When metaphors are not enough: Fantasy, dystopian literature, and the real world
Writing, Genres, Politics, Poetry, Music Kristina M Makansi Writing, Genres, Politics, Poetry, Music Kristina M Makansi

When metaphors are not enough: Fantasy, dystopian literature, and the real world

In a conversation on social media recently, readers were discussing fantasy and dystopian books they didn’t like because they hit too close to home. I understand that readers—including me!—enjoy mythic heroism, clear distinctions between good and evil, sword fights and dragons and epic battles, and a story where the good guys ultimately win decisively. And as an avid reader, I don’t want anyone telling me what to read and what not to read, so this is not a critique of reading choices. It’s a legitimate question about why some readers won’t touch real-world dystopian stories.

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Sunday Morning Rant: Rage, rage against the dying of the light
Writing, Genres, Politics, Poetry Kristina M Makansi Writing, Genres, Politics, Poetry Kristina M Makansi

Sunday Morning Rant: Rage, rage against the dying of the light

In the poem, Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night,  Dylan Thomas writes about the dying light of old age. This morning, I read it as the dying light of democracy.

And I am channeling my rage against the dying of the light into my fiction.

History rhymes but for some reason, humans too often forget the basic structure of the story. While what we’re going through today is horrifying, throughout history, powerful men have abused women, children, and less powerful men. That’s why we talk about conquest in terms of raping and pillaging. 

Because men actually raped and pillaged. And they’re still doing it today. On battlefields, in city streets or behind the walls of concentration camps, in corporate boardrooms, and in the home.

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