The Four Profound Weaves

The Four Profound Weaves is an acclaimed 2020 LGBT+ fantasy novella by R.B. Lemberg. In 2021, it has been nominated in the best novella category for the Ignyte,[1] Nebula,[2] World Fantasy,[3] and Locus[4] awards.

The Four Profound Weaves
Cover art for "The Four Profound Weaves"
AuthorR.B. Lemberg
LanguageEnglish
SeriesBirdverse
PublisherTachyon Publications
Publication date
1 Sep 2020
Pages192 (Paperback)
ISBN1616963344

Plot

A nameless man returns to the desert settlement of his old friend Uiziya in the hopes that she can give him a name and identity. He has transitioned from female to male and is struggling with his place in his strictly gender-segregated tribe. Uiziya is a weaver awaiting the return of her aunt Benesret, who has promised to teach her the art of magical weaving and the Four Profound Weaves. The two journey into the desert to search for Benesret. Uiziya is injured by both an assassin and Benesret, and the nameless man takes her to his home city of Iyar. They attract the attention of The Collector, who kidnaps Uiziya so she can weave from Death for him. The two defeat The Collector. The nameless man claims a new name, Kaveh-nen-Kimri; he and Uiziya promise to explore the desert further together.

Major themes

The novella discusses the relationship between transgender identity and death. Uiziya learns to weave cloth from Death itself, and the nameless man learns that he is "dead inside" throughout his journey. Some transgender people feel that their pre-transition lives are a type of "waking death", and transgender people are victims of murder at higher rates than cisgender people. The story also discusses the intersectionality between discrimination based on gender identity and age.[5]

Background

Lemberg has published short stories and poems in the Birdverse before, most frequently in the literary magazine Beneath Ceaseless Skies.[6] The Four Profound Weaves is their first full-length work set in this shared universe.[7]

Reception

The novella has received widespread praise from many critics and readers.[8]

Reviews have praised the novella for its lyrical writing, and inclusion of two elderly transgender narrators in an accurate discussion of aging.[5] A review from Locus praised the succinct prose and worldbuilding, calling it "one of the most beautifully written fantasies of the year".[9] In a starred review,[10] Publishers Weekly called it an "outstanding debut novel" and praised its "deeply considered, evocative" characterization. New York Journal of Books called it "a beautifully articulated exploration of queer identity and transformation" and called Lemberg's prose "rhythmic and haunting".[11] Ms. Magazine called it "a wonder of identity, evolution and bravery in a time when we need it most".[12]

Awards and nominations

The Four Profound Weaves was nominated for the 2021 Ignyte Award for Best Novella, the 2021 Nebula Award for Best Novella, the 2021 World Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and the 2021 Locus Award for Best Novella.[1][2][3][4]

References
  1. "2021 Ignyte Awards Finalists". Locus Magazine. 22 Apr 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. "SFWA Announces the 56th Annual Nebula Award Finalists". 15 March 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. "World Fantasy Awards 2021 | World Fantasy Convention". Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. "2021 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists". 1 May 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. S.E. Fleenor (9 Oct 2020). "THE FOUR PROFOUND WEAVES EMBRACES THE MAGIC OF TRANS ELDERS". Syfy. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  6. "PW Picks: Books of the Week, August 31, 2020". Publishers Weekly. 31 Aug 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  7. Margaret Kingsbury (21 December 2020). "10 of the Best 2020 Under the Radar Science Fiction Books from 2020". Book Riot. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. Kingsbury, Margaret (2020-09-05). "18 Excellent Fantasy Books Coming Out This Fall". www.buzzfeednews.com. Buzzfeed News. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  9. Gary K. Wolfe (29 Sep 2020). "Gary K. Wolfe Reviews The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg". Locus Magazine. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. "Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Book Review: The Four Profound Weaves by R.B. Lemberg. Tachyon, $14.95 trade paper (240p) ISBN 978-1-61696-334-7". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  11. Burke, Anna. "The Four Profound Weaves: A Birdverse Book". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  12. Strand, Karla J. (2020-09-02). "September 2020 Reads for the Rest of Us". msmagazine.com. Ms. Magazine. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
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