White Man fantasy authors that just really aren't all that worth the hype
In my personal opinion
Now that we can say (without extreme fear of death threats) Neil Gaiman's work has always had an undertone of misogyny, racism and creep--
Let's talk Lev Grossman!
The Magicians (spoilers ahead) was the first fiction book I had picked up in a couple years and I regret it everyday. Quieten is insufferable and what the fuck was the entirety of Alice's character and story? Why the fuck did I waste 17 hours of my life listening to an audiobook about a white boy complaining and fucking his girl and hearing his girl get fucked then she just dies for plot. Her entire character revolved around her brother or her boyfriend. She was so much more than that.
Back to Neil Gaiman: The next book I read after The Magicians was American Gods. Just...yikes to that book. Also, the way Anathema was described in the Good Omens book.. And just Stardust in its entirety... Growing up I watched that movie dozens of times and read it once--it wasn't lost on me that there weren't many non-scorned, non-sexualized, non-abusive or abused, or unfucked ALIVE femme characters in his work. Bilqius, Laura Moon, Yvaine, Anathema, Nina, Madam Tracy, War as seen in this annotation below.
Image Description: a screen shot of the Good Omens Kindle E-Book page 111 with the highlighted passage: "Is bloddy important strategically, Ferando Chianti! I drew big map of the island and is right in the middle, which makes it pretty bloddy strategically important, I can tell you." "Ha!" said Fernando. "You might as well say that just because Little Diego's house has a view of the decedant capitalist topless private beach that it's strategically important!" The pianist blushed a deep red. "Our lot got that this morning," he admitted. There was a silence. In the silence was a faint, silken rasping. Red had uncrossed her legs.
The passage is followed by the annotation saying "wtf is this even"
End of image description.
Alright hold on, this one isn't going to be taken well....
George Lucas, Dave Filoni, John Favreau, Stan Lee.
It's just their own fanfiction with no growth. It's the same parallel for the 150th time with a white male protagonist, a petite love interest, a best friend who is either a droid, an animal, or a token poc. The femme characters---good lord. Same with Grossman and Gaiman, nearly impossible to find one non-scorned, non-sexualized, non-abusive or abused, or unfucked ALIVE femme character. Shmi, Padme, Satine, Barris, Ventress, Yadle, Steela Gerrera, Mary Jane, Pepper, Rogue, Mystique, the list can go on.
Their man characters usually always harm loads of people and especially the femme characters closest to them before they can stop and think about their actions. Why reinforce that harmful trope?
The male violence apologist godfathers. Child slaughterer? He's the chosen one, he's misguided and most of the franchise is dedicated to him. War profiteer and creator and seller of weapons as well as responsible for so much innocent death and egregious property damage? Hot playboy with the best lines who most of the franchise was dedicated to.
Their stories are just So White™. It's just White Knight™ over and over again. The Western bs always gave me such an ick.
I remember being 10 and being like "wow Iron Man is actually really racist..." They really pushed that Islamophobic narrative hard.
Also, George Lucas telling Carrie Fischer "there's no underwear in space" so she doesn't wear a bra in A New Hope? Gross. That's not just "something from another time.. it's was the 70s!" -- no it was gross then when she was 19 and it's gross now.
So yeah I put them all together in one because they are in the same vein of misogynistic white men who get away with their racist microgressions because they built and extended an ultra popular fantasy world with a theme park.
These dudes just thought up a fantasy world, we can all still take what we want and leave the rest. We don't have to be grateful to them or like their work to run with our own creativity with their characters/places/things. We are also very much allowed and should to think critically and critique work, especially when it reinforces harmful tropes or is just plain shit but somehow gets turned into a multimedia affair. But again, we can still enjoy fantasy and take what we want and leave the rest.
There's so much more for each of them and more authors but who has the time of the patience anymore. I don't. Not for this post.
I like to think fan fic writers and artists liberate our beloved characters from them so they can live the lives they deserve. So thank you fic writers and fan artists. You create the world we wish to see.
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Hello, how are you? I hope you’re doing well! Would it be possible for me to ask if you could write some Isaac relationship headcanons? Preferably GN! reader. This man has bewitched me body and soul and I need him. Love you! 🤍
𝙰𝚋𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚕𝚢𝚢𝚢 💕💕💕
𖦹 Look the fact anyone was even able to break his tough shell is shocking enough
𖦹 But contrary to what Jack says, Issac does have a heart (is it shriveled up, dead and cold.. Yes... But it's heart shaped 💕)
𖦹 Not much of a poet, but he would write you love letters coating them in sweet fragrances and placing flowers before he stamps it with wax (he always used your favorite color of wax
𖦹 This man didn't get much love or attention growing up so if your the motherly type HE. IS. WHIPPED
𖦹 unlike most guys if you wear dresses or get your nails done, he would give you in detail what he liked, ask him about your makeup and he will just go "it's wonderful as always my dear, the light reflects on your cheeks in such a beautiful pattern"
𖦹 On the topic of that he remembers what you say, snacks, shoe size, nails, color He always remembers, even if it was just something small he won't forget it (he travels across multiple shops to get that one specific dish soap you use just because you said it smells nice)
𖦹 Is he jealousy?, short answer:yes, long answer: has never truly been in love until now so for him this would practically be turning back to a life of bitter Gray, he's more jealous out of insecurity, my guy is a dead corpse with no jaw, he is barely keeping his sanity in tact 😭
𖦹 If your young I'm so sorry but the amount of Hugh Hefner jokes thrown at you by Jack is gonna be crazy (he was genuinely convinced you were getting paid)
𖦹 He is kinda insufferable to everyone to varying degrees, but will be sweet the moment you come in
𖦹 Not good with comfort I'm so sorry 😭, dude was beat for showing any emotion other then smiling, you really think this is the guy who knows what to say?
𖦹 But he will try distracting you, need a hug? Absolutely, want him to hold you, don't be shy sit in his lap, need attention? You have his eyes and ears
𖦹 Enjoys sensual romance, just taking a shower/bath, and letting him put his boney hands in your hair, skin to skin contact, he really craves being held, however just struggling with getting
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