Monday, March 21, 2011

Treading Lightly

I'm still busy at work on the second installment of my Sons of Chaos series, wrapping up the big climax in the next few thousand words. Exciting? Yes.

Set in the late 1800s, both Sons of Chaos stories have involved interactions between"white" settlers and Native Americans. The real bad guys try to frame a Native group in the first installment. In the second story (shhhh...) the Sons are back to their usual tricks. The real balance, for me, is to make sure to paint the Native cultures with respect and dignity while writing what is essentially a souped-up horror tale.

I grew up in a time period of "Cowboys and Indians," bad stereotypes borne from years of Hollywood stock characters and broken-English Geronimo knock-offs. You could still buy bags of plastic cowboys and Indians at the local drug store, dollar bow and arrow sets, and other garbage. I haven't seen most of this stuff in years. Hopefully I never will again.

I'm proud of this review of Loathsome, Dark and Deep from Hellnotes which implies (albeit indirectly) I was able to avoid racial stereotypes. I'm aiming for more of the same...

11 comments:

Kara McElhinny said...

Very nice review, Aaron! :)

I'm sure you'll paint your characters in the right light. And while the "stero-type" is derived from small minded people, some who didn't think to look deeper than what was in front of them, the retro decor (bed sheets, etc...) is still somewhat nostalgic.

Aaron Polson said...

Heh! I love retro decor. (and t-shirts, and movies...)

Katey said...

That was actually one of the things I was like overly impressed with about LD&D. I mean, I EXPECT you to write something that I wake up thinking about the next day. (The next week, in the case of that book, which is huge, but anyhow...)

But I thought a lot about that with John, myself. So yes. Huge props.

Aaron Polson said...

**LD&D SPOILER ALERT**



Katey - John is exactly why I don't plot a book. I didn't even know about his sister until we arrived at the camp, if you get my meaning.

Katey said...

Oh my god. Isn't it weird when the stuff that holds things together the best just HAPPENS?

<3 it!!

Michael Stone said...

Nice positive review, Aaron, although it was pretty heavy on the spoilers. I finished the book last week and thought it was excellent. I need to get my act together and put together a few words of praise for it.

Cate Gardner said...

You can still get bow and arrow sets here but I think they're more Robin Hood.

Alan W. Davidson said...

I'm sure that it's a very fine line to walk. I have no doubt that you'll handle it well, Aaron. I have Loathsome cued up as my next book to read. Looking forward to it.

Aaron Polson said...

Katey - Fred is my tour guide. I've stopped questioning him.

Michael - I thought the Moreau reference was a little...off. Maybe not? Glad you liked the book.

Cate - I'd gobble up Robin Hood. That's the good stuff.

Alan - I hope you enjoy!

Katey said...

I actually thought of Moreau too. It's not spot on, and certainly doesn't seem as if it was inspired by it, but I thought it invited comparison, anyhow. Random thought!

Danielle Birch said...

Not reading the review until I've finished the book (not far to go now) as I didn't want any spoilers, but it's good to hear the great reviews are coming in.