Yeah, a lot of female characters in fantasy suck a lot. Sci fi too for that matter. It's been a boys club for a long time, and then there was backlash, and then backlash from the backlash. I haven't read the wheel of time series though.
I linked a really good essay on female characters here, in the Demon's Lexicon thread, that touches on why this is in a lot more detail (and generosity) than my oversimplified summary. I like the theory that women tend to 'fancy' male characters moreso than men 'fancy' (I like that word) female characters, so authors don't tend to design female characters to make you fall in love with them the way they do male characters.
I remember a time when my husband was writing a story and one of his female characters (of which there was -one- who had significant face time) did something really inexplicable. I called him out on it and he responded with 'Well yeah, it's irrational - she's a girl'.
As this is no longer a hate board, I don't think my response is appropriate :). But I honest to goodness think that this is how some authors justify making crappy female characters. "What she did doesn't make any sense." "Well, she's a girl." "Isn't she being kind of a bitch in this sequence." "Yeah, she's a girl. I'm trying to make sure people know she's a girl, and not a boy who looks like a girl. Because I can write both. It's easy - just write a boy, and make her bitchy and irrational."
"Take a man, then take away reason and accountability." It's funny 'cause it's true!
Wheel of Time - a vent
No spoilers in responses please
So I finally started reading this series a few months ago. I had read book 1 a few years back and then didn't continue. I"m currently in book 4 I believe. Obviously these are very popular books, and I really like them. The story is fantastic, and they are fun to read. So this post is more of a vent of a particular aspect that drives me crazy - while at the same time I really enjoy the series.
The women characters suck. I don't want to reveal any plot, but I think he intentionally did this because of the history of the world - and a particular thing men did. However its really just overdone. Nynaeve is an arrogant uptight bossy bitch. Egwene isn't much better. Both think they know better than everyone, and I'm really sick of both acting like every male character is freaking retarded. Its like they are they took the "nag" stereotype to an absolute extreme, but then made them important capable characters. I just don't see capable intelligent heros as being that stupid. Elayne is the only one not like this. Moraine I guess isn't quite like that either, but she has her own nag manipulating bitch issues. In fact - the boys are a bit whiney too. So how does a book with this shitty of characters still end up being a delight to read, and a great story. I'll admit they are getting better as the books go on, and there are certain things about the way he did them I REALLY like, but overall I spend half the time thinking one or another character is being completely moronic. (I really like that each boy thinks the other boys always know how to talk to girls)
Verileah
16 years ago
Lessa
16 years ago
well if it makes you feel any better, I was at border's the other day and one of the employees was there talking to us about some of her favorite book series, and mentioned those. She said that Robert Jordan had a Ghost writer working on some more for the series, finishing some unfinished books and all. So maybe theyll improve as they graduate to a new author :p