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One of the classes I’m taking is subtitled “The Researched Story” and one of the things we’ve discussed—but haven’t definitively answered—is the question of writing about historical personages and how to handle them. In short, the author must decide how to balance fact from fiction.

That was last week. Just yesterday, I read Lois Tilton’s review in the Internet Review of Science fiction of Geoff Ryman’s story “Pol Pot’s Beautiful Daughter (Fantasy).” Lois writes:

Several times during the course of the narrative, Ryman reminds us that this is not a true story. Of course it is a fantasy, in a fantasy magazine. There are ghosts. What bothers me is the truth that Pol Pot did have a daughter named Sitha, but she was born six years before the Sith of Ryman’s story, and does not seem to have lived the sort of self-indulgent, moneyed life he describes. Perhaps I am being too literal-minded, but I do have to wonder what the real Sitha would think of this tale, which makes such unauthorized use of her life in a story that is not true to it.

I believe the stock answer to this is (and the reason why fiction writers aren’t sued) is, “It’s just fiction.” But I have a feeling that this answer wouldn’t satisfy Lois, it doesn’t really satisfy me, and I doubt it would satisfy young Sitha.

For the record, I like what Ryman did in this story. Little of my own writing takes place in the 21st century (I lean heavily to setting stories between 1850 and 1950) and I like the fact that Ryman tackles a contemporary big issue. And, in the end, I side with the writer. If Sitha reads the story (which is doubtful but an interesting prospect) let her come forward and challenge it.

This position is in no way influenced by the fact that I’m working on a story that portrays a real-life female Soviet sniper in WWII as a wanton sexpot who uses her body to get men to do her bidding, even though historical accounts portray her as a sober, staid widow who saw her husband and children killed by the Nazis.

I’m 2/3rds done with Catch-22 and it’s still terrific. The exchange between Yossarian and the psychiatrist in Chapter 27 was laugh-out-loud funny for about five minutes.

Current Mood: Needing Rest |