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emglange's review
5.0
Great Resource
The essays in this collection certainly make the case for diversity and representation in science fiction and fantasy. A good resource for authors looking to add depth to their characters.
The essays in this collection certainly make the case for diversity and representation in science fiction and fantasy. A good resource for authors looking to add depth to their characters.
briannadasilva's review
3.0
As I've been doing a podcast on this topic (representation in fiction) for a year and a half, and participating in the conversation online for longer, I can't say I got much new out of this book.
I think it serves well as an introduction to the topic, but there does come a time where it feels like you're repeating yourself. "Don't write stereotypes," and "feel free to not be limited in the kinds of people you write about, because representation is powerful." This remains true for every conceivable identity (or intersection of identities) imaginable, so you start to have the broken record effect when you talk about this for a while.
Nothing much here really moved or inspired me much (partly, again, because I've heard it all before), but I will say that Katherine Kerr's essay called "Boys' Books" was particularly emotive for me, and I liked it a lot. Honestly, though, that's probably because it's the one essay that was most closely related to my own experiences. 😉 So, take that with a grain of salt!
A positive note worth mentioning: This book, and each of its essays, are quite short. You could conceivably read the whole thing in an afternoon. So if you're on the fence about reading it, maybe just pick it up anyway—it's not much of a time commitment, but if the ideas here are new to you, I think they're very worthwhile to be familiar with.
I think it serves well as an introduction to the topic, but there does come a time where it feels like you're repeating yourself. "Don't write stereotypes," and "feel free to not be limited in the kinds of people you write about, because representation is powerful." This remains true for every conceivable identity (or intersection of identities) imaginable, so you start to have the broken record effect when you talk about this for a while.
Nothing much here really moved or inspired me much (partly, again, because I've heard it all before), but I will say that Katherine Kerr's essay called "Boys' Books" was particularly emotive for me, and I liked it a lot. Honestly, though, that's probably because it's the one essay that was most closely related to my own experiences. 😉 So, take that with a grain of salt!
A positive note worth mentioning: This book, and each of its essays, are quite short. You could conceivably read the whole thing in an afternoon. So if you're on the fence about reading it, maybe just pick it up anyway—it's not much of a time commitment, but if the ideas here are new to you, I think they're very worthwhile to be familiar with.
detailsandtales's review
4.0
A useful read on why we need all kinds of representation in SF/F and what it means to people to have it. A lot of the essays in this first collection focus on gender and sexual orientation - but disability, age and ethnicity feature as well.
kmherkes's review
5.0
I feel comfortable rating this at five stars while it's still on my "I want to read" shelf because I read the essays in their original form on Jim C. Hines' blog. I've purchased my need-to-own copy, and I'm looking forward to revisiting these powerful, personal stories soon.
Go buy this book now. Prepare to feel uncomfortable in the best possible way. Prepare for some feels, and brace yourself for the possibility that you'll want to do some serious introspection.
These are words that needed saying. Now they need sharing. Go forth and do both.
Go buy this book now. Prepare to feel uncomfortable in the best possible way. Prepare for some feels, and brace yourself for the possibility that you'll want to do some serious introspection.
These are words that needed saying. Now they need sharing. Go forth and do both.
juliemawesome's review
4.0
This is an anthology of personal essays from fans and creators of sf/f, about finding or not finding representation for parts of their identity in sf/f.
This is the first volume, and I recommend continuing with Invisible 2 for even more personal stories.
The essays are very readable and most people will probably relate personally to at least one or two of them. More importantly, for the ones you don't personally relate to, you can begin to understand how others are viewing the stories and characters that you're consuming.
It's really good and I recommend it to sf/f fans and especially those who are also creators.
This is the first volume, and I recommend continuing with Invisible 2 for even more personal stories.
The essays are very readable and most people will probably relate personally to at least one or two of them. More importantly, for the ones you don't personally relate to, you can begin to understand how others are viewing the stories and characters that you're consuming.
It's really good and I recommend it to sf/f fans and especially those who are also creators.
rivqa's review
5.0
An easily digested series of short essays on representation in speculative fiction. The essays are personal, rather than academic, and as such some resonated more strongly with me than others... which is kind of the point.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
5.0
These are beautiful essays about why there is a need for more than whole, white, male figures in books. It is about the importance of representation, and quite frankly should be required reading.
triscuit807's review against another edition
4.0
"I saw all the mirrors on earth and none of them reflected me..." (Jorge Luis Borges). This book is a collection of essays representation in SF/F. Individually the essays explore the lack of characters of color, various genders, queerness, nonNeuroTypical minds, and representation without understanding (disability, always-the-villain, not-seeing-color). I read this for my 2016 Reading Challenge "read a book of essays" (Bustle Reads).
millymollymo's review against another edition
5.0
Thought provoking collection of personal essays allowing you to see beyond your own limited perspectives.
Highly recomended if you want to broaden your character scopes, or understand that your normal is not the same as everyone elses.
Highly recomended if you want to broaden your character scopes, or understand that your normal is not the same as everyone elses.