Silverberg complains about Jemisin
(This post is about last week’s Robert Silverberg quote that criticized N. K. Jemisin. If you read about it last week, there’s nothing new here. Content warning for descriptions of racism and for referring to Vox Day.)
Last week, Vox Day posted in his blog to the effect that the list of this year’s Hugo winners demonstrates that the Rabid Puppies have won. (This has been a standard tactic of his from the start: no matter what happens, declare victory.)
His post included a quote from Robert Silverberg as evidence that a “legitimate award-winning science fiction writer” was now onboard with the Rabid Puppies agenda. Here’s what Silverberg wrote (as I understand it, this was on a private mailing list that Vox Day is also on):
I have not read the Jemison books. Perhaps they are wonderful works of science fiction deserving of Hugos every year from now on. But in her graceless and vulgar acceptance speech last night, she insisted that she had not won because of 'identity politics,' and proceeded to disprove her own point by rehearsing the grievances of her people and describing her latest Hugo as a middle finger aimed at all those who had created those grievances.
First of all, that’s a pretty “graceless and vulgar” comment. The phrase “the grievances of her people” is a racist dog-whistle. This use of “perhaps,” with its exaggerated praise and its implicit “…but I doubt it,” is a standard rhetorical device for subtextually criticizing someone. (It’s certainly possible to say something like that without casting doubt, but this is not the phrasing to use if you’re sincere in thinking that someone’s work might really be wonderful.) The phrase “those who had created those grievances” is sloppy writing.
But even setting all that aside: as Tempest pointed out last week, Silverberg has no room at all to complain about vulgarity in a Hugo-related speech, given (among other things) his routine a couple years ago when co-presenting the Best Novel award with Pat Cadigan, when he did an extended bit approvingly quoting George R. R. Martin’s description of getting the Best Novel award as having a “big one.”
In other words, according to Silverberg, when GRRM makes gratuitous dick jokes on the Hugo stage, comparing the award to a penis, they’re not only funny but worth repeating at length. But when Nora refers to her Hugo as a middle finger to the racists who’ve reviled her, it’s vulgar.
Double standard much, Silverberg?
I’ll take this opportunity to link to a video recording of Nora’s excellent speech, in case anyone hasn’t seen it and wants to. (6-min video)
Among other things, she talks about the Broken Earth trilogy as being partly about “what it takes to live, let alone thrive, in a world that seems determined to break you. A world of people who constantly question your competence, your relevance, your very existence…”
In the unlikely event that you really want to read Vox Day’s post, I’m providing a link to a copy of the post on Freezepage. (Thanks to Lucy for the link!) But I absolutely do not recommend reading his post or the comments on it; I’m just putting that link here for ease of reference.
