Sy Fy: exterminating all characters of color

Last year, I observed that Sy Fy hates women of color. I would like to extend this observation by saying that the network is clearly involved in an eliminationist campaign against all characters of color in its shows.

I say this because I recently watched the season 3 finale of Haven, who follows the adventures of Audrey Parker, whose reincarnations are somehow tied to the waxing and waning of the supernatural Troubles in Haven, Maine. The season follows Audrey, Nathan [love interest] and Duke [fifth wheel] as they track the serial killer du jour and learn more about Audrey's past lives. Wheeee.

Season 3 blatantly demonstrates the show's structural racism in its disposal of men of color. A black man, Tommy Bowen, appears early on as a detective from Boston with a personal interest in catching the Bolt Gun Killer [BGC -- serial killer du jour]. He hangs around, making skeptical quips about the Troubles and generally not doing anything, until about halfway through the season. At that point, it is revealed that he is the BGC, or, more accurately, the shapeshifting BGC killed him several weeks before this discovery and has been pretending to be him for a while. So basically the showrunners went to all that trouble of developing a character of color, giving him a name, backstory, arc and significance...solely for the purpose of killing him off. Since the same thing happened to Evie Crocker in season 2 and since there are practically no other named, recurring, developed characters of color on the show [with one exception -- see below], it's very clear that the show runners hate people of color.

My worst fears about Sy Fy's eliminationist program were confirmed in the season 3 finale of Haven. Another man of color, Agent Howard, reappears after an extended absence. Originally introduced as Audrey's supervising agent, he is the person who originally sends her to Haven in the pilot. He is apparently orchestrating events behind the scenes with his mysterious magical powers, as we see him occasionally in the ensuing few seasons, but we know very little about him.

Anyway, in the finale, we finally learn [SPOILERS!!!!!] that he functions as the ageless guardian of the Barn, a magical recharging station into which Audrey is supposed to disappear every 27 years so that the Troubles may temporarily stop. Audrey, Nathan and Duke try to get explanations from him, but Agent Howard remains firm that Audrey has to go into the Barn to stop the Troubles; there's no other way. Well, unless Audrey wants to kill the person she loves [Nathan], which would end the troubles forever.

Audrey doesn't wish to do that, so she enters the Barn anyway to at least give Haven a 27-year respite from supernatural hell. Nathan, upset, reacts by shooting Howard [part of an incredibly stupid gunfight], bringing the total of significant secondaries who die during this episode to four. And the Black Guy Bites It, disappearing into shards of light along with the Barn. Audrey spends so much time trying to combat the Troubles, but she never notices the most deleterious one of all: the racist vortices of death that inevitably suck in all characters of color who come to Haven.

Rape ad nauseam in Laini Taylor's Lips Touch Three Times

I was going to write a long, learned essay about how much the short story Hatchling in Laini Taylor's collection, Lips Touch Three Times, pissed me off, but fuck it. Let me get to the meat of the matter: Laini Taylor, your voluptuous prose cannot distract me from your moral vacuity.

( Read more... )

Book as luxury object

I got my Tartarus Press hardcover edition of The Doll Maker and Other Tales of the Uncanny [original review of The Doll Maker here] by Sarban today! There's my poor little paperback on the left and my new Tartarus version [ordered at the middle of the month] on the right. Incidentally, it is the not the original 200-copy 1999 Tartarus reissue, but a 2002 reprint, without the limited edition afterword.

( Oooooh, booooooooks! )

My Tartarus edition is really of high quality. It comes with a ribbon bookmark sewn into the spine -- that's how you can tell it's classy! :p

No seriously... When i first learned about The Doll Maker and wished to read it, I bought the cheapest copy I could find: the paperback edition on the left. At its completion, I loved the story so much that I sought a more durable edition, which I found in The Sarban Omnibus. Said omnibus, however, proved to be a cesspool of poor layout, larded with distracting typos. Choosing accuracy over sturdiness, I pitched the omnibus and retained the paperback, fearing to worsen its debilitated state by actually using it for its intended purpose.

I therefore rejoiced upon learning of the Tartarus edition. Its thick, stiff paper and clear lithography remind me of expensive invitations. As I was assured by US dealers of Tartarus books, the press makes books that are not only gorgeous, but scrupulously edited as well.  That is, the text of The Doll Maker reproduces the original, without any of the mistakes that so enraged me about the omnibus. I haven't compared my paperback and my hardcover line by line to verify accuracy, but I have glimpsed within the Tartarus edition's pages and seen a welcoming, old-fashioned font, surrounded by generous margins. This book was obviously made by people who care about the outsides and insides of books.

I had a great experience with Tartarus Press. I saw on several Web sites that The Doll Maker etc. was out of print and commanding the usual exorbitant secondary market rates. After going on the Tartarus site and seeing The Doll Maker etc. advertised as in print and available [for $50.00 shipped!!], I E-mailed them for clarification. Ray Russell [owner?] wrote back, confirming the book's availability and price. I ordered the book, then asked him if it came with a slip cover and, if not, how I should protect the dust jacket. [I know about clear Mylar covers, but was wondering if he had special recommendations.] He recommended Mylar and even put some on my copy when he mailed it out! Wonderful service! Having conversations with owners or artists about our shared interests always makes me enjoy whatever I'm buying or bartering more, as I feel that we are not just conducting business, but also enjoying a common passion.

Vermont Craigslist???

When I lived in the Boston metro area, I did all sorts of business on Craigslist, from buying dolls, to alerting people that we had put furniture out on the curb, to selling gift amusement park tickets for extra cash, to advertising a sublet on our apartment. The community always buzzed with activity.

I am now venturing onto the Burlington Craigslist with some Buffy DVDs to sell. Obviously the Burlington community does not buzz the way that the Boston one does, so I wonder if I will have any interest. I guess the proof will be in the pudding the absent DVDs.