/lit/ - Literature

>>11441026
There's also lots of sex and misogyny, and 'wall-to-wall rape'--not that books should shy away from sex, or from any uncomfortable, unpleasant reality of life. The problem is when people who are not comfortable with their own sexuality start writing about it, which seems to plague every mainstream fantasy author. Their pen gets away from them, their own hangups start leaking into the scene, until it's not even about the characters anymore, it's just the author cybering about his favorite fetish--and if I cyber with a fat, bearded stranger, I expect to be paid for it.

I know a lot of fans probably get into it more than I do (like night elf hunters humping away in WOW), but reading Goodkind, Jordan, and Martin--it's like seeing a Playboy at your uncle's where all the pages are wrinkled. That's not to say there isn't serviceable pop fantasy sex out there--it's just written by women.

Though I didn't save any choice examples, I did come across this quote from a later book:
"... she wore faded sandsilk pants and woven grass sandals. Her small breasts moved freely beneath a painted Dothraki vest . . ."

Imagine the process: Martin sits, hands hovering over the keys, trying to get inside his character's head:

"Okay, I'm a woman. How do I see and feel the world differently? My cultural role is defined by childbirth. I can be bought and sold in marriage by my own--Oh, hey! I've got tits! Man, look at those things go. *whooshing mammary sound effects* Okay, time to write."

Where are the descriptions of variously-sized dongs swinging within the confines of absurdly-detailed clothing? There are a set of manboobs (which perhaps Martin has some personal experience with) but not until book five. Even then, it's not the dude being hyperaware of his own--they're just there to gross out a dwarf. Not really a balanced depiction.

If you're familiar with the show (and its parodies on South Park and SNL) this lack of dongs may surprise you. But as Martin himself explained, when asked why there's no gay sex in his books, despite having gay characters, 'they’re not the viewpoint characters'--as if somehow, the viewpoints he chooses to depict are beyond his control. Apparently, he plots as well as your average NaNoWriMo author: sorry none of my characters chose to be gay, nothing I can do about it.

And balance really is the problem here--if you only depict the dark, gritty stuff that you're into, that's not realism, it's just a fetish. If you depict the grimness of war by having every female character threatened with rape, but the same thing never happens to a male character, despite the fact that more men get raped in the military than women, then your 'gritty realism card' definitely gets revoked.

>>10333573
Great imagery, a few of the lines are memorable, sadly some of them are hindered due to being a tad descriptive in some areas.

>>10343483
>I need to know if this appeals to people or if it's destined for the trashcan. Thank you.
A book will always have a certain appeal to certain people, nonetheless, that doesn't mean it won't be destined for the trashcan, anon.


>>10343810
Going to level with you anon. I'm tired as fuck, but I will try my best for you since this seems rather interesting. So I apologize if I miss a few errors.

>where he spent most his time between field research and the Schools Archives.

where he spent most his time in field research and the Schools Archives.

>which would give insight to craftsmanship and what tools they had at the time.
which would give insight into craftsmanship and what tools they had at the time.

>He was now less then 30 minutes from the Reserve. Readying his equipment sat on the empty passenger seat when something caught his eye. He quickly looked up to see a creature "A black bear" he said unsure. It stood looking, not perturbed by the approaching automobile. He took notice to it gaunt appearance and gangly legs, which it stood on four of. The beast was peering directly at him, which sent a chilling shock up his spine. He was drawing near and without a top on his car he felt threatened, "Be gone you!" He screeched, but the beast still just stood staring at him. He sped up as fast he could and successfully made it past, looking behind in his mirror was the most disturbing, as the beast turned around stood staring back at him from afar.


He was now less than 30 minutes from the Reserve. Readying his equipment sat on the empty passenger seat when something caught his eye. He quickly looked up to see a creature "A black bear" he said unsurely. It stood looking, not perturbed by the approaching automobile. He took notice of its gaunt appearance and gangly legs, which it stood on four of. The beast was peering directly at him, which sent a chilling shock up his spine. He was drawing near and without a top, on his car, he felt threatened, "Be gone you!" He screeched, but the beast still just stood to stare at him. He sped up as fast he could and successfully made it past, looking behind in his mirror was the most disturbing, as the beast turned around stood to stare back at him from afar.


Here's mine: https://pastebin.com/ebbhQVEa

Post your prose or poetry, but be sure critique others if you do.