Review: The Caduca

Elaine Graham-Leigh, The Caduca (The Conrad Press 2021)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57308614-the-caduca?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FinrC1bLDy&rank=2

The Caduca is a masterpiece. 6 Stars!

Graham-Leigh creates a world which, though unfamiliar in its appearance, operates according to the same historical processes as ours. The dominant imperialist power has its way in every galaxy; the ruling class is criminally ignorant of the working classes. Each planet has an interlocking backhistory, more of which you can read in Graham-Leigh’s short stories.
The tale is largely told by two women, one a terrorist freedom-fighter and one a liberal diplomat, and the reader is pulled into empathy for each contrasting point of view. As the voice switches from one character to another, sometimes the subtlety is hard to follow—you have to really work at it—and we never do find out what hebas are. This technique pulls you right into this alien world—you never feel like you’re an Earthling reading it.
This novel should not just be read by science fiction lovers. Its literary artistry is among the most excellent that I have ever read; the writing is absolutely gorgeous.