019). "The best books I read in 2019". Vox. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  5. "NYPL 2019 Best Books for Adults". www.nypl.org. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  6. "WIRED's 13 Must-Read Books for Fall". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  7. Liptak, Andrew (13 December 2019). "The best science fiction and fantasy books of 2019". Polygon. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  8. Liptak, Andrew (1 December 2019). "10 new science fiction and fantasy books to check out this December". Polygon. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  9. "This Year's Debut Authors Pick The Best Books Of 2019". Bustle. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  10. "The 19 Best Novels of 2019". pastemagazine.com. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  11. "Shelf Awareness for Readers for Tuesday, December 3, 2019". www.shelf-awareness.com. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  12. "Best Books of 2019". BOOK RIOT. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  13. "The Best Sci-Fi And Fantasy Novels Of 2019". Gizmodo Australia. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  14. Rocket, Stubby the (15 November 2019). "Gideon the Ninth Is Amazon's Best SciFi/Fantasy Book of the Year!". Tor.com. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  15. El-Mohtar, Amal (18 October 2019). "Dark Books for Dark Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  16. Publishing, Tor com. "Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir | Tor.com Publishing". Tor Publishing. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  17. El-Mohtar, Amal (18 October 2019). "Dark Books for Dark Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  18. "Smart, Snarky 'Gideon The Ninth' Swears Her Way Through The Stars". NPR.org. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  19. Grady, Constance (10 September 2019). "Gideon the Ninth is about lesbian necromancers in space. Obviously, it's perfect". Vox. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  20. Rowe, Adam. "Tamsyn Muir's Goony Fun 'Gideon The Ninth' Takes Sci-Fi Fantasy Prose Into New Territory". Forbes. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  21. Casella, Jake (23 September 2019). "The Swordplay and Sorcery of 'Gideon the Ninth'". Chicago Review of Books. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  22. Harris, Lissa (3 December 2019). "The Making of a Cavalier: Meet the Actual Rude Lesbian Swordfighter Behind Gideon the Ninth". Tor.com. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  23. "Liz Bourke and Carolyn Cushman Review Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir". Locus Online. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  24. "Announcing the 2019 Nebula Awards Finalists". Tor.com. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  25. "Announcing the 2020 World Fantasy Award Finalists". Tor.com. 27 July 2020.
  26. Announcing the 2020 Hugo Award Finalists, at Tor.com; published April 7, 2020; retrieved April 7, 2020
  27. "Announcing the 2020 Locus Awards Finalists". Tor.com. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
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