a confusion of books

Recently I've read some books I wish I didn't like, and some books I wish I did.

A Kiss Before the Apocalypse, by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Dancing on the Head of a Pin, by Thomas E. Sniegoski
Where Angels Fear to Tread, by Thomas E. Sniegoski

These are the first three books in the Remy Chandler series, and there's a hell of a lot wrong with them, and yet I keep crunching them up like potato chips and will probably give in and read the fourth one before long.

( more under the cut )

The Affinity Bridge, by George Mann
Ghosts of War, by George Mann

I ordered Ghosts of War because Paul Magrs enthusiastically recommended it on his blog, and I'm a huge fan of Paul Magrs. And then I bought The Affinity Bridge while waiting for Ghosts of War to arrive. Unfortunate, I did not like either of them one bit.

( click here for more )

calling people by their right names

I'd better preface this by saying that I love the deleted XMFC scene where Charles shows Angel an image of Erik in a dress. I especially love "you've never looked more beautiful, darling."

However. Even though Fassbender said it first, using names like "Traneto" or "Transneto" or any other variation thereof is not okay. Fassbender is a delightful and extraordinarily handsome man, but apparently he's not knowledgeable about trans* issues. Wearing drag != being trans. Being shown as wearing drag by your telepathic boyfriend best pal, against your knowledge and will? Also != being trans. [NOTE: Please see my ETA for more about the context of Fassbender's remark.]

Trans* people are real. So are people who enjoy wearing drag. The conflation of drag and trans*-ness hurts people in both categories by erasing their identities.

So, could we all use the right names? Even when we're being silly and squeeing and having fun? That way no one gets hurt and everyone gets to have fun.

Including trans* people like me.


ETA: Fassbender's comment, if I'm remembering correctly now, was made in the context of talking about the superpower to change one's sex at will. It wasn't made in relation to the Erik-in-a-dress scene. While I think the term "Traneto" is still faily and offensive (it's waaaaaaay to close to "tranny" for comfort), at least when Fassbender used it, it was in a context of sex/gender identity and not just crossdressing.

ETA2: A couple of folks have brought up the possibility that those fandom people using the words Traneto/Transneto are actually referring to "transvestite" rather than "transgendered" or "transsexual." It's certainly possible, but (a) it's still a conflation of identities (doing drag != being a transvestite != being transgendered/transsexual), and (b) is "transvestite" all that common of a term anymore? It's not one I hear often unless I'm watching Eddie Izzard, and it's definitely not the interpretation that came into my mind on hearing Traneto/Transneto.

book!

My friend 47_trek_47's novel I Just Play One on TV has been released today by Torquere Press!

You probably know Torquere mostly as publishers of m/m romance and erotica. I Just Play One on TV definitely has a romance element--it's about the relationship of two gay actors costarring in a hit TV show--but it's also very much about the way homophobia still shapes Hollywood, both what we see onscreen and the way LGBT actors are pressured to stay in the closet. I promise you, it does not contain a single violet-eyed elf prince.

There's an interview with the author here if you want to learn more about the ideas behind the book.

ficlet project, part one hundred thousand (approximately)

I feel like it's time for another round of the ficlet project, so here goes. (The explanation below of how it works is mostly copied from my last post on the subject.)

How It Works

The first commenter on this post, on DW or LJ, gets to request a ficlet by naming a fandom, a character or pairing, and a brief prompt (perhaps a word or phrase, perhaps a situation or time period, even a structure or writing style--I just ask that you don't give me a highly specific plot or a prompt that's too detailed for a 100-word drabble). I'll write a short piece (100-1000 words) and post it in a day or two. Then the first commenter on that post gets to request the next ficlet. (You do NOT have to make a substantive comment on the posted ficlet in order to request, so don't feel obliged if you don't know or like the fandom, the pairing, or whatever.)

Anyone can request; this isn't limited to people whose journals I read. The only rule about requesting is that I'd prefer not to write two ficlets for the same person in the same round. So once I've written something for you in this round, please hold back to give others a chance.

I'd love to get a variety of fandoms and prompt types, but there are a few things I don't write: sexually explicit m/f and f/f, rape, pairings where one or both partners are under 14, heavy kink or BDSM (e.g. anything involving special equipment, serious pain, danger, unusual body fluids).

Otherwise, feel free to be creative in your request. If you request something I can't deliver, I'll just ask for a different prompt.

Fandoms

I'm interested in a lot of fandoms. So rather than give you a comprehensive list, I'm going to tell you what fandoms I don't want to write at the moment. Prompts in fandoms that I'm familiar with but haven't written in are welcome (if you're not sure if I know a fandom, go ahead and ask!).

( List of fandoms not to request, please )

The first commenter on this post gets to make the first request. Given that it's late night in the US and early morning in the UK, this probably gives a certain advantage to folks in later time zones. I'll try to vary posting times as much as I can manage.

ETA: A request has been made (on DW)!