As the only woman on the first contact team, xenolinguist Toni Donato expected her assignment on Christmas would be to analyze the secret women’s language — but then the chief linguist begins to sabotage her work. What is behind it? Why do the men and women have separate languages in the first place? What Toni learns turns everything she thought they knew on its head.
Originally published in Asimov’s in 2003, “Looking Through Lace” was a finalist for the Tiptree and Sturgeon awards. The Italian translation won the Premio Italia for best work of speculative fiction in translation in 2007.
Reviews:
“‘Looking Through Lace’ by Ruth Nestvold is terrific science fiction. I want to read more of this writer’s stories.”
– Andi Shechter in January Magazine
“… ‘Looking Through Lace’ by Ruth Nestvold [is] an intelligent, complex story illustrating the difficulties of learning and understanding the nuances and intricacies of an alien language and culture, particularly one so similar to our own that we persist in viewing it (wrongly) on our terms…. The reason … why there are so many differences between the languages of both men and women are logical and well thought out, and the final revelation about the true nature of the relationship between the women and the men comes as a nice twist.”
– Phil Friel in Tangent Online
“Two strong stories stand out from the rest of the fiction. Ruth Nestvold’s ‘Looking Through Lace’ rests on a relatively simple reversal or secret, but the rest of it is solidly written and convincing. The main character is a young female xenolinguist named Toni — she is called to a planet named Christmas to study the Mejan culture. Nestvold presents a neat puzzle, and she takes the time to present it just-so.”
– James Schellenberg in Challenging Destiny
About the author:
Ruth Nestvold’s short stories have appeared in numerous markets, including Asimov’s, F&SF, Baen’s Universe, Strange Horizons, Realms of Fantasy, and Gardner Dozois’s Year’s Best Science Fiction. Her fiction has been nominated for the Nebula, Tiptree, and Sturgeon Awards. In 2007, the Italian translation of her novella “Looking Through Lace” won the “Premio Italia” award for best international work. Her novel Flamme und Harfe appeared in translation with the German imprint of Random House, Penhaligon, in 2009 and has since been translated into Dutch and Italian. She maintains a web site at www.ruthnestvold.com.
"I would highly recommend this novella to anyone who wants a thoughtful, intelligent Sci-Fi story which cleverly takes a position that everyone can relate to and neatly expands upon it. "
Reviewer: Angel for Bookangel.
Toni Donato is sent to join a first contact mission as the only xenolinguist available in nearby space to assist in translating the new language of the planet. As she begins the job she faces hostility from hew new boss and some distrust from the locals. AS she looks further, Toni finds her own culture and understanding at odds with in understanding the riddles in front of her and to solve them may mean putting aside everything she has grown knowing.
This is an excellent Sci-Fi story written by Ruth Westhold told in a classic style. The plot unfolds cleverly as more clues are given to both the understanding of the language and the situation in which the protagonist finds herself. The plot is well executed and everything mentioned has good reason with no wasted words in pulling the reader through the story. The characters grow through the course of the story, the decisions and interactions neatly chronicling their changing feelings and attitudes despite the short length of the story.
I would highly recommend this novella to anyone who wants a thoughtful, intelligent Sci-Fi story which cleverly takes a position that everyone can relate to and neatly expands upon it. Rating:5
"Absolutely incredible, five stars. ...this short story held me spellbound from start to finish. Then I turned to the front page and read it again."
Reviewer: Reader for Bookangel.
Assigned as secondary linguist to a first contact expedition, Toni is expected to unravel the secrets of the new species "women's language". Her job proves harder than expected: she doesn't just have to overcome the differences between and within both cultures, but also the opposition and sabotage of the lead linguist, all in a language she does not speak and is not allowed to learn.
With an intelligent, likeable, female, lead, who uses that intelligence, a baffling mystery and a well-developed and complex alien culture, this short story held me spellbound from start to finish. Then I turned to the front page and read it again.
This is the first time in forty years I have found a modern sci-fi writer I would put up there with Simak and Tiptree. The author has managed to create a perfect blend of lit fic and sci-fi, and the result is a joy to read.
Well that sounds very intriguing. I have always wanted to consider myself a linguist, although I am not really sure what it takes to qualify there. Anyways, first expeditions and unraveling secrets and issues of language and culture definitely gets my interest up, and my ears perked up. Sounds like a good one.
Absolutely incredible, five stars. ...this short story held me spellbound from start to finish. Then I turned to the front page and read it again.
*Continue reading...*
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