The Romantasy Era: The Growth Of Female-Centric Sci-Fi & Fantasy Versus The Manosphere
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I’m an avid fan of science fiction and fantasy, what the literary world might call speculative fiction. I grew up reading Star Wars novels and, in high school, I was introduced to The Lord of the Rings, and my fascination only grew from there. For a time, in college, I made a short jaunt into the nonfiction world, being a history major, and obsessively read history and politics. I still maintained my speculative obsession, however. Throughout that time, it’s usually been portrayed as a male-dominated field, from characters to authors. Sometimes you’d get an exception, but it felt like they stood out among the flood of male authors.
That’s obviously changed. More and more female authors are writing SF/F, and that’s a great thing. It means more books to read, and more stories to become engrossed in. One of my favorite series is by Becky Chambers. Her Wayfinders series is incredible and moving. Others have come to redefine the genre and stake a place for women in the genre, like V.E. Schwab, Delilah Dawson, and more.
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Lately, in my full embrace of my book addiction thanks to BookTok (I dream of walls in my house covered in books), I feel like I’ve noticed a trend, a diminishing of space in bookstores to what has historically been portrayed as typical science fiction and fantasy. These would be your Ursula K. LeGuins, your Kevin Hearnes, George R.R. Martins, Tolkiens, etc. Depending on which store you go to (I’m currently sitting in a Barnes & Noble writing this), it seems like the SF/F section has shrunk, while the YA section has exploded, and now, thanks to BookTok, the Romantasy section has outgrown the usual SF/F area.
Now, before you crucify me, understand that none of this is a problem. It’s more people reading, more people experiencing the genre I love in their own way, and that just means more attention to the genre as a whole. I love that.
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But I won’t lie that I feel like it’s harder to find something to read. I have relatively little interest in most YA, and the same for what’s become known as Romantasy (and I jokingly call Sex Dragon). I tried to read Fourth Wing and I couldn’t make it more than 100 pages in. It just doesn’t work for me, and that’s alright. I’m not being forced to read it, so I don’t. I don’t disparage people from reading it, either. It is what it is about the market, and I’ll discuss that later.
Then I saw a post that became the impetus for this column: John A. Douglas.
That’s right folks, we’re wading into the toxic waters of the “modern male crisis” that has been overblown by the far-right to use as a means to justify their attacks on women and minorities. I think the trend I mentioned above has been noticed by others, those with a chip on their shoulder at the perceived loss of their privilege, and with the reach of the internet and this “modern male crisis”, they’ve found something they think they can exploit to further confirm their biases.
Now, hear me out, 'cause I know I’m not doing myself any favors by saying the following: I have to admit: I kind of see it.
I also want to preface this by admitting I am on the spectrum and have ADHD. So. I have some peculiarity quirks and I’m incredibly picky about what I read.
Anyway.
When I say I kind of see it, I mean I can follow the dots. I don’t agree with it, but I can see how they’re connecting the dots.
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I’ve talked about this endlessly with my best friend. We regularly go to Barnes & Noble every other Saturday because it’s when we can get together regularly and sip coffee and smell books (there’s no better smell than new books). She reads the Romantasy stuff. As I said, I do not. On the one hand, I find romance in SF/F perhaps out of place. What I mean is, the characters are on this adventure, right? They’re being harrowed by enemy forces, fighting for life and death, trying to solve mysteries and all this stuff. Who has the time to focus on a budding relationship or romance? See, I’m odd. I will refer you back to my disclaimer above.
As a writer, I get it. This stuff happens along the way, it’s part of the character’s journey, it fleshes out the characters and their personality, etc. What’s funnier? I’m a hopeless romantic. I want that love story. I like happy endings. I get that we all have needs. But I struggle with it in fantasy books. Again, I refer you to my statement above.
In our talks and reflection, I’ve reasoned through this a lot. I joke with her that people are only reading the Yarros, Maas, and numerous other books for the sex. I don’t know if that’s underscoring a commentary on the state of the dating world, but, again, whatever. If that’s your kink, you do you. I won’t lie though, it triggers something in my head as a writer that makes it come off as cheap. Gotcha moments and shock value. Taking this back to TikTok, when these books come up on the feed, so many videos that reference these books are about the anatomy of the male characters. I think it highlights Americans’ contradictory view of sex (they act all prudish about it in their media, yet the porn industry is one of the biggest industries in the world). I mean, I do the same thing with Game of Thrones. The first book was published more than a decade before the show aired, and then the series blew up with the popularity of the show and I think the popularity of the show was the shock value (the violence, the sex) and the writing and story came second.
Despite all of this, I don’t care. I think it’s a reflection of our society as a whole, and the shifts we’re undergoing. Women are finally gaining more of a share of the market, no longer relegated to the sidelines (despite current political trade winds). Conversely, men, and young men in particular, are acting like they’re on the margins now. There’s data behind this. More young men turned right-wing in the recent election than ever before, falling prey to the political whimsies of podcasters like Joe Rogan, Andrew Tate, and other right-wing grifters taking advantage of the perceived “masculinity crisis.” Young men increasingly report feeling lost and alone, without a guide to navigate the turbulence of their teenage years and confronted with an ever-increasing supply of messaging that men are under attack, the world is on fire, and women should rule. At increasing levels, they turn to these right-wing “manly” men who tell them what they want to hear. The so-called “manosphere.”
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What does this have to do with books? If you’ve been exposed to this “sphere,” you’d hear talk about making money, masculine values, and whatnot. Those don’t really include reading books about dragons, elves, or magic. If they’re reading, they’re about reading books on personal wealth, manliness, history, etc. That’s where men are largely featured. History has been male-dominated for, well, ever. Men still make up the majority of seats on corporate boards. The talking heads and podcasters who are “defending” men are men (and oddly some women). One only has to look at the video game industry to get what I’m saying. The vitriol that unleashes when a woman protagonist is revealed for a game gets instantly labeled by the right wing as “woke” and anti-man.
Really though the publishing world, especially the traditional publishing world, is a business. It all comes down to money. Capitalism requires constant growth, and stagnation is bad, and if that’s what is going to make them the most money in the SF/F realm, then that’s what they’re going to publish. It’s working. Maas and Yarros and their counterparts have entire sections for their works. It’s a boon for the industry, and if that means fewer male-centric SF/F novels are getting a share of the shelf space, that’s the market (isn’t that the almighty god of the right?). We have to also remember that the publishing industry is limited. There are only so many traditional publishers, and they’ve been gobbled up like everything else, and only so many agents and editors, so the big publishers are going to direct their resources and personnel to push this genre. It’s making them money which keeps them open.
It’s important to have perspective. Men still have their day in the sun. Some of the biggest names in SF/F remain on top. George R.R. Martin, despite his lack of finishing the Song of Ice and Fire, still commands people’s attention. Game of Thrones was a smashing hit, appealing to men and women alike, and women are notoriously treated horribly in the books and show. Andy Weir became a massively successful author, and he published independently. The Martian did so well on Amazon that he got a deal from the big publishers and a movie. Check out Project: Hail Mary, it’s a fantastic book, and it’s being adapted. Recently, another self-published series that turned wildly popular is Dungeon Crawler Carl. All of these are male-dominated and wildly popular.
But here’s the secret folks. If you don’t like it…don’t read it. Live and let live. If you don’t see what you like, branch out, find something new, touch some grass, or write it yourself. Like the guy in the tweet did.
Just don’t be a misogynist like him.
Till next time.
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