This is topic IGMS #23-- The Discriminating Monster's Guide to the Perils of Princess Snatching in forum Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show at Hatrack River Forum.
quote:Back in 2008, an editor had infuriated some in the speculative fiction community for publishing an anthology that claimed to be something along the lines of 'Best of the BESTEST SF EVAR!!!!11' and had not included any female authors. I don't recall participating in the internet furor that ensued, but the arguments got me thinking about the great gender disparity present in fairy tales.
Are princesses really that much tastier than princes? Sugar and spice vs. puppy dog tails…really? What if it were true?
By the way, my family makes the French Toast Casserole without the praline topping, and it's still delicious. (This because my wife doesn't like pecans...alas! The kids and I like it just fine.)
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Discriminating Monster, to date, is my favorite title ever. It's gone through a transformation: originally, it was titled simply 'A Discriminating Monster.' For a long time, it was 'A Discriminating Monster's Guide to Princess Snatching,' and that was the title I sold it under to IGMS. By the time I'd finished writing the story, the title didn't quite fit the story; Ed and I talked about it a bit; here are some of the titles we brainstormed:
Spoiler alert in some of these...
Princess Snatching Monster Snatching Princess Monster Princess Snatching and Other Paths To Ruination Tall As God, Ugly As Satan Princess Snatcher, Trickster Queen Monster's Bargain Princess, Monster, Prince How I Killed My Boss, Lost My Family, and Became a Thug for a Magical Princess Trickster Queen
We'd settled on The Princess Snatcher and The Trickster Queen. Then Kathleen Bellamy said that she liked original title so much, and did we have to dump it all? She suggested The Discriminating Monster's Guide to the Perils of Princess Snatching. For me, it clicked.
Actually, when I reviewed my notes from when I started the story, I got an even bigger kick out of it-- Mercedes' name was originally supposed to be Peril. Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
I like "How I Killed My Boss, Lost My Family, and Became a Thug for Magical Princess." Has a nice ring to it!
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
It gives a bit too much away. I think when I offered that one, I was running on 3 hours sleep, no food, and was half insane.
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
Yeah,it gives away too much, but it has such a nice meter.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)