Transgenderism in Tortall
Tamora Pierce has been writing YA fantasy for about twenty years, starting in the early eighties. Her books are known for having strong feminist themes, and she's written about a few gay characters before, but I believe that this is the first time her books have featured a transgendered character.
In Bloodhound, the book's heroine, Beka (who narrates in a diary format) travels to a port city to investigate a counterfeiting ring. Her (gay) cousin is on the city's police force, and he lives with his lover, Okha. One night, Beka goes to a tavern as part of her investigation, and is surprised to see Okha there, singing as a female impersonator. She asks him how he manages to look so convincingly female:
"I had very good teachers, people who took me in when my family cast me out. I worked and I studied, everywher I went. But that isn't what you're asking."
I shook my head. Since he wasn't looking at me now, I added, "Not really. Your beauty comes from the inside. You don't put that on with a brush and powder."
"Inside, I am a beautiful woman." Okha said, fiddling with a perfect curl. "The Trickster tapped me in my mother's womb and placed me in this male shell."
I'd heard of many tricks done by the gods, but this was nearabout the cruelest. "I'm sorry." I whispered.
"At least I understood what happened." Okha said, getting to his feet and smoothing his dress. "How many like me live our lives without ever knowing? How many of us never feel right in the world where we live, and never realize that a god turned our lives all on end? Some of us even claim that the Trickster is one of us, and makes us so She/He has company."
"Have you asked the god?" I wanted to know.
Okha gave me a tiny, bitter smile. "The god touched me once, Beka. I'd soon as not get his attention again."
Okha is mostly a secondary/minor character, thoughhe does manage to provide Beka with some evidence as to where the counterfeiters are operating. Meanwhile, Nestor is a leader among the city's police force, and largely instrumental in the final showdown between the heroes and the villains.
Thoughts?
In Bloodhound, the book's heroine, Beka (who narrates in a diary format) travels to a port city to investigate a counterfeiting ring. Her (gay) cousin is on the city's police force, and he lives with his lover, Okha. One night, Beka goes to a tavern as part of her investigation, and is surprised to see Okha there, singing as a female impersonator. She asks him how he manages to look so convincingly female:
"I had very good teachers, people who took me in when my family cast me out. I worked and I studied, everywher I went. But that isn't what you're asking."
I shook my head. Since he wasn't looking at me now, I added, "Not really. Your beauty comes from the inside. You don't put that on with a brush and powder."
"Inside, I am a beautiful woman." Okha said, fiddling with a perfect curl. "The Trickster tapped me in my mother's womb and placed me in this male shell."
I'd heard of many tricks done by the gods, but this was nearabout the cruelest. "I'm sorry." I whispered.
"At least I understood what happened." Okha said, getting to his feet and smoothing his dress. "How many like me live our lives without ever knowing? How many of us never feel right in the world where we live, and never realize that a god turned our lives all on end? Some of us even claim that the Trickster is one of us, and makes us so She/He has company."
"Have you asked the god?" I wanted to know.
Okha gave me a tiny, bitter smile. "The god touched me once, Beka. I'd soon as not get his attention again."
Okha is mostly a secondary/minor character, thoughhe does manage to provide Beka with some evidence as to where the counterfeiters are operating. Meanwhile, Nestor is a leader among the city's police force, and largely instrumental in the final showdown between the heroes and the villains.
Thoughts?