Let me tell you a story about the galactic core, the people who live there, and the terrible thing that was done to their children. Let me tell you about drummers and dancers, activists and scientists who suffer together but cannot agree about the manner of their healing. Can they resolve their differences? Can they mend what was broken? Find out in "Grandmother Mælkevejen's Belly: A Novelette of the Lodhuven."
MacCath, C.S. 2015. Grandmother Mælkevejen’s Belly: A Novelette of the Lodhuven. South Haven: Triskele Media Press.
MacCath, C.S. 2015. Grandmother Mælkevejen’s Belly: A Novelette of the Lodhuven. MP3. South Haven: Triskele Media Press.
MacCath, C. S. 2016. "Grandmother Mælkevejen’s Belly: A Novelette of the Lodhuven." In The Longest Road in the Universe: A Collection of Fantastical Tales, First Edition, 164–99. South Haven: Triskele Media Press.
MacCath, C. S. 2020. "Grandmother Mælkevejen’s Belly: A Novelette of the Lodhuven." In The Longest Road in the Universe: A Collection of Fantastical Tales, Second Edition, 136–61. South Haven: Triskele Media Press.
I am not a hard-core science fiction fan. I do not like half of the story to be the art of physics. For this reason, I did enjoy this intricate short story. And it is intricate and full of depth and multiple themes.
The opening description of the dancers did intimidate me a bit initially, so I decided to put it aside until I could give it my undivided attention. I am actually glad I did.
This story feels like a spider weaving a web of stardust all through your head. You may not completely understand how the spider does it, but the result is a beautiful piece of work easily appreciated. The underlying theme of determination makes this a worthwhile listen.
A. Sines, Audible.com
Have you ever thought about the universe and its past and future from the perspective of…well…the universe? Grandmother Mælkevejen’s Belly endeavors to do just that by personifying planets, scientific theories, and other intangible things – at least that’s how I interpreted it.
I would classify this as literary science fiction, and it’s not an easy read. In fact, I read it twice and still couldn’t understand everything that was going on. But the fact is, I wanted to, and I’ll probably listen several more times in an attempt to fully grasp the whole story. I’m not a huge science fiction reader, so that could also contribute to my lack of understanding. Though difficult to picture as more than players on a stage (this would make a fantastic play), the personification of Eros and other legends is quite well done. In only 55 minutes, C.S. MacCath is able to bring several storylines together, even getting through a romance subplot, and she does it well. I found myself interested in each character’s relevance and background, and I think a full-length novel version of this book would actually end up being even more successful than this extremely succinct version; there was just so much to cover that I was left wanting a more expansive version of the book to help me deepen – and lengthen – my experience with this audiobook.
The author read this book, and I always find that to be a wonderful experience, even if the author isn’t necessarily an actor. The biggest critique I’ve found about MacCath’s reading of this book is that she read it too fast. While that’s true and you need to pay close attention at all times, it also belies her passion and excitement for what she’s written. I felt excited about the storyline because she was excited, and that’s a bonus in my book.
In conclusion, if you’re into science fiction and especially space-related fiction, this is a book you should check out. If not, there’s a 50/50 chance it won’t be for you. I think the author’s excitement alone makes it worth a listen.
Christie Stratos, AudioBook Reviewer
They lost a group of folks precious to them and now they dance and trance, attempting to communicate with them, hoping there is still someone left to communicate with. At the galactic core there is the grandmother of all black holes. Some folks drifted too close to the edge. Now the people left argue back and forth about whether they are dead or not, whether they can be rescued or not.
This is a rich and dense novelette, full of characters that obviously have back stories. The reader is tossed into the middle of a years-old debate, showing the hopeful and usually drug addled dreamers who believe their long-lost friends & relatives life on and the more scientifically-minded bureaucrats who way the odds and find them wanting. Over time, a percentage of the population has begun to suffer from various diseases – some are born with functional eyes but lack the connection to brain, and other afflictions. Humanity is dwindling with each generation. So they dance & trance, argue & survey, and stay in the area.
This is such a dense story, I highly recommend that you give it your focus in order to get the most out of it. Since you are tossed right in to the middle of things, you need to pay attention to work out what is going on. That said, it is highly worth your time. The characters and story line are well written. I love that there is so much that went on before we enter the story, as it gives this tale a full-rounded feeling. The character have agendas and hopes. They have history with one another, and with generations past. Dive into this tale and enjoy!
The Narration: C. S. MacCath narrated her own book and I am usually wary of books narrated by the author. However, with this audiobook, set aside all such concerns. She has a range of voices for both female and male characters and does a good job of imbuing the text with emotions when needed. It was a well made audio.
Dab of Darkness, Audible.com