In which the author continues to goof off

[rolanni]

So, yesterday was various errands, including the Getting of the Flu Shots, and tomorrow there are more errands.  Today, I believe there is cleaning, including post-writing disaster control of my office.  Which, to be fair, is Slightly Less Awful than it Often Is in terms of Sheer Volume.  On the other paw, I can't just sweep stacks of paper into trash bags, either, because there are Large Swaths of at least one other book interleaved with the pages that finally came to make up Dragon in Exile.

Speaking of Dragon in Exile, or at least, speaking of Val Con and Miri, who are more-or-less major actors in the novel, something went past my eyeballs a while ago, regarding characterization in the Liaden Universe®. The assertion of the writer was that while the authors get positive points for writing strong female characters, those points are crushed under the number of  negative points the authors get for pairing said strong, intelligent females with a male characters who are even stronger and smarter.

It probably goes without saying -- but I'll say it anyway -- that I don't see it that way.  Speaking specifically of Miri  and Val Con, what I see is two smart, capable people who have had vastly different lives, and who therefore have different strengths, and weaknesses, who happen to complement each other.

As a question of craft, I've always felt that it's a cheat to demonstrate that one's female character is strong and intelligent by deliberately pairing her with a weak or venal, less-intelligent male.  Just as it's a cheat to demonstrate that your hero is strong, smart, and morally upstanding by pairing him with Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes.

Also, just personally, I wonder why a strong, smart character of any gender you like would partner with a dummy (OK; maybe in terms of muscle or money).  But, generally, in terms of survival, wouldn't you want the smartest, strongest, most sympatico person you could get for your partner?

So, anyhow, that's what I think.  What do you think?

Comments

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

As a strong, smart female character, picking anything but the strongest, smartest male is a divorce waiting to happen. Really.

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

Strength in characters is not a zero-sum game. Having a strong male character does not make the female character any less strong. Possibly the reverse. If the female character pairs up with a weak male character for no good reason, that might make me think less of her. A strong character should be choosing a partner who shows strength of some sort. Not pairing up is fine with me too, but pairing up with an inferior partner who seems to exist just to make the first character look good really doesn't work for me, regardless of the genders involved.

[gareth griffiths (from livejournal.com)]

I see it your way. The (lifemate) pair is definitely more than the sum of the parts and each has strengths and weaknesses.

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

I snorted at the unnamed writers assertion ;p I like the way you've taken complex individuals and paired them so well. They all fit together in their pairs like very complicated 4 dimensional dovetails, making in their pairness an entity even more ... I was trying to find the right word, but I think I'll end that with "more". I love the way complexity intertwines in all their pairings. It's your characters that hooked me and keep me coming back. The plots are frosting.

NOW GET BACK TO WORK! (...ahem...) ;p

Couples

[ireneha.livejournal.com]

Miri & Val Con: Separately they are very fierce people. ... Together they are "Hell on Wheels"

As for all of the other couples, with and without the tree interferring: All are smart, all learn from experience, and all find a way to work together.

So keep doing what you are doing as you write. And I'll keep doing what I've been doing... Reading everything that you write... multiple times.

[charlie russel (from livejournal.com)]

I think the writer got it wrong, full stop. Strong characters naturally pair with each other. That you have strong female characters is very much a plus and one of the (many) things I enjoy about your books. The idea that somehow strong females should be paired with weak males? Why would that make any sense at all? Furthermore, I don't see Val Con as stronger than Miri. Different strengths that complement each other.

If there is one area that I think your Liaden books are missing in characterization, it is the complete and total lack of gay characters. And I realize that having started down that path roughly 30 years ago, it would be difficult to introduce them now. (Which, btw, is why I'm glad to see that being addressed in Archer's Beach, at least. )

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

intelligent conversation is a definate plus. Yeah the hot alpha stud is all good for a long weekend, but, geez, whats left to talk about after you compare tattoos?

[wynnsfolly.livejournal.com]

I feel sorry for people who live in sad limited zero-sum universes.

[otterb.livejournal.com]

Re strong female characters, I have seen the kind of thing the reviewer complains of, where a strong female character is outweighed by an even stronger male character, because, hey, apparently you have to have a Real Man(TM) to keep one of those uppity women under control or who knows what might happen. But I don't see it in your books. As others have said, you pair characters whose strengths complement each other.

[nocal-kathyf.livejournal.com]

I think your characters are strong and well balanced in their relationships. I'm wondering if the writer felt there was an economic imbalance? In that case there was an equal imbalance in Anthora's lifemate who had lost his clan entirely.
I love your writing, and your characters, plots, and worlds. Rest now (I loved Shan's educubes with the "TIme to rest and play" note - sorry if the quote isn't exactly right). Then write when you can and we'll be here to read. Thank you!

[catherine ives (from livejournal.com)]

I would never have made that criticism. I've always seen the female characters as extremely strong. As for the gayness issue...you've got to write what you've got to write..It seems like with the Liadens gayness is just not an issue. One of my favorite short stories is "This House" where there is a gay character. No one seems to have objected to that.

mirrors, complement, supplement, etc.

[furballtiger.livejournal.com]

some folks simply see (notice) what they expect to see. That said, while I agree Miri is tough in some ways, in an operational sense (during tactical crises, etc) imho Val Con seems to "wear the pants" in that pair. Yes, he is devoted to and defers to Miri at times, but when it's "real time" (and a lot of other times) she acts very junior to him. But! I'd argue the reverse is true for other couples of yours and that reflects the real diversity in couple's dynamics. When push comes to shove I see both Anthora and Priscilla as the (slightly) more dominant member of their pairs...if anything (and there are exceptions) the relationship pattern I see is Korval tending to lead and others to follow, not a generalized gender bias. And then there's Theo! Adult Theo isn't subordinate to anyone or anything; the idea would probably puzzle her slightly.
And you raised another question; why would anyone pick a dummy? your character's relationships reflect equality, competence, respect, etc. I like it...but that's not the only model in use in reality. At the risk (certainty) of being politically incorrect, lots of persons of one gender seem to view their mates as (partially) domesticated barn animals; handy for bed sport, heavy lifting, killing spiders, etc. Others have much more symmetric dynamics, some are asymmetric but complementary, etc. The idea that there's one right kind of relationship is, I think, hidden in much of this thread, and it's a pretty hard thesis to support. And the claim that your books systematically bias against strong females is truly absurd, in my view. YMMV. Worry less, write more, have fun! :)