Reacting to recent certain author news

 

 

Deep breath.

Right. I'm one of those reacting to the news concerning a certain author and I'm still processing things as well so here goes.

The first thing I will say is this:

Respect the victims. They come first, always.

You are entitled to what you're feeling, like I am right now. You can feel angry, hurt, betrayed etc. Feel free to process things for as long as you need. It's more how you react and coping in (hopefully) a healthy way afterwards that matters.

Third.. I have some nuance to add and while I appreciate Tumblr is far from nuanced, I want to say what I am currently feeling and how I am processing it. I will state for the record that while I was a fan of some works of this author, I was not as influenced by him as so many others so my feelings will be a little different. Please bear this in mind. (EDIT: This was posted on tumblr so let's see what hate i get for trying to be calm and nuanced about this)

To strat, this author was on my radar because of one particular author: Sir Terry Pratchett. It was Good Omens in my book collection and when I was young, I wantedevery Pratchett book I could get. I had no idea who the other author was but it had Pratchett's name on it. And I loved Good Omens. Never got some parts until I was older of course and as a result, I loved the recent adaptation. Season 1 made me cry with the dedication at the end and season 2 made me upset, taht much I will admit.

I imagine this may make some think I will exonerate some of this author's actions because he collaborated on a work I like. Um, no. That's the short answer. The longer one is this; a good work does not a good person make. The same applies to bad works does not make a bad person. People are people. There's foibles and flaws. while I certainly praise Pratchett more, there's plenty I could also say is a fault of his and some of these I am very sure he was aware of.

I then decided I'd check out more of the other author's work and unfortunately (or fortunately if you are of the mind that anything he writes is tainted) I only really had time for American Gods. What I will admit is that, yes, I liked the mythology aspects. But then again, I liked mythology and stories from other cultures before. I'm a history buff and I liked to see other interpretations. The actual story, about a cosmic level heist really, was ostensibly about belief but... I think I've seen it done better. (My own opinion, by the way. That's just what I think.)

That was my introduction but I only realy followed him for updates on the next Good Omens season and if there'd be anything more he'd say on some of his works, siuch as answeting asks about The Sandman or similar. In fact, what he had to say intrigued me and did make me want to check out Sandman.Then this article revealed the extent of what happened.

The reactions I have seen from the fallout of the article are understadable. People are angry. Frustrated. sad. Wanting to burn their books or suggesting piracy. I get that.

it's human instinct to want to put someone on a pedestal. For many, this author was a big deal. This author wrote for many ages, from young to older and so he was a big deal if anyone reading him was young, starting on things like Coraline.I can understand if it feels that you saw something in his works and you wanted more of it. It's almost inbuilt into us that we seek heroes or those we can admire, comparing ourselves to them and wanting to achieve what they can. Perfectly understandable and the way we appear to be wired.

The thing is we aren't immune to it. It's kind of how we got religion and hero worship and other such things. I may be guilty of putting up people I know on pedestals and have been. I've also been massively disappointed, with celebrities and non-celebrities alike. As much as I know I shouldn't, I still do this and I am actively trying not to. It's a hard thing to do, believe me.

It's easy to say 'They're just people. Just think of them as people and you won't be disappointed.' I think it's something I've seen a few on BSky say and encourage thinking but I have to be a little honest. As much as I didn't really elevate him, despite giving him some kudos for some things, I still was ultimately disappointed. I'm disappointed in him as a human being and as someone who inspired others.

My own overall feeling right now is that I bear in mind one key facet of nuance. It's already getting into smug overtones of 'Oh well, I knew he was bad, and the signs were all there, just like J K Terfling! Just read the books and you'll see it!'

A good story does not a good person make.

A bad story or a story with terrible goings on within it, does not a bad person make.

People are people. A story does not mean someone will commit a crime or do something that later gets found out and put on blast. You know what does cause this? It's the people behind it. A story is just a story. A person has weakneses, impulses, desires and these can be completely seperate from what they write. It is their actions that then colour perception and their art afterward.

I could talk about that and my perception of story vs person but this is long enough as is. The point is that you are muddying the waters with looking through his works to see proof of his moral evil. In the end, I do not really think it matters. It's his actions as a person that are important and right now, my heart is more with the victims.

I'm still thinking about this and my head isa lraedy a mess from other real life things going on, but this is currently where I stand and doubtless it might change. I might get angry one day and turn the books I do have bearing his name around, or give them away. But who knows how I'll feel later.

EDIT: I now reaslised Ursula Le Guin's quote would be extremely relevant. It was along the lines of 'Just because you say I told you so, doesn't mean you're rightoeous' or similar.