Everyone loves a Twitter hashtag game. But this one does need a little context in order to make sense.
Science Fiction publisher Baen Books, who specialise in military and action-adventure SF with a decidedly conservtive-libertarian bent, have announced a Fantasy Short Story Award. The way it’s come so soon after the highly controversial Hugo Awards right-wing block-voting slate that included a number of Baen authors has raised eyebrows, and there have been suggestions that it’s not entirely a coincidence.
Worse, it’s being judged by none other than Larry Correia, who put together that slate and promoted it along with the virulent racist, homophobe and rape apologist Vox Day, whose work also appeared on that slate. Correia may be a fine writer, but from his blog he comes over as an unpleasant egotistic bellend. And he doesn’t seem the least bit bothered that association with Vox Day might damage his career. It makes you wonder just how radioactive someone needs to be before people refuse to associate with them.
The rules of the contest make it clear what sort of stories they’re looking for.
What We Want To See
Adventure fantasy with heroes you want to root for. Warriors either modern or medieval, who solve problems with their wits or with their sword–and we have nothing against dragons, elves, dwarves, castles under siege, urban fantasy, damsels in distress, or damsels who can’t be bothered to be distressed.
What We Don’t Want To See
Political drama with no action, angst-ridden teens pining over vampire lovers, religious allegory, novel segments, your gaming adventure transcript, anything set in any universe not your own, “it was all a dream†endings, or screenplays.
Yes, it does seem to emphasis a certain somewhat clichéd type of story, with rather a lot of implied sexism.
The satirists of Twitter were very quick off the mark with a hashtag game that mercilessly mocked all of Baen Books’ tropes. Here are a few of the highlights.
“Rex chewed his cigar. There were ladies in town. But first: space communists. He petted his Z-46 Kraker-500-T space gun.” #BaenAwardStories
— Susan Jane Bigelow (@whateversusan) April 30, 2014
The soulless elves joined the Communist heresy, so it was up to me to fight them with fire and iron and really bad Latin.#BaenAwardStories
— Cora Buhlert (@CoraBuhlert) April 30, 2014
I swept the amazon warrior off her feet and bent down to kiss her, when her pointy brass bra took out my left eye. #BaenAwardStories — Cora Buhlert (@CoraBuhlert) April 30, 2014
“Spaceships With Customs And Jargon Lifted Directly From Age Of Sail Navies.” #BaenAwardStories — Paul Ward (@MrEvilena1) May 1, 2014
“I’m ready to repopulate the planet, Captain Adam,” said Lieutenant Eve as she boarded the rocket ship USS John Galt. #BaenAwardStories
— Nicholas Kaufmann (@TheKaufmann) May 1, 2014
As the platoon of Space Marines charged into battle, [10K words about how awesome Ancient Rome was]. #BaenAwardStories
— Paul Ward (@MrEvilena1) May 1, 2014
“The ship was a thing of beauty. Lt. Lydia knew every inch. [5000-word description of the pipe fittings follows]” #BaenAwardStories
— Susan Jane Bigelow (@whateversusan) April 30, 2014
Spot the parody of Vox Day.
And while on the subject of Vox Day, Stephanie Zvan has reviewed his Hugo Award nominated Opera Vita Aeterna, and concludes the story is indeed truly, truly awful, Eye of Argon without the unintentional humour. It’s impossible to escape the conclusion that it was nominated for the sole purpose of trolling the awards.
