sasha_feather | Sofia Samatar notes

I caught the end of Sofia Samatar's q and a

Sofia Samatar:
we are all critics
It helps to talk about the guilt of enjoying problematic things
Constance Garnet translations are the best
"I'm derivative, and it's great."
Tolstoy, Hemingway, Cormac McCarthy are influences for her

Aud: Separating artist from work?
S: she doesn't. But she doesn't always cut that artist from her life. b/c she can learn from it.
But don't hold that person up to unthinking adoration. Tolstoy abused his wife and that's related to his
portrayal of women. Let's admit it and look at how it affects us.
She teaches HP Lovecraft and talks about his racism. Use as a tool to examine our society and ourselves.
Don't stop looking at it.

Aud: is your work a sort of fuck you to those writers?
S: yes, she is writing back. It's risky b/c you may think you're transforming it and maybe you aren't. Maybe
you are just repeating it. That's why you need readers and critics.

Aud: do you find it therapeutic / cathartic to work w/ these problematic works. like a gotcha moment.
S: yes. Olondria books engage critically w/ epic fantasy which is a genre she loves/hates. She's said what she has to say
about this genre and those authors. Doesn't feel urge to return to them.

S: Future is unpredictable, she can't do a pre-emptive block of things that will be problematic later.
"Man of his times" argument. Don't excuse Lovecraft b/c he existed at the same time as progressive anti-racist
white ppl. Be the best you of your time that you can be. It's not a guarantee that you won't be judged severely later.