tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post7112675863228775588..comments2023-12-28T17:51:10.368-06:00Comments on Spiral Galaxy Musings: My WorldCon Reading ListKaren Burnhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-38968189529805346812008-09-07T11:40:00.000-05:002008-09-07T11:40:00.000-05:00Traci- Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you like t...Traci- Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you like the picture; I thought it came out well.<BR/><BR/>David's story is officially the most controversial thing on this website, and I didn't even write it! (So far the most controversial thing <I>I've</I> written is a review of <I>Carhullan's Army</I>, but that's over at <A HREF="http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/006888.html" REL="nofollow">SFSignal.com</A>.) "My Father's Paws" seems to elicit strong opinions, which is probably a good sign.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-28146393983070002422008-09-06T00:22:00.000-05:002008-09-06T00:22:00.000-05:00This is a bit late . . . anyway, glad to see the p...This is a bit late . . . anyway, glad to see the pic of us up, it turned out good!<BR/><BR/>And David's story is right here, if you haven't found it already: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/paws.htm I went to his kaffeklatsch at Worldcon and asked about the story because Farah recommended it. He said he was trying to capture the reason trans folks went through what they did. It *is* a metaphor, but one he meant with the utmost respect because he has trans friends.<BR/><BR/>I was actually quite moved by it, but maybe it's because I knew the background of it first.<BR/><BR/>Tracitcastlebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07807432271469188025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-81939075012182269802008-08-19T13:48:00.000-05:002008-08-19T13:48:00.000-05:00Lauren - If you're interested, you can read an...Lauren - If you're interested, you can read an essay of mine that directly tackles gender, feminism, queer & trans issues in my review of "<A HREF="http://spiralgalaxyreviews.blogspot.com/2008/04/queer-theory-gender-theory-instant.html" REL="nofollow">Queer Theory, Gender Theory</A>" by Riki Wilchins.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-62501815666265345562008-08-19T13:46:00.000-05:002008-08-19T13:46:00.000-05:00I see-- thanks for the correction. I did notice th...I see-- thanks for the correction. I did notice that comment in your post, but assumed that since you linked to the stories you had passed your eyes over them. Perhaps a stronger disclaimer is in order?<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry, I've never been this bossy on the internet in my life. I was just so taken aback to read a story so offensive when it had been introduced in a queer-friendly context.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12917595495734827367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-87122600558118233592008-08-19T13:38:00.000-05:002008-08-19T13:38:00.000-05:00Lauren - Thanks for your comment!I'm afraid you mi...Lauren - Thanks for your comment!<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid you misread my post - these are all things that I *haven't* read; they are things other people recommended that I read, and what I understood them to say about the works. So my description of the story (which I still haven't read) came from Farah. <BR/><BR/>Since I posted this list, I've heard from more than one person about how very much they disliked this story in the context of the transgender experience. Given all this background, I expect to give it a lot of thought when I do get around to reading it.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-31610426384057013532008-08-19T11:38:00.000-05:002008-08-19T11:38:00.000-05:00OK, I know I'm a random internet stranger (here vi...OK, I know I'm a random internet stranger (here via someone else's WorldCon report) and I can't expect anyone to care about my opinion of your blog post... but are you seriously recommending "I Hold My Father's Paws" as a good "metaphorical examination of the transgender experience"? <BR/><BR/>In this metaphor, a trans person is literally dehumanized by his transition. In this metaphor, becoming a woman means becoming a servile, speechless pet, being "pampered for the rest of [your] life", not ever making "any [...] deicisons" for yourself.<BR/><BR/>More like a good examination of transphobic attitudes-- and maybe misogynist, too? <BR/><BR/>The story managed to portray trans activites as not just gross but also decadent and self-involved, and also kind of boring. We are literally assured that the only reason not to ask strangers about their transition is not that it's rude-- no, it's "just that some of them will talk your ear off, given the slightest show of interest".<BR/><BR/>This story literally made me feel sick as I read it. I can't believe you recommended it as a story that in any way was trans-positive or queer-friendly. Again, I'm an self-righteous internet stranger, what do you care about my opinion? But I kinda hope this comment serves as a wake-up call-- I think both you and the story's author have a lot of examination to do.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12917595495734827367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-29871497942010603592008-08-15T14:30:00.000-05:002008-08-15T14:30:00.000-05:00Thanks Gary! I've edited the post with the correct...Thanks Gary! I've edited the post with the correct title. My game of static-y telephone continues, I see. It's amazing what one mishears.<BR/><BR/>I should probably walk around these things with either my notepad out ALL the time or a voice recorder permanently on, but that would be too geeky even for a WorldCon.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-67823195382907205322008-08-15T13:53:00.000-05:002008-08-15T13:53:00.000-05:00Karen, it wasn't a collection of prehistoric ficti...Karen, it wasn't a collection of prehistoric fiction, but a new academic study, THE FIRE IN THE STONE: PREHISTORIC FICTION FROM CHARLES DARWIN TO JEAN M. AUEL, by Nicholas Ruddick, which I believe will be published by Wesleyan in the next year or so.Gary Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15561640058125550660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-11888598768224695702008-08-15T10:18:00.000-05:002008-08-15T10:18:00.000-05:00Terry - Thanks for the recommendation. Previously ...Terry - Thanks for the recommendation. Previously I'd only known Stoppard from "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern" so I'm looking forward to getting a better feel for his range. And I'm glad to hear that the other Sean Stewart books are as good as "Galveston," that bodes really well for Stewart being another author that I really enjoy. Did you see Darryl Gregory's <A HREF="http://www.sfnovelists.com/2008/08/14/i-want-my-sean-stewart/" REL="nofollow">plea to Stewart</A> to eschew lucrative game design work and write more awesome books? Can't blame a guy for asking.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-59485970917845650932008-08-14T11:12:00.000-05:002008-08-14T11:12:00.000-05:00Karen, Tom Stoppard is absolutely wonderful, and I...Karen, Tom Stoppard is absolutely wonderful, and I'd recommend that you also add his "Arcadia" to your list. It's one on my favorite plays of all time.<BR/><BR/>And you couldn't go wrong reading *all* of Sean Stewart's novels, if you ask me. I've been "saving" GALVESTON for a rainy day; MOCKINGBIRD is what got me started, and it's a gem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-52049791913404632602008-08-14T09:19:00.000-05:002008-08-14T09:19:00.000-05:00I really must get hold of copies of the Budrys and...I really must get hold of copies of the Budrys and Carter books -- both have been on my to-read for too long!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-39790319831262825522008-08-13T11:00:00.000-05:002008-08-13T11:00:00.000-05:00Thanks guys! Memory does fail, especially when un-...Thanks guys! Memory does fail, especially when un-aided by notes. As you can see I write down some things, but I think that makes me <I>more</I> likely for forget the things that don't get written down.<BR/><BR/>I've updated the post with links & corrections.Karen Burnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16803309172414793939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-2074732137931287592008-08-13T04:58:00.000-05:002008-08-13T04:58:00.000-05:00It was Aristotle's _Poetics_, and the Bisson (at l...It was Aristotle's _Poetics_, and the Bisson (at least in one form) is at http://www.sff.net/people/tbisson/donutplay.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8573136768377847579.post-32371241979658467302008-08-13T03:09:00.000-05:002008-08-13T03:09:00.000-05:00The Moretti was my recommendation. Quantum Prophec...The Moretti was my recommendation. Quantum Prophecy is a good YA novel about kids discovering that they have super powers.Farahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14101017914762871334noreply@blogger.com