Sarah Is a Busy Bee

[sarahtales]

So, I had a lovely time in America!

The Smart Chicks tour you have heard about: I also saw New York, Baltimore and Massachusetts, attended not one but two weddings and not one but two debates on zombies versus unicorns. (Naomi Novik of His Majesty's Dragon renown secured my support for team unicorn by feeding me cupcakes. I am easily bought: all

Comments

[sabriel75]

Whew! *takes deep breath*

You did a lot and I felt rushed reading this.

George R. R. Martin, gu-uh... say embarrassing things because you will post here and I can fangirl him vicariously through you.

Have a great day!

[thegreatmissjj]

I happen to love Alec and Magnus, but I am a wee bit distressed at their (apparently huge!) age difference. But then again, mortal/immortal romances do tend to make me a little uncomfortable. (Yes, he may look like a young twentysomething, but he's actually 107! I have been told I look 16, but I would never date someone who is 16. That's nearly 10 years and a lifetime of experiential differences!)

ANYWAY, I do think it's progress that we are able to accept incidentally LGBT characters without much problem, although the blindness to queerness still attests to the overwhelming heternormativity of our current society. But I may not be one to talk--I tend to read many things with a queer bent and I may be in the minority. (For example, I tend to read a slightly Sapphic vibe into Mae and Sin's relationship.)

Too bad I missed you in NYC! Would have gone to the zombies vs. unicorns panel, but we were hosting two girls from France. :)

[sarahtales]

Well, being immortal is different from being old, I think? And their age difference and differing life experiences does get taken on in the next series! But I admit, I never loved Magnus until Clockwork Angel, when I got to see him be younger and more vulnerable.

I think lots of us can read subtext into books, and that that can be problematic - reading subtext and never expecting text - as can the people who just Never See Gay People in their fiction. And I say that as someone who loves subtext, as it indicates people being complex, which I love. (You're not wrong to see a little extra about Mae and Sin's friendship: it's meant to reflect that experience of being a teenager, and having a friend who is so cool that you're not sure quite what you feel about them.) But subtext is not representation, which we all need.

Heh, I was being very boring in the audience, but Maureen Johnson's Sarah Palin, Zombie Supporter impression was a truly epic moment, so you did miss out!

[thegreatmissjj]

Yes, I loved Magnus more in CLOCKWORK ANGEL myself.

I agree that we need more representation. In thinking about it a little more, perhaps the fact that readers missed Jamie being gay was because he was never explicitly referred to as such in DL (I think I remember earrings and lavender shirt subtext). As a person of color, sometimes even I miss cues that a character is of a different race when not told explicitly (although race and sexuality are not exactly "the same" in fiction). If I expect the default to be "white", until told otherwise that's what I will assume. If I were the sort of person who expects the default to be "straight", maybe it would be similar. (Hmmm, food for thought!)

You, boring? Never. :) (Although I am sad I missed Maureen's Sarah Palin impression!!!!!)

[sarahtales]

Yes: it was a surprise to me that - letting alone the earring - after having Jamie check out boys and be warned off boys, I would have to just say 'gay.' And much much trickier for Malinda, who is writing high fantasy and thus using different terminology! But she is a brave and talented toaster.

I also very much enjoyed Libba Bray's song dedicated to her personal zombie lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

[dawtheminstrel]

Someone read Demon's Lexicon and didn't notice that Jamie was gay? Seriously? That's a great set of blinders. Like in life, I guess.

[sgt_majorette]

Proves once and for all that gaiety is no threat to Our Way of Life. Because if people didn't even notice that Jamie entered flaming...

[sarahtales]

I liked it! I did not get the chance to chat with all the people I wished to (I would have loved to talk more with Sherwood Smith) but I felt it was a chatty atmosphere.

[sarahtales]

Demon's Lexicon is on the reading list, she says proudly! So you are sorted with one thing. ;)

[mein_profil]

Well, speaking purely heterosexually, Girl, you are smokin' in that red dress! Just sayin'.;-)

It's true that female writer's are more often the target of hate attacks. I have the feeling many people (unconsciously?) consider it legitimate to attack a woman but not a man - even if I have no idea why. I remember how some fans got positively RABID when Marti Noxon became executive producer of Buffy and they didn't like the new theme of the show. Like lunatics! I always thought they wouldn't have been just as aggressive had it been one of the male writers of the show.

Oh, and: Please don't die? At least not so soon?

[sarahtales]

Thank you! And yes, Marti Noxon was brought up at the panel. Nobody says 'Marti Noxon is my mistress now' and I agree with you completely that the attitude would have been less virulent if it had been one of the male writers.

[mein_profil]

I wonder why that is so - is it (still) culturally ingrained that women are irrational and emotional - which is why we can respond to them likewise? And that men probably know what they are doing so we better not step on their feet too hard? Hm, maybe I shouldn't have skipped that gender studies stuff at uni.

Well, the best option would probably be that fans say "No-one is my mistress/master! I really, really love what these writers do but I can think for myself". But that's probably too much to ask! *sigh*