expatriate games: Oh ffs Mercedes Lackey! (trigger warning)

thesadnessofpencils:

Emphasis mine:

While I never say “never,” the likelihood of a transgendered lead character is so slim as to be invisible.

Here is why. I support myself with my writing; I do not have the luxury of writing books for special-interest audiences. In my limited experience,

This sort of thing always pisses me off from a social justice perspective but it also INSULTS ME AS A READER. I mean, seriously, Lackey is assuming a lot when she assumes that cis readers would BE BORED by a trans narrative. What the hell is that? If it’s a boring read, it ain’t because trans characters are by default boring - it’s because she tends, magical sparkleponies aside, to write really whiney characters. Vanyel isn’t whiney because he’s gay - he’s whiney because HE IS A WHINEY PERSON.

Oh, Mercedes Lackey, this is fail.

Man, I’ve been reading science fiction and fantasy since I learned how to read. I’ve been relating to characters who were not at all like myself for just that long. I think pretty much everyone else who isn’t a white male has been doing the same because, you know, science fiction and fantasy have been written from one perspective for a really long time. CHANGE IT UP. I’m tired of reading the same damn story.

Source: thesadnessofpencils

156 Notes/ Hide

  1. libbie-oconnor reblogged this from marcinhaunts
  2. mermaidofspace reblogged this from twelvefootmountaintroll and added:
    ^ EXACTLY. Lol at cis douchebags making me even more in the mood to work on my comics that actually feature trans*...
  3. tronlives reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis
  4. cannibaljackrabbit reblogged this from extranjero and added:
    MERCEDES LACKEY WRITES BULLSHIT FOR A LIVING ANYWAY. POO ON YOU.
  5. marcinhaunts reblogged this from twelvefootmountaintroll and added:
    Oh, ML, I am disappoint. I was so influenced by Vanyel’s trilogy as a kid—I can honestly say it changed my life. Why are...
  6. dasheroyjackson reblogged this from tigerfeel
  7. katimus reblogged this from plaiddingsbyplaidofplaidness and added:
    Everything I’ve heard about Mercedes Lackey is true. ._. Why would anyone...a (dying,...
  8. extranjero reblogged this from elotil and added:
    I’ve never heard of this writer until right now, but HOLY FUCKING SHIT. I do not have the luxury of writing books for...
  9. anlamasanda reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    “Impenetrably nonsensical transbigotry” is such a good phrase. I feel a little guilty, as always, for not sitting down...
  10. elotil reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    I have never been so disappointed in an author my entire life and I mean that’s saying something really now the best...
  11. phaelsafe reblogged this from jackaldope
  12. inpurpleimstunning reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    First off: It’s fucking fantasy. Use magic. You’ve got a shitload of different magics in the Valdemar-verse. Use...
  13. plaiddingsbyplaidofplaidness reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    I am dismayed, but not surprised, as Lackey’s attitudes towards sexuality in writing - in general - have always come off...
  14. thestripedshirtgirl reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    CLEARLY people can be interested in transgender characters, there are two big movies coming out in which the main...
  15. jackaldope reblogged this from tigerfeel
  16. edoro reblogged this from tigerfeel and added:
    Gosh wow it’s like trans people AREN’T EVEN REALLY PEOPLE AT ALL they’re just REALLY BORING TROPES THAT A ‘NORMAL’...
  17. sabaku-no-shukaku reblogged this from tigerfeel
  18. twelvefootmountaintroll reblogged this from whatfreshhellisthis and added:
    “Those options are not available to a fantasy author.” Right. Because you totally can’t invent some fancy bit of magic...
  19. gothicegg reblogged this from tigerfeel and added:
    Isn’t she notoriously poor about portraying the queer community? Am I thinking of someone else?
  20. redlanternzoom reblogged this from tigerfeel
  21. whatfreshhellisthis reblogged this from tigerfeel and added:
    UGH WHAT A POOP A BIG POOP I JUST ARUGH UAXYGBLFYB POOPY
  22. katwithcomputer reblogged this from pandorasprings and added:
    I’ve read a lot of Mercedes Lackey. I mean a lot. Like, most of what she’s written a lot. And I actively look for LGBT*...
  23. freibiergesicht reblogged this from pandorasprings and added:
    It’s always amazing to me how fantasy fans and fantasy authors try to dismiss their bigotry based on the genre. I mean,...
  24. anotsosadsong reblogged this from pandorasprings
  25. masteradept reblogged this from anotsosadsong
  26. pandorasprings reblogged this from anotsosadsong and added:
    okay i trust other people have already torn apart most of this so can we talk about “those options are not available to...
  27. stolethesunforaprank reblogged this from shrikesdaughter
  28. shrikesdaughter reblogged this from gematriya
  29. nemertea reblogged this from thesadnessofpencils and added:
    Dear Mercedes Lackey; The amount of time that I spend whinging about my gender difficulties boils down
  30. ave-atque-vale reblogged this from thesadnessofpencils and added:
    oh my god, HOW IS THIS REAL? OH MY GOD WHYYYYYYYY DO PEOPLE SUCK.
  31. rhivolution reblogged this from cabell