Strange Horizons Discussion Forum: Interview: Nicola Griffith By Lynne Jamneck

As a fan of Nicola Griffiths writing I was delighted by the interview (I am halfway through Slow River as I write and was about to borrow Ammonite from my sister and reread it again).

It also helped me understand Nicolas world view, which seemed almost anti-men, such that I was not sure whether I as a hetero male was even meant to be reading the books! This is a contrast to othe clearly lesbian writers such as the crime writer Manda Scott, where the priciple character was female and lesbian and declared a lesbian outlook but major male and or hetero characters were common and even central to the plot.

I was also intrigued by Nicolas comments on the sex scenes in her books which I had found disconcerting. I had presumed it was due to my feelings of unwanted voyeurism in having view of a such diferently orientated couples as were being described, as I am by no means squeamish about body fluids male or female. However I now realise it was partly due to the writers own reticence about describing such scenes, which I guess begs the question of why she is writing them not why I am reading them.

As ever with Strange Horizons essays or interviews I will explore all cross refered writers for potential future reading.

I liked the discussion of Mary Renault who was one my earliest favorite authors back in the 60s and 70s, and I havent read The Charioteers myself since maybe 1980. I think I agree that much of Renaults gay lesbian writing had a sense of claustrophobia, probably because that scene felt fairly beleagured then. Hard to escape your times I guess.