tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post1576324295787587042..comments2023-10-08T07:30:18.422-04:00Comments on The Future Fire Reviews: Storrs, TimeSplash (2010)Djibrilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06382333338207409292noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-67875136390690159762010-10-10T10:26:29.526-04:002010-10-10T10:26:29.526-04:00@graywave: Also: as for your last point, I'm a...@graywave: Also: as for your last point, I'm as interested about that as you are!<br /><br />I <i>certainly</i> felt that Jay was the central character in TimeSplash, and this morning I ran through the book quickly to see what gave me that impression. <br /><br />I would say that first four chapters are Sandra's, but Jay has more page time than Sandra in Chapters 5 through 20 (less Keith Lawrencenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-18435543445041408252010-10-09T17:32:55.875-04:002010-10-09T17:32:55.875-04:00@S: Well, quite - after all, I was slightly bother...@S: Well, quite - after all, <i>I</i> was slightly bothered by it. But I do think it's fair to say that if you are in the gender in question there's something a bit more personal in this sort of thing.<br /><br /><i>That said...</i><br /><br />@Johann: I agree, it would be too much to say that all (or even the majority of) women SF readers would be put off by the elements that bothered meKeith Lawrencenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-18732381087678857792010-10-07T19:25:09.045-04:002010-10-07T19:25:09.045-04:00Johann, I didn't actually mention it - here, o...Johann, I didn't actually mention it - here, or on the TimeSplash blog - but another puzzling aspect of the review is that Keith picked Jay as the protagonist. While he is a significant character, I consider Sandra the main protagonist of the story - not a supporting role at all. If anything, Jay plays support to her lead most of the time. She is the prime mover of the plot, she drives the graywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-32793982998728996542010-10-07T06:41:56.549-04:002010-10-07T06:41:56.549-04:00@S: that was kind of the point I was trying to mak...@S: that was kind of the point I was trying to make--saying that there are sexist elements to the book and then saying that women SF readers therefore wouldn't enjoy it was problematic to me. You've expressed why better than I did.<br /><br />@graywave: I tried to say in my first comment that (assuming one agrees with the reviewer's assessment) problematic gender roles in the book isnJohann Carlislehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00317909550071564291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-54639209064329182552010-10-07T06:05:37.232-04:002010-10-07T06:05:37.232-04:00That sounded really interesting, up until your com...That sounded really interesting, up until your comments on the gender politics & representation of female characters - getting bothered about that sort of thing really isn't just for female SF readers!Shttp://www.eithin.com/cirwnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-30664163894067032062010-10-06T18:32:46.965-04:002010-10-06T18:32:46.965-04:00Johann, I assure you I am not in the least bit sex...Johann, I assure you I am not in the least bit sexist. In fact, I've been an active campaigner for women's rights since the early 70s. I think the reviewer just misunderstood my intent for these characters (for which, of course, I take full responsibility.)<br /><br />If you'd like to see my comments on this (otherwise excellent) review, they are here: http://bit.ly/cqgfdq (and if yougraywavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11609426782409481706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146288705471208160.post-83878345395361928682010-10-06T12:59:03.771-04:002010-10-06T12:59:03.771-04:00This is a fun review, and it sounds like it might ...This is a fun review, and it sounds like it might be a fun read (I can forgive shallow characterization in crime thrillers... ;-) ). I might look out for the print version of this some time.<br /><br />Good observation re the female characters--that's exactly what <a href="http://tff-reviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/grimwood-exaggerated-man-2008.html" rel="nofollow">good critical reviews</a> are Johann Carlislehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00317909550071564291noreply@blogger.com