Women writers in science fiction and fantasy

I was reading a thing where a(nother) female writer of science fiction said how she has to use a gender neutral nym to get respect / sell in that market. She said she was frustrated by it because gender shouldn’t matter.

I have to disagree. Gender matters. It’s just not a disqualification for anything.

When I go to the book shop I have a two step sort process on books. One, is it by a woman. Two, is it about a woman. Anything in the SF&F section that matches those criteria and isn’t from a series I gave up on already is going to get bought.

I am not, on the whole, overburdened by books.

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I want to read women doing heroic acts for selfless reasons based in compassion and a strong sense of justice and a need to protect others. I can name a lot of guy books where they do that. It’s not actually hard. I want to read about awesome competent women who have skills they gained by study and hard work. That’s not actually unusual, right? I mean, the world works like that. So where are we?

I’ve been looking in the by+about women books in the hopes we can reflect our experiences in our work maybe better than annoying men can. I am not a damsel or a tower princess, at least not while I’m reading. I want to be a starship captain or a fleet admiral or a paladin or a book learned witch. Why can’t I find where to send my money?

So, women authors: it’s totally up to you which name you use.

Just tell me how to find you if y’all are hiding for the dudes’ sake.

Cause it matters to me.

Boooooooored

Am reading fanfic, but am not finding stuff that suits today.

I gave up on the one that was looking like hurt/comfort because it forgot to get around to the comfort for like thirty thousand words. ( Read more... )

Hurt/comfort doesn't work when it's the same person doing both.


Now I'm reading Stargate fic that's gone into travel guide mode. That happens quite a bit, but usually on alien planets. Then there's worldbuilding and possibly plot clues. This is just an Earth tourist thing. Either way, it's a / fic with a summary that's all about the relationship, so I was kind of expecting any new element to contribute to some character revelation or be a metaphor for their relationship or maybe a catalyst for exciting emotional developments. But right now it's a tourist guide that keeps going into the history of every building, and it's weirdly like the characters have ceased to be in it. "My research, let me show you!" syndrome. It don't fulfil this reader's expectations or build in me any feeling of anticipation or emotional connection, so, bored.

Also, the tendency of fic to hang entire woeful angsty epics on the failure of a single conversation makes me *facepalm*. I'm not saying humans don't act that way, it's just if neither of the guys makes a whole sentence then why do they then spend the next few thousand words thinking they were ever understood?


Bored bored bored bored bored.


I should do stuff that isn't reading. I have a stack of it to do.
... most of it needs to be done on a week day during business hours with the co-operation of humans who aren't answering their email, or in person at a building a bus journey away.
Maybe time to re clean the bathroom then. Oh joy.