Review: Fascinating approach to language and culture
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 5, 2013
I was reminded of H.Beam Piper's "Omnilingual" which also features a heroine/linguist who deciphers a language.  However "Looking Through Lace" is NOT a copy of either Piper's plot or his main character. Ruth Nestor has developed an intelligently designed and fascinating culture which makes the reader think seriously about our own male/female culture and our automatic responses to it.I like the way she plays Toni's relations with her boss and co-workers against her relations with both the men and women of Christmas.  I also appreciate the historical information about how and why the culture on Christmas developed as it did.I would definitely recommend this novella to any SF reader.