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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.
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.
Re: not sure this is what you're looking for
Date: 2010-09-18 09:28 pm (UTC)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
Date: 2011-08-10 05:05 pm (UTC)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.)