Jaco van Hemert

What grabbed me most about the Stillness (as the world is called) is how shaped and sculpted everything seemed given the kind of world it was. From the pyramid-shaped homes and the use castes and the runny packs.

The “magic system” of the setting seemed very much like a sort of inherent part of the world; just a segment of humans that can control the earth. The addition of the sessapinae and the verb “sess” was also quite well done; it was introduced fairly seamlessly though context rather than telling. I had a bit of a confused moment when it was first mentioned, but it was easy enough to figure it out from context as things moved along. The existence of sessapinae in everyone basically made the orogenes seem much more fitting for the world and entirely integrated in it — as a sort of extreme end of the sess spectrum (even if that’s not entirely what the intention was, necessarily). There was a bit of uncertainty about the extent of the orogenes’ power (i.e. what exactly it is that they can do), but it wasn’t so problematic that it detracted much from the story.

The other thing I really liked was how Jemisin showed the incredibly broad range of implications and “applications” of the orogenes. The element of danger and malicious destruction was quite strongly portrayed, but the continuous immersion in these people’s lives and the things that happen to them basically showed the other side as well. There was perhaps a bit too much of a leaning towards the “these guys are good guys and it’s only the oppression that makes them do bad things” angle. I would have liked to see a villainous orogene as well, as that would have entirely spread the people across the spectrum (Jemisin did a good job of that with the normal people, I think).

A quick mention of the waystation orogenes (can’t remember what they’re actually called now). They were quite an interesting touch. There’s not a lot of explanation around them, but I like the concept, because, again, it speaks to a wider impact of the orogene abilities and the way other people react to and interact with them.

Another quick mention here in terms of the kinds of words the characters use. I generally like the idea of profanity that’s informed by the world, and Jemisin delivers in this regard. However, the naming of some of the things seemed a bit weird; primitive in a contrived way that I didn’t enjoy, given how well they speak otherwise. E.g. runny bag, blow (volcano), and some others I can’t think of right now.

Finally, the stone eaters. Loved them. I know almost nothing about them yet, but their otherworldly nature and aloof attitudes are quite intriguing. And the kind of extent to which they are different than normal people. Their affinity with the earth and the glimpse I got at their abilities, along with their interactions with each other and the humans (?), suggest a culture that I look forward to seeing more of in the next books.

Overall, it was an interesting and well-fleshed-out world, and I enjoyed the details and the depth at which they were explored.

My rating for the worldbuilding in The Fifth Season is:

A volcanic eruption and some safe