Weird Tales will no longer be printing the excerpt apparently:
http://io9.com/5936397/weird-tales-b...ffensive-novel
From the publisher:
Quote:
I would like to tell our community that Weird Tales will NOT be running an excerpt from Victoria Foyt's novel in our upcoming issue.
Marvin Kaye is our editor and has full control over fiction published in the magazine and website, and he agrees with me on this.
Marvin was approached by Victoria Foyt, and was asked to review her novel. He was told that she was being slammed online by people who had not read it.
I have not read the novel, but have gone over its online presence today. I have no need to read it. I saw the blackface video and read the excerpts the author and publisher chose to make available. I must conclude that the use of the powerful symbols of white people forced to wear blackface to escape the sun, white women lusting after black "beast men," the "pearls" and "coals," etc., is goddamned ridiculous and offensive. It seems like the work of someone who does not understand the power of what she is playing with.
Marvin says if you read the whole book, she explains her use of this imagery, and it ends up as a plea for tolerance. I say, so what. And that is the position of Weird Tales - and upon reviewing the video and other materials, Marvin is in full agreement.
I deeply apologize to all who were offended by our association with this book. I am offended by it. I fully respect those who have been writing negative things about us today. You are correct.
I have removed Marvin's endorsement because he no longer stands by it. Marvin is traveling and will make his own statement shortly.
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[emphasis added]
I have no idea if the book is racist or not, but it seems like (based on the io9 comments) a lot is being made about excerpts without any context. And it's a little sad that: (i) the publisher admitted to a quick knee-jerk reaction to placate the mob without first having read the book; and (ii) they don't seem to care that their may be a deeper context to content that, with only a dullard's surface analysis, appears to be racist.