Like Julie, I was a fan of science fiction and fantasy from way back when almost all of it was written by white men, and when the women who wrote it usually disguised themselves with pseudonyms or initials, whether willingly or under pressure from publishers who thought that male readers would not read fiction written by women. Back then, race was harder to tell from a name, but it was exciting to hear that writers like Samuel Delany and Octavia Butler were African-American, just as it was to see Ursula Le Guin winning awards for her writing. You might think that a popular award like the Hugo was precisely the kind that would be resistant to pressures for political correctness, but I guess the nomination process makes it particularly vulnerable to manipulation by determined groups. I am very sorry to see the award undermined by such a giant step backward in attitudes. Hurrah for the people who refused to be railroaded into endorsing narrowness and prejudice, and for the principled nominees who withdrew rather than benefit from such a power play.
Susan
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