Comments for Gollancz blog

Comment on Guess the title, win the book! by Debbie Moorhouse

Debbie Moorhouse — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:57:55 +0000

I almost feel like I do know this book. But the title won’t come. BAH!

Comment on Guess the title, win the book! by The LHC

The LHC — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:32 +0000

But then if I had read the book, why would I enter a competition to win the book?

Comment on Guess the title, win the book! by The LHC

The LHC — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:14:25 +0000

Curses, haven’t read that book, whatever it is…

Comment on Dabbling with Destiny by SF Tidbits for 2/22/12 - SF Signal – A Speculative Fiction Blog

SF Tidbits for 2/22/12 - SF Signal – A Speculative Fiction Blog — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:06:13 +0000

[...] Gollancz (Michael J. Ward) on Dabbling with Destiny. [...]

Comment on Brilliant books; brilliant readers; brilliant audiobooks! by Paul S

Paul S — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:48:57 +0000

… and just to clarify, 75 hours is the expected combined length of NAME OF THE WIND and THE WISE MAN’S FEAR – though it’s looking like they may end up an hour or two shorter…

Thank you,

Paul S

Comment on Gender parity: A Special Guest Post by Gillian

Gillian — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:34:28 +0000

Hi Paul,

That’s a good point and of course it’s a possibility. I’m not aware of any Con organisers commenting on this question – and I don’t think, as Bill says, anyone is suggesting there is a deliberate bias against female panellists. It’s possible that chaps are a little more assertive about being on panels, even if it’s as subtle a difference as ‘I’d like to be on a panel’ rather than ‘If you’d like me to, I’d be delighted’. Stereotypes can contain a grain of truth. . . . but I think it’s curious that, as Lizzie points out, there is such a difference between the male:female ratio of attendees, and the ratio appearing on panels. While you’ve put your finger, perhaps, on one of the issues, it seems that it can’t be the only one . . .?

My personal experience, with authors of all stripes, is that they almost all volunteer for panels and are equally happy to participate in them because they love the subject and it’s a great opportunity to talk about their work. So, speaking for myself, it is a slightly puzzling issue!

Best,
Gillian

Comment on Gender parity: A Special Guest Post by Bill Smith

Bill Smith — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:56:19 +0000

I do not believe that con organizers set out to deliberately exclude women from panels–honestly, why would any reasonable, intelligent person try to diminish interesting voices and opinions? I do believe that sci-fi/fantasy fans, especially con-goers and organizers, tend to run to the more articulate, educated and enlightened side of the ledger.

That’s not to say that issues of gender equality are not necessarily without merit, just observing that I doubt it is a deliberate ploy by the Mean Boys Club.

Maybe authors (of all types) might want to communicate and propose panels to the cons they are attending. Most cons are run by volunteers and organizational time is an issue — offering to provide great content without any added work on the part of the con staff should be well-received by any con organizer.

Comment on Gender parity: A Special Guest Post by Suzanne B.

Suzanne B. — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:50 +0000

Well, you could just look last year’s Hugo or World Fantasy or Nebula Ballot…
NK Jemisin (epic fantasy). Incredible writer.
Nnedi Okorafor – fantasy in an SF world – her novel “Who Fears Death” is gorgeous, but confrontational – it’s about, among other things, rape as a weapon of war.
Connie Willis – SF. With Lois McMaster Bujold (mentioned above), one of the most celebrated authors in the field male OR female.
Mary Robinette Kowal – SF short fiction, fantasy novels.
Mira Grant – SF (zombies) Also writes urban fantasy under her Real Name, Seanan McGuire, for which she won the John Campbell Award.
And these are just women who were nominated for the genre awards IN THE LAST YEAR. If you’d looked at the hugo/world fantasy/nebula ballots for best novel, you would assume that SFF was a female genre.

Comment on Gender parity: A Special Guest Post by SF Tidbits for 2/17/12 - SF Signal – A Speculative Fiction Blog

SF Tidbits for 2/17/12 - SF Signal – A Speculative Fiction Blog — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:06:04 +0000

[...] Gollancz (Lizzie Barrett) on Gender Parity. [...]

Comment on Gender parity: A Special Guest Post by Kate

Kate — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:04:24 +0000

During the convention, author China Miéville stepped down from a panel because there weren’t any women on it.

It’s stuff like this that makes me love China Miéville.