(This post is about last week\u2019s Robert Silverberg quote that criticized N. K. Jemisin. If you read about it last week, there\u2019s nothing new here. Content warning for descriptions of racism and for referring to Vox Day.)<\/p>\r\n
Last week, Vox Day posted in his blog to the effect that the list of this year\u2019s 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.)<\/p>\r\n
His post included a quote from Robert Silverberg as evidence that a \u201clegitimate award-winning science fiction writer\u201d was now onboard with the Rabid Puppies agenda. Here\u2019s what Silverberg wrote (as I understand it, this was on a private mailing list that Vox Day is also on):<\/p>\r\n
\r\nI 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.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n
First of all, that\u2019s a pretty \u201cgraceless and vulgar\u201d comment. The phrase \u201cthe grievances of her people\u201d is a racist dog-whistle. This use of \u201cperhaps,\u201d with its exaggerated praise and its implicit \u201c\u2026but I doubt it,\u201d is a standard rhetorical device for subtextually criticizing someone. (It\u2019s certainly possible to say something like that without casting doubt, but this is not the phrasing to use if you\u2019re sincere in thinking that someone\u2019s work might really be wonderful.) The phrase \u201cthose who had created those grievances\u201d is sloppy writing.<\/p>\r\n
But even setting all that aside: as Tempest pointed out last week<\/a>, 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<\/a> when co-presenting the Best Novel award with Pat Cadigan, when he did an extended bit approvingly quoting George R. R. Martin\u2019s description of getting the Best Novel award as having a \u201cbig one.\u201d<\/p>\r\n
In other words, according to Silverberg, when GRRM makes gratuitous dick jokes on the Hugo stage, comparing the award to a penis, they\u2019re not only funny but worth repeating at length. But when Nora refers to her Hugo as a middle finger to the racists who\u2019ve reviled her, it\u2019s vulgar.<\/p>\r\n
Double standard much, Silverberg?<\/p>\r\n
\r\nI\u2019ll take this opportunity to link to a video recording of Nora\u2019s excellent speech<\/a>, in case anyone hasn\u2019t seen it and wants to. (6-min video)<\/p>\r\n
Among other things, she talks about the Broken Earth<\/cite> trilogy as being partly about \u201cwhat 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\u2026\u201d<\/p>\r\n
\r\nIn the unlikely event that you really want to read Vox Day\u2019s post, I\u2019m providing a link to a copy of the post<\/a> on Freezepage. (Thanks to Lucy for the link!) But I absolutely do not recommend reading his post or the comments on it; I\u2019m just putting that link here for ease of reference.<\/p>\r\n
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