She Still Lives

She Still Lives by Bill Magee (Snowlion Publications, 2006).
When I came upon this in a bookstore, described as a love story set in a future Tibet, featuring a female Dalai Lama, I couldn't wait to read it. At first I felt frustrated since I had a desire to learn the particulars that led to the 17th Dalai Lama's discovery, as well details about the world in the year 2114. In fact, the book tells the story of the Dalai Lama's adviser Mila Lakpa who was just released from years of prison after being sentenced for his role in the Tibetan freedom movement. At the time of his release, the Dalai Lama is still imprisoned and she is not prominently featured as a character in the book. The fact that the Dalai Lama is female is not commented on at all - it is just a fact.
A hundred years into the future, it is clear that Tibetans are still an oppressed minority in China, and the Communist regime still exists. The lives of the Tibetans are still rather simple and primitive -there is very little given in the way of context of the world in 2114. A few hints are given: global warming obviously had an impact as snow is described as a rarity in the Himalayas, and there is mention of genetically modified mine-sniffing dogs and clones. However, these details are not developed and I found I had to let go of my expectation of getting a fuller picture of the world at that time. For the most part, the world and the Tibetan situation in particular, seemed little changed.
Magee is a Buddhist scholar, so the narrative is informed by Buddhist ideas and practices.
Particularly interesting was Mila's growing ability to share his consciousness with other beings, human and animal. This is carried into the final part of the book which leads back to the imprisoned Dalai Lama. Another theme of the book is the power of non-violence and love in the face of oppression.
This is a short, suspenseful and quick read, that really grew on me. The characters of Mila and his love Drolma, were quite well drawn. I plan to re-read it, without that expectation that I came with in the first place. - Linda