email post - a musing on "heroes"

[erastes]

I have to say, I was vastly amused by this call for submissions



http://www.imajinnbooks.com/silk&magic_guidelines.htm



In keeping with the nature of *all* books ImaJinn publishes, a story or
novel appropriate for our erotica line will be, first and foremost, a
romance. The main plot of the story should be the sensual development of an
intimate relationship between one man and one woman, who are both heroic in
stature (i.e., possessing high moral standards) and who ultimately make a
commitment to each other. We are not looking for multiple partner
relationships; the relationship must be monogamous



Heroic in stature (i.e. possessing high moral standards)



Hmmmmm.........



Setting aside that this really limits a writer's scope (and what a bloody
stuffed shirt you'd end up with with those guidelines) I have to think of
all the heroes we know and wonder if any of them are "of high moral
standards"? Would they get accepted to that market?


Even the really heroic ones who profess to have such rare ideals, such as
Lancelot and Galahad had serious flaws. Would this market allow their
goodly hero to fall in love and sleep with his king's wife? Would this
market allow a hero king who slept with his sister? oops. No. Sorry!

I can't help but think of the Mended Drum, famous haunt for Discworld
Heroes, and the submissions editor from Silk and Magic explaining to Hrun
and Cohen and various broken nosed, pug faced heroes clad in studded leather
with various bits missing that one SHOULDN'T kill the priests, and one MUST
NOT rape the women and stealing is RIGHT OUT.

Monogamous heroes? Isn't that an oxy-moron? *looks accusingly at Kirk*

Seriously though, ambivalent heroes are what fiction *has* to have. It's no
fun at all if Prince Valiant just gallops up to the castle, refuses to kill
the dragon for ecological reasons, won't kiss the princess until he gets her
father's permission. What I like to see is a man doing the right thing, and
doing what needs to be done in the execution of that right thing. See Mal
in Firefly as a perfect example of that!!!

Comments

[tammylee.livejournal.com]

This reminds me of reading commentary about the Dragonlance novels and how Margaret and Tracy actually FORGOT about Elistan for the large part of it. Lawful good = forgetable?

Although, I find a sinful, voyeuristic thrill from the idea of reading erotica about moral people; imagine how ashamed and humiliated they'd be if they knew I knew?