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Re: Women Write Fantasy (The Giant 'Women in Fantasy' Database) Way back when this list was a twitter conversation under the hashtag #womeninfantasy I wrote a blog about these issues:
http://sennydreadful.co.uk/women-in-fantasy-thoughts-on-disrupting-the-circle/
The thing is, yeah it's cool that you don't think about gender when you're selecting books to read - however, the problem is that you're not selecting from an equal deck. The deck is stacked against women writers, as it were. There are more male writers represented on display tables in bookshops, and in promotional emails (Juliet E. McKenna has done a lot of work on this) so when you're thinking of books to read, well, more books by male writers will tend to pop into your head. Ask for recommendations on a forum like this and people will say: Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss*, Mark Lawrence, Brandon Sanderson... you often have to ask directly for books by women to get any.
As I said in the blog, do I think this is because everyone is sexist? No, but we're picking from a stacked deck, because male writers get more coverage/attention.
I don't like being told what to read either. But I'm also sure that there are a lot of great books by women that are just passing us by because they never get that space on the table/that review/that mention on a Most Recommended list.
It can only do good to disrupt the circle - it won't take sales away from excellent male authors that we love, but it will give you a broader choice on that display table. And that's why lists like this are groovy and important.
* Last night I dreamt that I went to a restaurant where Pat Rothfuss was cooking jerk chicken for everyone. It was really good.
July 26, 2014, 11:53:23 AM 2
Re: Curing Impotence Oh Conan. How the mighty have fallen.
March 08, 2015, 10:15:30 PM 1
Re: Love letter to Jen Williams - spoiler free Copper Promise
Quote from: Jmacyk on March 22, 2015, 05:58:12 PM
Dear @sennydreadful:
OK, this won't really be a love letter. But it's a good hook.
I am barely into The Copper Promise but I'm already in love with the book. It's got a wonderful blend of characters, fantasy tropes and cool story. But mostly it's the prose I'm enjoying for how incredibly readable but delightfully skilled it is. I feel as though in addition to the story - the center of the experience, of course - I'm getting a master class in writing.
Here's an example: In the dialogue between Sebastian, Wydrin and Frith, you often tell us who's speaking by switching the action to the speaker, then following with the speaker's dialog. No need for "said Sebastian."
And, you give us believable thinking and timing. Frith asks if Wydrin is trustworthy. I might have just had him answer right off. Instead, "Sebastian looked up at the sky..." We immediately understand his thoughtful nature, and we believe it when he comes back with a wry story that supports his partner while not being entirely complimentary. (Now I'm not pretending there aren't other wonderful writers or that any of this is new, I'm just saying it's really well done here. I just finished Dreamer's Pool and for all it's good qualities, the writing often felt slow and stiff.)
And, it's all so much fun. This reminds me of Goldman's writing in the Princess Bride, though obviously a different tone. And PBis one of my favorite books.
So, now it's down into the Citadel, wondering how exactly they'll face the terror that seems to have done away with our poor Gallo.
Goody!
Thank you so much. I finished the first draft of the third book today, feeling hollowed out and exhausted, so this is such a tremendous boost, I can't even tell you.
And The Princess Bride is one of my favourite books ever. To even be mentioned in the same post is ridiculously cool.
Re: Why Is It The History Channels "Vikings" Has Slipped Under The Fantasy Radar? I don't know, it's possibly because there hasn't been a lot of talk about it generally, but it does have it's rabid fans and I am one of them. I watch every episode in a state of near euphoric glee. Swords and beards and shield maidens and shouting - totally my thing.
March 26, 2015, 09:14:13 AM 2
Quote from: Jmacyk on March 27, 2015, 11:13:41 AM
Finished. I wanted to write a poem, and I had a start in the shower. Something about
"Heaving a sigh, I closed the book
on Wydrin, Seb and Frith's inward look.
What lovely mayhem, what marvelous fun,
so glad the story is just begun"
Thank the gods I didn't write it down. It might be cruel to inflict it, even if the meaning is, er, meant.
Wonderful book!
Buy it, read it. (In that order please.)
Ha, that's brilliant! I shall file that in my "lovely review" folder So pleased you enjoyed it!
Just ordered Iron Ghost from a UK re-seller. Ouch. That was expensive. Double the coat of Copper Promise. Maybe I need to start a campaign to get te books published here in the US.
That would be really handy...
Quote from: Elfy on March 28, 2015, 10:29:07 PM
How many of us are reading or have just finished The Copper Promise? If I count myself I think there's 4 of us at present: me, @Jmacyk, @xiagan and @Lady Ty. Is that some sort of a record for something that isn't a book club read?
It's the Copper Promise movement, and it's sweeping the nation, er, forum.
Do I eventually get my own army? That would be sweet ...
Quote from: ScarletBea on March 29, 2015, 11:41:33 AM
Me too, I finished it about a month ago.
And yes, I think Jen being such a nice member of F-F helps
Aw, you are very kind
Quote from: Elfy on March 30, 2015, 12:07:38 AM
Quote from: sennydreadful on March 29, 2015, 10:34:21 AM
What, you don't already have one in a hidden citadel somewhere, Jen? I thought The Copper Promise was an autobiography.
With me as the All Powerful Dragon God of Destruction? Actually, that sounds pretty good...
*considers rewriting the books from the POV of Y'Ruen*
Quote from: Nighteyes on March 30, 2015, 10:09:02 AM
Oh, I finally finished The Iron Goat.
That's Jen's brand new book Requires very strong jaws
Oh bugger. Ghost. Ghost. Iron ghost. As in holy ghost not holy goat!
Haaa! You're not the first person to call it that. Half tempted to sneak an iron goat in the third book somewhere.