Name: Kelly Gorman's review of The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson
Item: The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe
Rating: 5
Author: Kelly Gorman

Kij Johnson

Professor Vellitt Boe teaches at the prestigious Ulthar Women’s College. When one of her most gifted students elopes with a dreamer from the waking world, Vellitt must retrieve her. "Kij Johnson's haunting novella The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is both a commentary on a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale and a profound reflection on a woman's life. Vellitt's quest to find a former student who may be the only person who can save her community takes her through a world governed by a seemingly arbitrary dream logic in which she occasionally glimpses an underlying but mysterious order, a world ruled by capricious gods and populated by the creatures of dreams and nightmares. Those familiar with Lovecraft's work will travel through a fantasy landscape infused with Lovecraftian images viewed from another perspective, but even readers unfamiliar with his work will be enthralled by Vellitt's quest. A remarkable accomplishment that repays rereading." —Pamela Sargent, winner of the Nebula Award

The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe

Kelly Gorman

One of NPR's Best Books of 2016 and a Hugo, Nebula, John W. Campbell, and Locus Award finalist for Best Novella Professor Vellitt Boe teaches at the prestigious Ulthar Women’s College. When one of her most gifted students elopes with a dreamer from the waking world, Vellitt must retrieve her. "Kij Johnson's haunting novella The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is both a commentary on a classic H.P. Lovecraft tale and a profound reflection on a woman's life. Vellitt's quest to find a former student who may be the only person who can save her community takes her through a world governed by a seemingly arbitrary dream logic in which she occasionally glimpses an underlying but mysterious order, a world ruled by capricious gods and populated by the creatures of dreams and nightmares. Those familiar with Lovecraft's work will travel through a fantasy landscape infused with Lovecraftian images viewed from another perspective, but even readers unfamiliar with his work will be enthralled by Vellitt's quest. A remarkable accomplishment that repays rereading." —Pamela Sargent, winner of the Nebula Award At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Janice Hopper

I love Kij Johnson's writing. She has written some absolutely stunning stories, e.g., "At the Mouth of the River of Bees"; "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" (bulky title, amazing story that has stuck with me ever since I read it); "Fox Magic"; "26 Monkeys, Also the Abyss."

When I heard she was joining in the current trend of writing a novella based on H.P. Lovecraft's writing, I was intrigued. I've read Lovecraft since high school. When I read she was going to base her work on The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, I thought "huh." It's been a while since I read that story, but I remember liking it when I was young. 

Vellit Boe has to find a young woman who's run away from school. It turns out to be a much longer trip than she anticipated at the outset. Very, VERY much longer.

There's lots of gorgeous imagery here. There are lots of hints that Vellit's world is full of strange and dangerous things. The gods of her world are fickle and capricious. There's a nod to "The Cats of Ulthar" and probably some other Lovecraft stuff that I missed because it's been too long since I read the source material.

It's an interesting story. I probably gave it an extra star because Kij Johnson wrote it, and I'm a fan. :)

Maggie Gordon

I cannot speak to how well Johnson's novella adapts the original Lovecraft story, but The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe is a beautifully written story about a strange world so unlike our own. Boe, our protagonist, is on a journey to find one of her students who has run after a "dreamer" who is taking her to his world. I always enjoy seeing older women take centre stage, and Boe is a fascinating character to follow given her youthful adventures being what she draws on now as she traverses the landscape of this odd place. I am not sure I loved the ending given how quick things were wrapped up, but such is the dilemma of a novella. Also, cats are awesome. That is all :)

Kelly Gorman &
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson

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The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson