Publishers Weekly
05/09/2022
With this charming fantasy novella, Nebula Award winner Robson (Waters of Versailles) offers a satirical take on political gridlock. In a fascinating, all-female world, fairies have established a European Union–esque system of government called Low Parliament to keep humans from destroying each other and the planet. Flirtatious scribe Lana Baker is persuaded into writing and delivering a letter for fellow scribe, Cora, in exchange for a few kisses, and winds up being sent to Low Parliament in Cora’s place. It’s a dangerous assignment: there’s a hung Parliament, and the fairies will drown everyone who works there if Parliament can’t come “unhung” by the new moon. Lana quickly befriends the fairy in charge of the scribes, Bugbite, via magical yeast (which acts a bit like marijuana) and psychedelic mushrooms. While high, they encounter Eloquentia de la Barre, a dancer with whom Lana becomes infatuated, convinced she’s the only person who can save Parliament. Lana is a charmingly breezy narrator, though her falling asleep during the penultimate parliamentary debate undercuts Robson’s argument that parliamentary systems, however flawed, are worth preserving, and Eloquentia’s climactic call for decision feels a little left-field. Still, Robson’s fans will enjoy this easygoing perspective on a politically charged fairy tale world. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Assoc. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
"[A] cheeky lesbian stoner fantasy . . . This is gallows humor with a light touch."—The New York Times Book Review
"Witty, warmhearted, frequently gorgeous, and an awful lot of fun."—NPR
"Lana Baker is a scoundrel and a layabout, and I adore her."—Emporia Gazette
“High Times is funny, literally outlandish, and deeply relevant. A dazzling world, a terrifying predicament, and a lot of hallucinogenic drugs combine in an unlikely, engaging tale of friendship, wit, heroism, and romance.”—Malka Older
“Hilarious, and at times hallucinogenic, Kelly Robson’s High Times in Low Parliament lives up to its title. This book could flirt the knickers off a nun—or a politician—or a wicked fairy—then swagger back to snuggle us before our pillows grew cold.”—C.S.E. Cooney
“A great read, with all the right ingredients!”—Ellen Kushner
“A satirical send-up of politicians and bureaucrats wrapped in a story of queer love and female friendship, sprinkled with fairy dust . . . Readers who like their political fantasies and power trips to go down with a spoonful of sugar will eat this up.”—Library Journal
"Robson’s story, like Lana, is a tease, fascinating and clever . . . The political satire is sharp though, in this lighthearted romp."—Booklist
“Robson’s fans will enjoy this easygoing perspective on a politically charged fairy tale world.”—Publisher's Weekly
“High Times in the Low Parliament is, at its best, demented fun and shrewd satire . . . Robson has introduced us to a thoroughly engaging rogue in Lana, along with an appealingly grumpy fairy who comes to learn that humans might, after all, be worth saving from themselves. It's a pair we wouldn't mind visiting again.”—Locus
Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2022
Lana Baker is Aldgate's finest scribe and a shameless flirt. When a promise to deliver messages in exchange for kisses draws the ire of a fairy, Lana earns herself a one-way ticket to the Low Parliament. Settling into her new life of recording the exhausting debates of the practically ineffectual legislative body, Lana befriends the cantankerous fairy Bugbite and the beautiful deputy Eloquentia, forming an unlikely trio upon whose shoulders rests the fate of humanity. Robson's (Alias Space and Other Stories) latest is a spirited novella featuring elements of fantasy, LGBTQIA+ representation, and political satire. Embracing a frenetic pace in lieu of expansive worldbuilding, Robson presents a roller-coaster ride that leaves readers wanting more. Narrator Amy Scanlon gives the characters distinct personalities and voices, abandoning her dry, breathy intonation to shift with ease between the flirtatious stoner Lana, the shrill-voiced fairies, and foreign deputies. Lending intimacy to the storytelling, Scanlon's performance will delight listeners with these unlikely heroes and their endeavors to save humanity. VERDICT Recommended for fans of fantasy, quirky characters, and political satire.—Andy Myers
Library Journal
07/01/2022
Winner of both the Nebula and Aurora awards and a finalist for the Hugo, Sturgeon, and Locus awards, Robson (Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach) here offers a satirical send up of politicians and bureaucrats wrapped in a story of queer love and female friendship, sprinkled with fairy dust, and set in the 18th century. Lana has been packed off to Low Parliament as a reluctant scribe, just as the government is on the threshold of dissolving. Literally. The fae-controlled legislature will flood the building, drowning all the humans within it, if there are too many hung votes. Charming, insouciant, and frequently stoned Lana wants to live and pursue a romance with the dancing delegate from Provence, but she'll need the help of a friendly fae and some psychedelic yeast in order to save her fellow scribes and ladylove. The story trips along as Lana charms her way into love, friendship, and surprising herself most of all, power. VERDICT Readers who like their political fantasies and power trips to go down with a spoonful of sugar will eat this up.—Marlene Harris
SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile
Narrator Amy Scanlon’s British intonation and wry tone suit the delightfully charming, lazy, and witty scribe Lana Baker, who finds herself stuck in the Low Parliament. There she’s made to transcribe endless angry debates that inevitably end in hung votes—despite the threat of death by flood if members can’t come to an agreement, as decreed by the shrill–voiced fairies who watch over them. Scanlon’s breathy delivery adds to Robson’s wonderful world-building in this utterly fun political satire. Lana is endlessly flirtatious with every beautiful woman she encounters, but she’s especially taken with Deputy Eloquentia, whom she first spies while tripping on mushrooms with the cantankerous fairy Bugbite. Scanlon delights listeners as Lana works to save the humans—while also wooing Eloquentia, getting high, and endlessly teasing Bugbite. E.E.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
