I was raised to believe―really, truly believe―that all
people are created equal. That preconceptions about gender, age, creed, race,
or sexual orientation are artificial and simply don’t matter. And I also
believe that people can learn, over time, to see the world this way.
When I started to write my first sci-fi novel, Green Light Delivery, I approached it
from that standpoint. On the whole, males and females work together equally. (I
call them men and women in the novel, although it’s a non-human world.)
All the different species in my fantastical world get
along with each other. Of course, individuals don’t all necessarily adore or
even respect each other (where would the conflict be if they did?), but species
co-exist in peace and equality. All sexual orientations and sexual identities
are accepted without prejudice.
Now, I fully acknowledge that prejudice is a complicated
thing, and a world without it is probably unrealistic. Therefore, I allow some
of my characters to have preconceived expectations about people different from
themselves. And, maybe even more importantly, I allow my characters to doubt
themselves. After all, much of the bigotry and bullying in the real world is
tolerated or even allowed to flourish because people don’t stand up for
themselves and declare it unacceptable.
Webrid, the main character in Green Light Delivery (and its upcoming sequel, Blue Diamond Delivery) is a species called a Yeril. He’s large and
hairy and works pushing a handcart around the city, making deliveries or
selling wares on consignment. His mother did that, and so did his grandmother.
It comes up often in his dialog and thought that he considers Yerils
unintelligent and unambitious. When, a few times in Green Light Delivery, he learns about Yerils who have excelled in
intellectual fields or traveled far and wide, he has a lot of trouble believing
it.
But he learns. By the end, he realizes that, while he may
not be the brainy type, and he really would just prefer to stay home with a
bowl of his favorite booze, there are people who look just like him who are
ambitious to a fault.
Anne
E. Johnson, based in Brooklyn, writes in a variety of genres for both
adults and children. Her short
fiction has appeared in Drunk Monkeys,
Shelter of Daylight, The Future Fire, and elsewhere. Her science fiction
novel Green Light Delivery was
published in 2012 by Candlemark & Gleam. Its sequel, Blue Diamond Delivery, will be released in June, 2013. Anne also
writes novels for tweens. Learn more on her website, http://anneejohnson.com.
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