Sunday Story Ratings #02: To Reign in Hell

Originally published at a denizen's entertainment. You can comment here or there.

To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust

Originally published 1984; this edition date unknown, prob. 2000

Publisher: Orb

 

M

(H, D, V, S)

Supernatural Themes

Minor Drug Use

Violence

Sexual References

 

Representations

Gender:

Gender, or at least sex is presented as at least somewhat volitional for angels and a recent invention. However, the majority of angels present as male because Lilith, the inventor of sex, presents as female. Which suggests a certain innate desirability of femininity that crosses lines of identity.

Sex:

As gender

Race & Ethnicity:

The angels present themselves with a variety of ethnic markers (not described with reference to nations or geographical regions).

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

The angels present themselves with a variety of humanoid and non-humanoid forms. Non-humanoid forms seem mostly to have been assumed as a matter of necessity for survival. Numerous angels have suffered some form of impairment or diminishment as of the beginning of the story due to what can euphemistically be described as a harsh natural environment. When they have the freedom to do so, many angels seem to enjoy self-modification for convenience or aesthetic pleasure.

(as a note, found it difficult to decide between assigning an M or PG because there isn't much on-screen to 'earn' the higher rating, and what is there perhaps is mitigated by the angels not bleeding and dying in the same way as humans are accustomed to, making the effect perhaps more stylised and less visceral. finally went with the higher rating because of a couple of specific scenes and the intense emotional tone of the story.)

(as a further note, been wondering how coniferous_you would find the story given the divergence of its portrayal from Paradise Lost, particularly of Abdiel)