Jordan Giffin

Prose Fiction

Dr. Anderson

10/16/2019

Case Study: An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

In An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, the point of view is extremely important

to developing the contract of the story. It is in third person limited point of view for the most part

and the story is mostly seen through the eyes of Aster--the main character. At key points in the

novel, the perspective has shifted to first person limited from the perspective of Theo, Ainy, and

Giselle. These sections don’t necessarily have the strongest impact on the plot itself, as most of

these sections are following either the character as they tell a story from their past or some shows

some mundane aspect of their life (as is the case with Ainy’s chapter). The only exception to this

is when Giselle burns down Aster’s botanarium, which is the first domino in the cascade to the

climax. These chapters help to flesh out the characters in the novel. Narrative voice is integral to

its construction and, while Aster is brilliant, she doesn’t always understand people well. She is

confused by figures colloquialisms and other figures of speech so she describes the other

characters and it defines her relationship to them but doesn’t always clearly show who they are.

Theo’s chapter in particular is important in revealing his character. The way Aster first

describes him, he immediately fits the archetype of the “dystopian fiction love interest.” This is

something that Solomon does well that shouldn’t work. She introduces characters with clear

archetypes and then completely breaks them. The first time the audience sees Theo, you
wouldn’t guess that he’s uncomfortable with the idea of being a man or that he’s devoutly

religious to the point of whipping himself.

The worldbuilding in this novel is particularly intricate. Matilda doesn’t exist but it is

clear where they are and understandable, even if the particulars of what those corridors and

levels actually look like isn’t clear due to the nature of Aster’s narration. She knows the ship so it

isn’t necessary for her to explain all of it. It also provides a clear balance for explanation and

action. Places are described as she comes across them rather than detailing the world from the

beginning.

Voice is extremely central to this book. Each character has a distinctive voice that fits the

style of the novel but is still their voice. The language of the different “decks” is integral to

establishing the tone of the novel of the characterization of the people Aster encounters, even if it

is just for a second. It is another layer to the worldbuilding that Solomon has done without being

too much for the reader to understand. The use of dialect instead of completely distinctive

languages provides a throughline while still differentiating the characters and making the

differing social classes on Matilda clear. Using a wide variety of dialects in a singular novel is

not a convention that I, personally, would have considered but I am intrigued by the concept and

Solomon does it beautifully.

In terms of plot, the introduction most definitely establishes a clear tone. This novel does

not pull any punches and having the main character amputate a child’s foot due to frostbite and

gangrene sets that up from the start. It establishes the high levels of tension that are consistent

throughout the novel but Aster’s almost nonchalant tone also shows that this is normal life on the

lower decks of Matilda. This high tension continues as Aster continues to search for Lune and
then it talks about her using a salve to protect her body from damage if she is raped. Or when the

novel takes a “break” from the main conflict to show her performing an abortion.

These things also show the passage of time in the novel. Aster is moving forward with her plans,

but she still lives her everyday life in between and having these, and other, small moments of the

“mundane” things makes it clear that time is passing without describing every single individual

day.

This, of course, changes once the climax hits. The time frame from when Giselle is taken to the

end of the novel is short and it reads much like a waterslide. One event leads directly to the next

and it clearly moves much faster than the rest of the novel. One thing I really appreciated about

An Unkindness of Ghosts is the lack of resolution. Aster reaches Earth and finds it hospitable,

but it is unclear where she will go from there. This fits the tone of the book wonderfully. I think

that if the plot had been wrapped up with a neat little bow, it would have been a breach of the

contract that Solomon established from the beginning.

Solomon uses storytelling to provide breaks in the action and deepen characterization and

the world. Often chapters begin by telling a story that Aster heard as a child and uses that as a

segue to the next “scene” or bit of action. It works to frame the narrative as well as including

framed tales.