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Re: The Summer Prince -- lots of thoughts (a few on sex, most on location)
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From: Diversity in YA <diversityinya_at_gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:18:05 -0700
Sarah Hamburg wrote:
(I'm also selfishly interested in the technical question of whether it's
> possible to explore notions of de-centering within a narrative that centers
> a main character with privilege-- this is something I'm questioning in my
> own work, too. I also wonder if this question takes on added dimensions in
> fantasy, where so much of the dominant tradition is tied to stories of
> privilege: gods, royalty, the elite, and those singled out as special. Is
> it possible to have a fantasy that shares power, if the story focuses on
> singular heroism?)
>
I know this is veering a little off-track, but Sarah's questions were just so interesting. Yes, a lot of fantasy (and also science fiction) is based on singular heroism -- especially in hero's journey type of narratives. I do think it's possible, though, to have a fantasy that shares power, though it does require a kind of de-centering that could be challenging for some readers who are more accustomed to a one-hero story.
My novel HUNTRESS was (in my opinion at least) about sharing power and disrupting the hero's journey narrative. Further, it was about the sharing of power facilitated through a same-sex love story. So in the end it is not one hero(ine) who saves the day, but two, who are enabled to do this together because of their love for each other.
Similarly, my two SF novels, ADAPTATION and INHERITANCE, are really about
(in my mind) bringing different cultures and peoples together in cooperation. That sounds kinda hokey when I write it, but the goal was not to have one solo hero in the end, but many people working together and connected. As I wrote it I realized it was not exactly your typical heroic narrative, but I'm not sure if readers got that. It also has a bisexual heroine in love with two individuals of different genders, so it speaks to that sort of connection as well.
Anyway, those were my goals when writing my books, but readers may have different interpretations, which of course is fine.
I was thinking through other YA fantasies and scifi novels, and I think that Sarah Rees Brennan has also written books in which sharing of power happens. Her Demon's Lexicon trilogy is three books written in three different POVs, so the reader experiences power sharing that way. It certainly de-centers each of the main characters in an interesting way that is also perhaps challenging for readers. And of course the trope of the mind meld (Star Trek) or mind-reading engages with power sharing in a particular way. In Kristin Cashore's GRACELING books, one of the characters does have this ability, and it's interesting how that influences his interactions with other characters.
So yes I think it can be done, but maybe it's not the norm, especially in YA which focuses so strongly on one perspective and being in the moment with that character.
Malinda Lo
Co-Founder, Diversity in YA www.diversityinya.com Diversity in YA - Puttin' a little diversity in ya since 2011.
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Received on Wed 19 Mar 2014 10:18:35 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 08:18:05 -0700
Sarah Hamburg wrote:
(I'm also selfishly interested in the technical question of whether it's
> possible to explore notions of de-centering within a narrative that centers
> a main character with privilege-- this is something I'm questioning in my
> own work, too. I also wonder if this question takes on added dimensions in
> fantasy, where so much of the dominant tradition is tied to stories of
> privilege: gods, royalty, the elite, and those singled out as special. Is
> it possible to have a fantasy that shares power, if the story focuses on
> singular heroism?)
>
I know this is veering a little off-track, but Sarah's questions were just so interesting. Yes, a lot of fantasy (and also science fiction) is based on singular heroism -- especially in hero's journey type of narratives. I do think it's possible, though, to have a fantasy that shares power, though it does require a kind of de-centering that could be challenging for some readers who are more accustomed to a one-hero story.
My novel HUNTRESS was (in my opinion at least) about sharing power and disrupting the hero's journey narrative. Further, it was about the sharing of power facilitated through a same-sex love story. So in the end it is not one hero(ine) who saves the day, but two, who are enabled to do this together because of their love for each other.
Similarly, my two SF novels, ADAPTATION and INHERITANCE, are really about
(in my mind) bringing different cultures and peoples together in cooperation. That sounds kinda hokey when I write it, but the goal was not to have one solo hero in the end, but many people working together and connected. As I wrote it I realized it was not exactly your typical heroic narrative, but I'm not sure if readers got that. It also has a bisexual heroine in love with two individuals of different genders, so it speaks to that sort of connection as well.
Anyway, those were my goals when writing my books, but readers may have different interpretations, which of course is fine.
I was thinking through other YA fantasies and scifi novels, and I think that Sarah Rees Brennan has also written books in which sharing of power happens. Her Demon's Lexicon trilogy is three books written in three different POVs, so the reader experiences power sharing that way. It certainly de-centers each of the main characters in an interesting way that is also perhaps challenging for readers. And of course the trope of the mind meld (Star Trek) or mind-reading engages with power sharing in a particular way. In Kristin Cashore's GRACELING books, one of the characters does have this ability, and it's interesting how that influences his interactions with other characters.
So yes I think it can be done, but maybe it's not the norm, especially in YA which focuses so strongly on one perspective and being in the moment with that character.
Malinda Lo
Co-Founder, Diversity in YA www.diversityinya.com Diversity in YA - Puttin' a little diversity in ya since 2011.
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Received on Wed 19 Mar 2014 10:18:35 AM CDT
