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Much of the debate around I Am Not Starfire reminds me of Damia in some ways.
It's a coming-of-age story is the daughter whose mother is a famous telepath and she's got troubles with coming into her own.
So there's some similarities there.
It's a coming-of-age story is the daughter whose mother is a famous telepath and she's got troubles with coming into her own.
So there's some similarities there.
Yet, had Damia come out today, I feel confident in saying that those who defended I Am Not Starfire, they would have vigorously condemned Damia.
Why?
Well, in this story, Damia falls in love with a much older man who was a close friend of the family and was something of a mentor to her; she was his ward.
In a sense, he was something of a father figure to Damia.
Well, in this story, Damia falls in love with a much older man who was a close friend of the family and was something of a mentor to her; she was his ward.
In a sense, he was something of a father figure to Damia.
That's not entirely "out there" because we know of such romances in real life.
Cool.
But... here's where it would make people uncomfortable:
The man had started feelings for Damia when she was 14.
Cool.
But... here's where it would make people uncomfortable:
The man had started feelings for Damia when she was 14.
Today, such things would be called sexual grooming.
It wasn't that at all, but it would have been criticized as such and many would believe it.
I remember being 16 and it made me a bit uncomfortable...
It wasn't that at all, but it would have been criticized as such and many would believe it.
I remember being 16 and it made me a bit uncomfortable...
But Damia also began having feelings for him as she got older and he never initiated their romance.
In typical Anne McCaffrey fashion, the romance is a key part of the story.
Of course, that wouldn't matter, nuance and context these days often get thrown out the window.
In typical Anne McCaffrey fashion, the romance is a key part of the story.
Of course, that wouldn't matter, nuance and context these days often get thrown out the window.
And believe me, it was everything an Anne McCaffrey book is known for:
Vivid sci-fi worldbuilding, a love story, and multiple character perspective.
Vivid sci-fi worldbuilding, a love story, and multiple character perspective.
Yet - and this is what reminds me of the discussion of I Am Not Starfire - I remember not knowing who this book was really for.
That is, the target demographic.
That is, the target demographic.
You'll probably have seen various people say about I Am Not Starfire:
"This book isn't for you."
Followed by:
"Yeah, but who is this book actually for?"
And both were fair things to say.
"This book isn't for you."
Followed by:
"Yeah, but who is this book actually for?"
And both were fair things to say.
Damia was a coming-of-age story, and usually, such stories are aimed at the young adult crowd.
Except, where the romance side of things are concerned, it appeals to so few teenagers to read about romances where a young woman falls in love with a much, much older man.
Except, where the romance side of things are concerned, it appeals to so few teenagers to read about romances where a young woman falls in love with a much, much older man.
So despite reading what was quite a good Anne McCaffrey book, to this day, I honestly couldn't tell you who that book was for.
There was something Freudian about the psychology behind Damia's romance, making it an odd choice, but it wasn't typically aimed at young adults.
There was something Freudian about the psychology behind Damia's romance, making it an odd choice, but it wasn't typically aimed at young adults.
Yet today, it would be roundly criticized as sexual grooming (even though, again, it wasn't) and been quite controversial.
