Not sure if there would be a lot of interest for such a project, but Ann and Jeff VanderMeer are raising funds for a feminist speculative fiction anthology.
This from kickstarter.com:
This project will fund a speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, & horror) anthology devoted to feminist themes. Editing the book will be Hugo Award winner Ann VanderMeer and World Fantasy Award winner Jeff VanderMeer. Together respected and successful team has edited such anthologies Steampunk Reloaded, The New Weird, Best American Fantasy, and, most recently, The Weird Compendium, a 750,000-word, 100-year overview of weird fiction including writers from over 20 countries.
Release of the book will be a co-publishing arrangement with PM Press, an independent press devoted to provocative and engaging books, CDs, and DVDs via any means available, including distribution to the book trade (bookstores, libraries, etc.).
The anthology will emphasize women's speculative fiction from the mid-1970s onward, looking to explore women's rights as well as gender/race/class/etc. from as many perspectives as possible. The contributors are not yet established so we hesitate to name names, but rights to reprint stories from Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler, Joanna Russ, and James Tiptree Jr. would be sought in addition to a wealth of newer voices in the field. Ann and Jeff consider the anthology "to be an opportunity to contribute to the existing conversation about feminist speculative fiction, a conversation that has taken many forms over the years and has a long and established history." Funding covers the editors' fee, contributor fees/advances, book design, printing, as much advertising and promotion as possible. To help the project get off the ground the editors have agreed to take a small honorarium as their fee, with no share of royalties.
This project will only see the light if at least $12,000 are pledged by Thursday, May 31st, 2012.
It will be interesting to see if the editors can raise enough funds to put this anthology into production. . .
13 commentaires:
Why would it not? Last I checked the human race was comprised of two halves: male and female. Surely you are not claiming that SF is only about the one?
Can you clarify your tone? Your general attitude is just leaving me a bit confused and rather uncomfortable with the conclusions you are raising.
DRL: The speculative fiction short fiction readership is rather small compared to the novel-length readership. Ask any editor and they'll tell you that most anthologies never make a profit.
Hence, in an already small readership, this work caters to the taste of an even smaller percentage of readers.
I reckon that Ann and Jeff VanderMeer are trying to get this project funded this way because no publisher wanted to produce this anthology. Not because it doesn't have any merit, mind you. Simply because the target audience represents such a small percentage of an already quite small readership. And in this economy, it probably made no sense for them to acquire the rights for such a work.
I'm saying that it will be interesting to see if this project will see the light because we are at an interesting juncture. Talented editors are at the helm, which will likely insure that they'll get the best out of their contributors. So feminists and/or any readers interested in a feminist speculative fiction anthology can now put their money where their mouth is. By pledging money they can make this project a reality.
Feminists, not without reason, often bitch and moan on various message boards about the fact that so many sub-genres of speculative fiction are decidedly male-oriented. Now they have the opportunity to make a difference.
The question is: Will they take it? I hope they will...
Oh I think there will be interest. No question!
Whether there is financial interest via a kickstarter model is the real question. As Patrick suggested, that's the real question.
Even a straight genre anthology like Tales of the Emerald Serpent worked hard to get to its kickstarter goal.
Yes because I am a man I'm incapable of enjoying let alone desiring to read feminist speculative fiction, no way in hell I would like intelligent progressive shit like that. I want muscled barbarians roaring and slaughtering bad guys, maybe some semi-effeminate wizards are okay I guess.
Cock-sucking Aidan from A Dribble of Ink is throwing shit at you on twitter for posting this and the tone you used.
Last I checked, being female doesn't make one a feminist.
Hey anonymous, way to be brave and throw out expletives and pejoratives behind your real name!
To be fair, several of us are throwing shit on Twitter and I'm jealous that you've singled out Aidan.
But, please, carry on. You were saying something about bitching and moaning?
Hi. Thanks for posting the info. Just a note that this project was suggested to us by Jef Smith, the person who is running the kickstarter, with the backing of PM Press. In such a situation, you don't shop the antho around because the idea came from a particular publisher. So that speculation is incorrect. As is the bit about anthos necessarily not making money. They're dodgier than novels but not as dodgy as single author collections.
And this antho is for a general audience, and will include a lot of amazing international fiction, too, we believe. - JeffV
Pat: Ah, alright. Makes a bit more sense now that you have provided some background information.
Thank you for clarifying.
Why r u supporting this? It is the same old leftard bs that was published ages ago and still sucks dick.
However, there is a great related kickstarter out there: Anathema, a comic of werewolf lesbiasn written by an actual lesbian. And the art is gorgeous! You can support it using this link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theironrachel/anathema-keep-the-lesbian-werewolf-epic-alive?ref=live
I wonder if there's a reason certain sections of male SFF fans seem to think oral sex performed on the male is such a pejorative term?
As in, people hate the things no one would willing give them?
-Sci/Saj
If we contribute and it makes money, do we get anything back
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