[ SECRET POST #1572 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #1572 ⌋


Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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Notes:

I've heard people say that they're not getting LJ notifications for new posts - there's an RSS feed right over here that you can use! Just a heads up for those unaware.

Secrets Left to Post: 12 pages, 276 secrets from Secret Submission Post #225.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 1 2 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeats ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Same. That's not what this series is about and it'd feel out of place. Besides, Temeraire and Laurence already have a slashable relationship. I don't need the sex to ship something.

[(Anonymous)]

She shouldn't put them in for the squee (which I agree is ridiculous and rather offensive), but I agree with the OP of the secret that it's a bit odd that there are no gay characters at all in the series. She tweaked her wordlbuiding so that women could play a bigger, more active part, and I see absolutely no reason the same logic couldn't be extended to gay characters. And as for 'feeling out of place', so far there hasn't even been the acknowledgement that homosexuality as much as exists. Patrick O'Brian did a lot better than that decades ago.

[(Anonymous)]

And Stephen is very much coded as bisexual (even if the villainous gay lovers was uncool, O'Brian).

[(Anonymous)]

(even if the villainous gay lovers was uncool, O'Brian)

That part really put me off. The early books were so slashy, and, considering the time period the series is set in, as well as the author's age, relatively gay friendly, that I really wasn't prepared for that.

[(Anonymous)]

I know. It was not a deal-breaker for me because he had had other friendly portrayals of LGBT folks (including Stephen, imo), but it was still uncool.

[(Anonymous)]

Then let me rephrase: Acknowledging that homosexual relationships I would have no problem with and would find that more interesting in the world building. That wouldn't feel out of place.
Making them fodder for fangirls and the soul focus just for the slashing would be out of place. I felt that is what the op trying to say "This needs more slashy fun times."

[(Anonymous)]

I disagree; I think OP was saying that astolat is a hypocrite when it comes to lgbtqi themes with regards to her profic.

OP here

[(Anonymous)]

And you'd be right.

For what it's worth, I'm ESL and it seems that I worded the secret badly.

My point was, even if she'd include gay characters, people would still buy her books. Considering that she's written so much slash, I find it weird and yes, even hypocritical that she doesn't include any of that in her books. Like, it's okay for her to include gay characters in her free fanfics, but when it comes to stories people actually pay for, she won't do it because she's afraid that people won't buy her books anymore.

IMO, it's very cowardly and really makes it look like m/m is just ~hot & sexy~ to her and that supporting LGBTQ rights (supporting = including them, admitting that they exist) under her actual author name is something she doesn't dare to do.

Re: OP here

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

glad i understood you correctly :) and yeah, it's really problematic when someone who's in such a position of power as novik/astolat (i mean, she's huge panfandom bnf; she runs otw and its associated projects) drops the ball like this. she can and should do better.

Re: OP here

[(Anonymous)]

Ah. My bad, op. :) Yes, this I can get behind and I agree with you. Though apparently she may eventually address it, reading the comments. So my hopes are up.