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Originally Posted by Curt
*sigh*
Two paragraphs (perhaps more if you coun't the creation story) does not mean something is being advocated, unless you happen to be of the Thatcher school of thought.
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You <u>did</u> see the contents of the parenthesis in my post, right?
That said, while I've only just begun my actual reading of the book, some heavy skimming shows that you're over-simplifying the "advocacy" issue. Right up front, the book indicates that it's based on the works of writers who, IRL, have a very specific worldview they advocate through their fantasy works -- one that includes the view that homosexuality is perfectly normal and Fundamentalist Christian beliefs are not. And there's more to it than the passages you cite that suggest homosexuality is okay -- there's also the impression left that those who <u>don't</u> think it's okay are <u>bad</u>. You can think whatever you like about the <u>validity</u> of this position, but on the surface at least, I can see why the book leaves the impression of its advocacy of this position.
I should also note, though, that further browsing of the book suggests to me that things aren't quite so clear-cut on the tolerance front. Some of the same people who think homosexual unions are fine disdain polygamous unions.
In any event, I was speaking mostly from a hypothetical standpoint. I'm reserving final judgment until I actually finish reading the book.
John, a further thought on your idea regarding homosexuality in sci-fi vs. fantasy: I think it would be fair to say that fantasy includes a "good vs. evil" aspect more often than does sci-fi, especially if you're talking about hard sci-fi like Transhuman Space. So, if something falls within the purview of the "good" in a fantasy setting -- like, say, homosexuality -- then I think it gives more of an impression of advocacy, and hence is more likely to raise hackles in certain quarters. If you were to turn Transhuman Space into more of a Star Wars-like setting while keeping the freewheeling sexuality you mention, I suspect that it, too, would get more of an adverse reaction.
Oh, and you're quite right, John: a game can advocate a position quite easily within two paragraphs. Heck, even one sentence can do the job, as the difference between the two editions of Blue Planet illustrates.