msmcknittington (
msmcknittington) wrote in
dreams_library2010-09-17 09:59 pm
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Avoiding ableism in postapocalyptic fiction
I was having a conversation in
cleolinda's journal on LJ about how frustrating the Dies the Fire and other books in that universe by SM Stirling are because of the ableism. This is a pretty big stumbling block for me in postapocalyptic fiction, because I have insulin-dependent diabetes, and I basically see myself written out of the story whenever I pick up one of these books. And not just "you don't exist" but "you existed, but you died a horrible death which the author just couldn't be bothered to write about".
So! With that in mind, can anyone recommend any postapocalyptic fiction which addresses people with disabilities and/or chronic medical conditions? It could even be as simple as the character needing glasses to see and not being able to get them because of the postapocalyptic setting. I think I'd prefer it if the character was a major character in the novel who was fully fleshed out, rather than an emotional accessory for or someone to be "rescued" by the protagonist. Happy ending, if possible.
I feel like this is a pretty tall order, but there must be something out there somewhere. I'd even be open to just plain fantasy recommendations which deal with disability in a realistic way. That aren't, um, the Vorkosigan Saga, that is.
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So! With that in mind, can anyone recommend any postapocalyptic fiction which addresses people with disabilities and/or chronic medical conditions? It could even be as simple as the character needing glasses to see and not being able to get them because of the postapocalyptic setting. I think I'd prefer it if the character was a major character in the novel who was fully fleshed out, rather than an emotional accessory for or someone to be "rescued" by the protagonist. Happy ending, if possible.
I feel like this is a pretty tall order, but there must be something out there somewhere. I'd even be open to just plain fantasy recommendations which deal with disability in a realistic way. That aren't, um, the Vorkosigan Saga, that is.
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If my glasses got broken in a post-apoc world without eye doctors, I'd be in so much trouble.
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If my glasses got broken in a post-apoc world without eye doctors, I'd be in so much trouble.
I know, right? Other people have plans in case zombies attack. I have an insulin rationing plan half figured out in case the nation's infrastructure collapses.
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Hm. In "30 days of night" (the movie; possibly the comic) one of the main characters has asthma. They break into a store for supplies and also grab an inhaler while they're there, which he uses gratefully because he's had problems breathing for quite a while. Ironically, I think it would be easier for me to get the medications I need (albuterol inhaler, metformin) if I had license to break into a pharmacy and loot than it is now.
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Thank you! I'll see if I can't track down the movie or the comic.
Ironically, I think it would be easier for me to get the medications I need (albuterol inhaler, metformin) if I had license to break into a pharmacy and loot than it is now.
:( Oh, the sad truth of the American health care system.
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If you're really into vampires, check it out. I don't regret watching it, but I wish it had been better.
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I'm a huge
sucker forfan of vampires, in general, so will usually watch crappy movies/read bad books about them just to get my vampire fix. And really, the way the actual vampires are handled was nicely done.no subject
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The main character does have PTSD, which is a different sort of disability. When I get it up and running (I plan to write it as an online serial), I'll be sure to let you know. Also hi, I know you from Ravelry! :D
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Hello! Are you also clare_dragonfly there?
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not sure this is what you're looking for
This is an able-ist narrative, in the sense that the disability is cured, but the character guards those eyeglasses very closely, and he continues to be affected by having grown up treated as incompetent.
And it does make some of the point that in that sort of society, a lot of us wouldn't exist because we wouldn't be helped/allowed to live. (The culture described also routinely kills visibly disabled newborns.)
Re: not sure this is what you're looking for
I don't know that I would consider adaptive devices as having cured a disability, though, but I suppose that depends on how it's presented in the book.
Re: not sure this is what you're looking for
The Face of Apollo by Fred Saberhagen has a protagonist who is very near-sighted. The plot of the book is spurred by his finding the eponymous "face," a sort of mask thing that, aside from giving him magical powers, also gives him perfect vision!
(I'm telling you this for the sake of a comprehensive list, not because the book itself is particularly good. The plot is kind of meh. Also, the mask covers only half his face, so he only gets perfect vision in one eye. I tried this with only one contact lens, and wow is it ever disorienting. Though I suppose your brain would adapt after a while.)
Also, 1632 by Eric Flint has a major character who's near-sighted. He's a soldier king (can't wear scholar's spectacles, they would just fall off in battle, plus it would look undignified) so he makes do with having his right-hand man describe the positions and movements of armies to him when he needs to direct his troops.
(He is THRILLED when time-travelers introduce him to prescription sports goggles.)
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It might not be what you're looking for because it can be very dark, even though it's beautiful. The reactions I've heard about it go from wonderful to couldn't handle it.
The main character is a "cured" autistic person (which usually I might hate), meaning when she was young (back in the high tech days) they totally scrambled and rewired her brain. This means she's non-typically wired in a new, third way. It's shown as a very normal mixture of everyday highs or lows. And she slowly realizes what she can do that she was supposed to not be able to do. There are other characters with disabilities, too. She has a love affair with a woman who is just sort of chronically a little sick.
OK enough, I'm sorry for giving anything away. I'll edit if called upon or re-write with no spoilers.