Comments on: Catherynne Valente : Many Voices

By: Fantasy Magazine » Fantasy Roundtable: People of Color in Fantasy Literature (part 3)

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:10:48 +0000

[...] not often mentioned that The Orphan’s Tales is a very multicultural book. (discussed in this interview [...]

By: Keke

Keke — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:00:33 +0000

I am a big fan of science fiction and fantasy. I will definitely be checking out her work. I’ve always loved strong, complex female characters of color and had always found them to be lacking in the genre. I hope that this heralds a changing trend and that diversity will be a mainstay and not a fluke in sci-fi and fantasy.

By: S. J. Tucker

S. J. Tucker — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 23:28:33 +0000

I am very proud to know both of the women involved in this interview. High Five, you two.

By: Shara Saunsaucie

Shara Saunsaucie — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:39:26 +0000

This is an interesting discussion, because the cultural diversity of the world is something I picked up on right away and really appreciated. In fact, I recommended this book to one of my friends for this very reason (and others, but the Arabian respect was top on the list, so my friend could see how other writers were doing it), but I just looked at my own review (here: http://calico-reaction.livejournal.com/40023.html) and realize I never mentioned it at all. I usually mention such things when I notice them, but I didn’t here. I know at the time, I was so in love and in awe of the book that I couldn’t articulate much of anything that was coherent, so likely, it slipped my mind.

But I did notice it, for what it’s worth. No doubt, people don’t, but I wonder how many people do notice it but don’t mention it for whatever reason?

An aside, I did notice the lack of mention of multi-cultural diversity in the Strange Horizons review of David Anthony Durham’s ACACIA, which struck me as insanely odd, because everything I’ve HEARD about that book deals with its diverse setting. Okay, not everything, but that’s the hype.

By: Interesting interview with Catherynne Valente at ABW at Tobias Buckell Online

Interesting interview with Catherynne Valente at ABW at Tobias Buckell Online — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:06:21 +0000

[...] Black Woman interviews Catherynne Valente here: Angry Black Woman: Last week I hosted a roundtable discussion for Fantasy [...]

By: stankerbell

stankerbell — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:04:52 +0000

I’m glad to see that discussion such as these are happening w/i the genre because it’s an issue that’s been ignored for too long.

I belong to a fantasy/sci fi book club and trying to get them to read something different is like pulling teeth. And when I do get them to read someone like Nalo Hopkinson, I feel as if they’re just doing it to get me to shut up. The fact that they end up enjoying it is moot.

Also, thanks for the recommendation, I have a new book to line up in my queue.

By: Chesya Burke

Chesya Burke — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:43:18 +0000

This is a great interview. Good job, ladies.

By: TierListE

TierListE — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:01:14 +0000

I am way too excited about this. I love fantasy and I always wished that there were more fleshed out PoC (bonus if women) characters that had some kind of focus in the plotline. I soaking up the reccomendations from this one and can’t wait to see more.

By: People of Color in Genre Fiction | Illusion

People of Color in Genre Fiction | Illusion — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:21:28 +0000

[...] 1 of 3) at Fantasy Magazine about People of Color in Genre Fiction. Meanwhile, there’s an interesting interview with Catherynne Valente about the way readers perceive (or don’t as the case may be) characters and race in her [...]

By: K. Tempest Bradford » People of Color in Fantasy Literature

K. Tempest Bradford » People of Color in Fantasy Literature — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:10:59 +0000

[...] coincidentally there is also an interview with Catherynne Valente up on the Angry Black Woman blog today. There we discuss why The Orphan’s Tales is rarely praised for it’s multiculturalism [...]