You might consider that male or gender - equivocal pseudonyms for authors of science fiction and fancy was a thing of the past — a relic of the era when authors like James Tiptree , Jr. hid their sexuality from sexist readers . But not really . The Wall Street Journal has a depressing clause explicate how widespread the practice remains today . Magnus Flyte , author of the young Good Book City of Dark Magic , is actually two fair sex : Christina Lynch and Meg Howrey .
Why is this ? Studies still show that while women will read books by virile writer , military man wo n’t scan books by female authors — and this might be specially honest in some areas of literary genre fiction . The WSJ clause quotes Penguin editor Anne Sowards on the subject :
“ It sometimes makes gumption for a female author to expend a pseudonym , particularly when the master characters are manlike , or when it ’s a genre with a strong appeal to men , like military science fiction , certain type of fantasy or gritty thrillers , ” suppose Penguin editor program Anne Sowards , whose fantasy authors K.A. Stewart , Rob Thurman and K.J. Taylor are women . …
“ For a young writer , we desire to avoid anything that might make a reader to put a ledger down and determine , ‘ not for me , ’ ” Ms. Sowards says . “ When we opine a book will appeal to male readers , we desire everything about the book to say that - the cover , the copy and , yes , the author ’s name . ”
The clause also quotes SFWA president John Scalzi , who points out that J.K. Rowling had a winner among teenage boy that might have bilk Joanne Rowling . And Seanan McGuire , who suppose she encounter some pushback over bring out her ultra - tearing zombie novel , starting with Feed , under a distaff pseudonym .
It ’s kind of cast down to think that there are still people out there who are smart enough to read good genre fiction , but dumb enough to separate base on the author ’s perceived gender . You ’d hope that by now , SF and fantasy reader would be smart than that .
BooksSeanan McGuire
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