Okay. I would have preferred it if you'd either commented on my post or at the very least addressed me here directly rather than talking about "someone" as if I weren't going to see it.

I gotta agree here, Chris. If you have issues with P-C's review, or with the books he reviews, why come over all passive-aggressive about it here? It looks like you're trying to recruit Buffistas against him without addressing him directly.

Jebuslug knows we all vent here about shit we see elsewhere on the net: but we don't vent about other Buffistas in front of them while pretending they're not going to see it. This is not backchannel.

Part of it is definitely other stuff, like that stupid porn-schoolgirl cover on Discount Armageddon.

I'm not a huge fan of it either, but Seanan is quite happy with it, as it is accurate for the character, who works at a strip joint (as a waitress).

I also don't understand how the cover of a book you weren't even reviewing in that LJ entry (a cover which was undoubtedly chosen by the publisher rather than the author [and certainly not by you, the author's friend]) has anything whatsoever to do with the dislike of a phrase you chose to use in the review of a completely different book.

But whatever.

but we don't vent about other Buffistas in front of them while pretending they're not going to see it.

Also this. Don't do that shit.

By "other stuff" I meant, "other issues involving portrayal of women, not connected to P-C's review."

I would have preferred it if you'd either commented on my post or at the very least addressed me here directly

Fair point. My apologies.

If the author has obviously designed the character to be no more than Our Hero's Love Interest, I'd argue that the reviewer could be simply pointing out a failing of the author

If we're talking about Ready Player One...yeah, she's an object in the book. There is literally nothing to say about her in a review other than She Is The Girl. See also: Reason 37 Why Jess Hated This Book So So So Much.

(I could elaborate, but, spoilers.)

Apology accepted. I'd prefer the discussion to move on and focus on the actual book, which, despite not being particularly progressive in its portrayal of women, is pretty awesome and fun! Especially since I, too, grew up on video and computer games. It pretty much won my heart for the big honking Zork reference alone. You should have seen me freaking out and celebrating in my car when that happened. Couldn't believe I missed it either, Parzival.

Well, honestly, that is basically her role in the story.

I'm going to disagree with you on that point. Art3mis doesn't start out to be date meat. She's the chaotic neutral opponent who is kicking ass at one point. My interest was piqued. Then she was devolved and I got pissed off. It's not her role in the story at first. It's what the author chose to do in order to keep his character in line with a stereotype.

I can hate that part and love much of the rest of the book, but this is a major flaw for me.

You're totally right, Sox. She definitely starts out as a potentially interesting character, and some of that role does remain, but she's mostly the Love Interest overall.

It's definitely flawed, and it had the potential to be more amazing, but I enjoyed the hell out of it, so I focused on the positive.

Art3mis doesn't start out [spoiler]

Oh, I think she does. How do you differentiate "what her character is" from "what the author chose to do with her"? If it were a completely different book with a different POV, then she could have been a completely different character. But it's not, and she's not. She's a fanboy wet dream.

And only marginally less offensive than Aech winning the token minority jackpot and instantly having her identity erased because, you know, Parcival doesn't see race or gender or sexuality! People tell him he's white and he believes them because he's a giant fucking douche. Sorry, did I mention I hated this book yet? Because I really did.

How do you differentiate "what her character is" from "what the author chose to do with her"?

Good point. I think I was so glad to see her character allowed to play a strong game at the start I let a lot of things go. Until I didn't. And yes, " She's a fanboy wet dream." this.

And only marginally less offensive

I lessthanthree Jessica a whole lot right now.

Edited because I can't type and think at the same time today. I left in my bobblehead impression, because, well.