bazhsw
6/4/2025
I recently read the novella 'The Body Project' by Kameron Hurley and then saw it was part of a collection of novellas bridging the space between 'God's War' and 'Infidel' written (I think) after the series was concluded. So, I picked this up too and read more or less back to back.
For those who do not know, the Bel Dame Apocrypha setting is ravaged world focussing on a never ending war between Nasheen and Chenya with other nation states influencing the war. Culturally, rather than a Western or Judeo-Christian default setting, the long ago colonisers of the planet were mostly Muslim, so the cultures are still broadly Islamic (at least in colour - there isn't a particularly strong emphasis on the Islamic faith in this setting). It's actually incredibly refreshing and feels unique, even though the analogies to real life Middle Eastern conflicts feel a little to on the nose and the setting can easily be read from an Orientalist perspective.
The other important note about the setting is that it has a unique technology, with power and 'magic' and especially weaponry being driven by bugs which is an interesting approach. Nasheen is also a matriarchal society where the primary purpose of boys and men is to be bred to be killed on the frontline (men have a 20 year service at the front compared to women who have 2, and when life expectancy is less than 40 it's clear there is a singular purpose to the breeding of boys). The setting is cruel, senseless and unforgiving. My interpretation is that it is a scathing critique of war, and has strong exploration of what gender is and how it plays out in our own reality. It's also a setting where heterosexual relationships, whilst not discouraged, are frowned upon as if to say 'why would you'?
Nyx the central character is a bounty hunter kicked out of the bel dames (the equivalent of a militarised special forces secret police type deal) and the novella's in this book largely fill the backstory as to how Nyx's team come together, and their interrelationships. I loved the exploration of her relationship with Rhys, her 'wizard' (insect controller) who is Chenjan. He has a strong faith and disapproves of Nyx's 'immoral' ways with her hard fucking, hard drinking and essentially individualist and selfish perspective. He acts as her conscious to a degree and makes her question who she is deep down. He will never change Nyx fucking who she wants, reaching for her whisky and shooting someone in the face though. I've seen a few reviews where many people don't like or even hate Nyx. She isn't a hero, she's the central character. And whilst she is all action, and kind of cool, she's also incredibly damaged, emotionally stunted and she knows it. This setting is bleak and hopeless, and Nyx's perspective epitomises a 'just get through today' attitude.
Few of the stories are really staying with me, nearly a week or so after reading but nevertheless it's cool to visit the setting and see how Nyx's gang came together.