This week’s Blog For A Beer is a special IBARW edition. Readers of this blog may find J T Glover’s essay on Bias in American SF interesting and the BfaB post uses that as a jumping-off point. The crux is this:
…for those who would prefer a different SF: what do you want, and how are you going to get it? My frustration with Mr. Banker’s post was exceeded only by my curiosity. What sustainable alternative exists, now or in future, and how will it come about? Can it be created without alienating most of SF, and if not, does that matter? Even as the writer in me is most concerned with writing well and getting published, the reader in me wants both literary challenges and comfort food. The librarian in me believes that we must make room for everyone, whoever they are and whatever they believe, else we abandon the promise of speculative fiction.
Read the full essay and comment on it here.
We have two other pieces up this week that that fit into the theme. As I mentioned yesterday, there’s a clip of Ghetto Man roasting the Superfriends. Oh 1979, you were so crazy. Also, N K Jemisin’s really, really excellent review of the latest Temeraire book that illuminates some of the big themes Novik explores in the books and also ties in why her fanfic roots make the series so amazing. And there’s a reprint of Broken Mystic’s essay on Dust, a Muslim character in the X-Men comics.
I love my job.
Okay, I tried to look it up, but couldn’t find it. What and where did Kevin Sorbo write about Keith Hamilton Smith? I don’t watch the show, but I was curious.
Interesting essay by J T Glover.
Uh oh, I think there’s a factual error in your icon. :) If IMDB is correct, Lawson was cast as Cordelia Chase in BUFFY, but turned it down for contractual obligations to GOODE BEHAVIOR. Later she guested as Kendra the Vampire Slayer, where of course she kicked ass. I could be wrong, of course. :) She would have made a great Cordelia, though it would have meant the sole character of color was the bitch/sometime antagonist.