This is pretty awesome, Sam. I have to say, I wasn't sure how the non-gender thing was going to play out. I had to write a short piece with a non-gendered character for a class once, and it was a pain in the ass. Paradoxically, the way that you've turned it into a theme makes it easier to handle. I kind of dislike 'hir' as a pronoun, though; it makes me think someone choking on a fish bone. Then again, what's the other option? Hem? That would be a 'who's on first'-style routine waiting to happen. I'm very interested to see what kind of variations develop from the genderlessness theme.
I'm also particularly intrigued by the valet-employer relationship. The give and take it entails, the subtle line of where the boudaries are... I've run into this sort of relationship in fiction before, but only tangentially, and not much from the valet's point of view. I'm very excited to see it explored from the inside out like this, especially since the tendency in anyone who's never done service-work is to look somewhat down on service-folk. Which is stupid; strength of character is essential in service-work. It's a much subtler strength than most, and easily overlooked, the strength of the long grasses rather than that of the oak. It takes real grace, and we're already seeing that grace in the Valet. I can't wait to see more of hir.
Valet's verbal smackdown of the governor was fabulous. A perfect illustration of the truth that just because Valet is in service does not make hir a pushover, or chattel. I cringed when she said 'I bought you'. I think Valet's barbs were dead on target. And so polite!
I didn't get the guard's comment about 'wasted in service', though. I mean, I get the slight to service-work, and that it's maybe a bit of a backhanded compliment, but what did the guard mean wasted in comparison to? Being a guard? A soldier?
Actually, I think the exchange that will end up being the basis of my understanding of Valet is this one:
"Can I help serve?"
"Do you want to?" Tomas asked.
"Of course," I said.
That exchange blew my mind just a bit, and it really clarified something of Valet's character in my mind.
The one thing that's not really clarifying for me is the gender issue. I'm working on it, but it's proving difficult for me to think of Valet as genderless. My brain keeps trying to put a gender label on hir. And it's interesting, because some points lean more towards one gender or the other, and my brain automatically goes there. I'm hoping that more time and further chapters will help me think of Valet as gender-neutral, but I can already tell it's going to be a struggle. I'm looking forward to it, though; Valet is fabulous. ^_^
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Date: 2009-08-14 08:31 am (UTC)I'm also particularly intrigued by the valet-employer relationship. The give and take it entails, the subtle line of where the boudaries are... I've run into this sort of relationship in fiction before, but only tangentially, and not much from the valet's point of view. I'm very excited to see it explored from the inside out like this, especially since the tendency in anyone who's never done service-work is to look somewhat down on service-folk. Which is stupid; strength of character is essential in service-work. It's a much subtler strength than most, and easily overlooked, the strength of the long grasses rather than that of the oak. It takes real grace, and we're already seeing that grace in the Valet. I can't wait to see more of hir.
Valet's verbal smackdown of the governor was fabulous. A perfect illustration of the truth that just because Valet is in service does not make hir a pushover, or chattel. I cringed when she said 'I bought you'. I think Valet's barbs were dead on target. And so polite!
I didn't get the guard's comment about 'wasted in service', though. I mean, I get the slight to service-work, and that it's maybe a bit of a backhanded compliment, but what did the guard mean wasted in comparison to? Being a guard? A soldier?
Actually, I think the exchange that will end up being the basis of my understanding of Valet is this one:
"Can I help serve?"
"Do you want to?" Tomas asked.
"Of course," I said.
That exchange blew my mind just a bit, and it really clarified something of Valet's character in my mind.
The one thing that's not really clarifying for me is the gender issue. I'm working on it, but it's proving difficult for me to think of Valet as genderless. My brain keeps trying to put a gender label on hir. And it's interesting, because some points lean more towards one gender or the other, and my brain automatically goes there. I'm hoping that more time and further chapters will help me think of Valet as gender-neutral, but I can already tell it's going to be a struggle. I'm looking forward to it, though; Valet is fabulous. ^_^