Writing Women Characters into Epic Fantasy without Quotas

Posted on by Sable Aradia

By Kate Elliot

The cold equations of “realism,” some claim, suggest there is little scope for women taking an active and interesting role in epic stories set in fantasy worlds based in a pre-modern era. Women’s lives in the past were limited, constrained, and passive, they say. To include multiple female characters in dynamic roles is to be in thrall to quotas, anachronisms, Political Correctness, and the sad spectacle and dread hyenas of wish-fulfillment.

Is this true?

Read the full article at Tor.com.

4 thoughts on “Writing Women Characters into Epic Fantasy without Quotas”

    1. Kate Elliot is amazing, especially on this topic! She recommended a book on her blog called “The Secret History of the Mongol Queens” and there’s at least one (possibly more) novel ideas cooking in my brain now. I just don’t know enough about Mongolian culture to write it yet, even if I do decide it’s an allegory. So much that can be taken into fantasy settings, and the best part is, it’s all true. Chinggis may have been the Khan, but the women ruled that empire.

      Thanks for the comments!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Anne Bonney, Mary Read, and numerous other female pirates, soldiers, highwaywomen, etc, would beg to differ. Also if you’re writing fantasy, you can write it however you like; it’s not constrained by the real past.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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I'm a Pagan and speculative fiction author, a professional blogger, and a musician. I'm proudly Canadian and proudly LGBTQ. My politics are decidedly left and if you ask for my opinion, expect an honest answer. I am owned by a cat. I recently lost my dog, who was my boon companion, and I'm taking the loss hard. I used to work part time at a bookstore and I love to read, especially about faith, philosophy, science, and sci-fi and fantasy.