this is driving me crazy...

[ratcreature]

Recently bethbethbeth asked about novels "you considered to be important in your development." And while I had no idea what to answer in those three fields, that poll made me think about the first more or less feminist sf and fantasy novels I've read as a girl (which were part of a sf/fantasy box set my brother lent me).

And now I vaguely recall this one fantasy novel that I liked a lot and that made a real impression on me, and I'd like to read it again to see how it holds up (like, if I'd still think of it as feminist for example), but of course I can remember neither the title nor the author. And I tried to google for special edition box sets of sf/fantasy literature from the publisher I thought I recalled for the box set, but had no luck with that. *headdesk*

Anyway, unfortunately I don't remember that much from the book (I know I said it made an impression, and it did, I just still don't remember many details). I read it in German, but I'm nearly certain that it was a translation. It was fantasy, but kind of a historical fantasy or imagined history taking place in ancient Mesopotamia. The main theme as I recall it was kind of a culture clash between matriarchal and patriarchal cultures that met in this area in this imagined past, possibly that one was in the city states the other in the less developed surrounding cultures, or the shift from one paradigm to the other, and IIRC it was shown through the protagonist, a woman, who I think made a journey or something, but I'm not too clear on any details. The only other thing I remember is that the Inanna myth played a significant role somehow, which I remember because that book was the first time I heard of her and looked up some stuff about Sumerian mythology.

If anyone could help me find the novel based on this scarce information I'd be really grateful.

Comments

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

I have no idea, but you might try asking on whatwasthatbook?

[ratcreature]

I've heard of that community, but as I understood from the info they are swamped because of being featured in the LJ spotlight and have a queue for posts? Also I am kind of embarrassed to post in a huge community without recalling any real details for certain. But I'll probably try that anyway once a sufficient desperation level is reached. *g*

I might be able to just look for it when I visit my brother next, but unfortunately afaik he just hasn't unpacked all his books since he owns many thousands and they just don't really fit in his two bedroom apartment. Last time I looked for a book I vaguely remembered borrowing from him once without recalling details I spent hours browsing his bookcases but it wasn't among the unpacked ones.

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

Actually, they're not so swamped anymore...I'd definitely give it a shot.

As for the book, I cannot think of one like you describe, but I shall endeavour to consider more later, after the coffee kicks in. ;)

[ratcreature]

I think I found which book it was: "The Last Warrior Queen" by Mary Mackey.

[quivo.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm no help, here, but if you ever find this book, do say? Because I've been dying to read or write something like what you say the book is about :)

[ratcreature]

Yeah, if I find it, I'll tell what it was.

[ratcreature]

After spending far too much time optimizing my google-fu, I think I found it:
The Last Warrior Queen by Mary Mackey.

[quivo.livejournal.com]

Wicked! Thanks so much :)

[mawombat.livejournal.com]

sounds a little like Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, but the Sumerian bits are just sequenced in between a major sci-fi plot, so I guess that's not it. good read tho'.

[ratcreature]

No, that's not it. There wasn't any sf in it. But thanks for the rec.