Short & Sweet: Change Makers

[helloladies]

Lois McMaster Bujold once said that SFF is a "fantasy of political agency". I think about this frequently even though she said it ten years ago in her Worldcon guest of honor speech. She meant that SFF is about people who have the power to change their worlds. (This explains the popularity of monarchies which we see as allowing an individual more power.) That is less true of short fiction, because shorts have to be smaller in scope. Plus, I love domestic stories about everyday life so I tend to read a lot stories that focus on those.

However, the prevalence of a certain kind of "political agency" story—you know, the one where the dude with the sword is the only one who can save the kingdom—in fiction can make it feel like one has to be a long lost heir or chosen one to change society. To help counter that narrative, and also because it gives me hope in these troubled times, I’ve put together a list of stories about ordinary people who are trying to fix their worlds or resisting oppressive governments/societies. ( Read more... )

The YA Agenda — May 2018

[helloladies]

Jenny is the splendid and prodigious co-host of the Reading the End bookcast. She blogs about books and other sundries at the funny and entertaining Reading the End, where you can go for even more book recs in genres other than YA. She is also a champion library patron and is kind to all librarians.

Let me begin by saying that if you have not yet read any of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances, you are missing a trick. I recommend beginning with The Grand Sophy, which features a spirited girl sorting out messes a la Flora Post. And if Georgette Heyer’s books give you the same feeling of joy and satisfaction that they give me, then you will be in the perfect mindset for this month’s frontlist/backlist pairing of books about gifted girls in gowns. ( Read more... )