Black Dispatches

[mithen]

One of the best parts of writing "The House of the Earth" (if by "best" one means "most agonizing") has been doing research on slavery in America and in general.  I was reminded of that when I came across this news story about Jefferson Davis' slave, who was a spy for the Union, and other slave spies.  There's a whole book out called Black Dispatches on the topic that I'd love to get my hands on.  It's amazing--people didn't see slaves as anything but furniture, so they talked freely about strategic secrets right in front of them.  That seems so... karmically fair, somehow, that their own ignorance and inhumanity could be turned against them.  And I'm always awed and humbled and amazed by stories of what people under such impossible conditions will do to fight for their freedom.  No fictional story could do them justice.

Comments

[rjunkie.livejournal.com]

Definitely true- slavery is totally incomprehensible and unforgivable, and not something to be taken lightly. That being said, I'm always appreciative that your story never devolves into simple kinky smut (which isn't to say that I never enjoy simple kinky smut sometimes...but there is a time and place for everything, yes?).

So thanks for your research and thank goodness for writers who give a damn.

[mithen.livejournal.com]

(which isn't to say that I never enjoy simple kinky smut sometimes...but there is a time and place for everything, yes?).

Someday I will write the "on an exotic world, Batman has to pretend to be Superman's pleasure slave" and will have loads of fun with it. :) And you know, I actually enjoy slavery as kinky sex when it's portrayed as...sort of "wrong but hot," if that makes sense. That's a really hard balance to strike, though, and I think maybe especially with superheroes, who have to do a fair amount of mental gymnastics (at least in my head) before indulging in "wrong but hot."

[rjunkie.livejournal.com]

Let me know when you do. I'll give anything a try- I'm just nitpicky about it.

It's absolutely true, "wrong but hot" is a fine, fine line, but if anyone can do it right it's you. When you put it that way, I think I could definitely go for some Batman/Superman wrong-but-hot action.

Mmmm, yes I could.