Why do I write historically-inspired SF/F set in societies that disregard personal autonomy? I admit, when I first noticed it I got a little concerned. Shouldn’t I be writing about dragons or something lighthearted and fun?
Then I took a step back and looked at the broad strokes history of my parents’ countries of origin.
🇫🇮 Finland: Under Swedish rule for hundreds of years, then ceded to Russia until full & formal independence in the 20th century.
🇵🇭 The Philippines: Under Spanish rule for hundreds of years, then ceded to the USA until full & formal independence in the 20th century.
This is what I grew up hearing about. I don’t pretend to have a perfect understanding of the events and of course the above are over-simplifications of complicated histories. But these stories are in my blood. No wonder I can’t stop writing about this shit! I have this innate need to tell stories inspired by Finnish and Filipino history and mythology, even if it’s not direct.
My second novel Seeker of the Lost Song and its sequel are inspired by the history of Finland and the Philippines, but that theme of autonomy shows up in my unrelated novellas-in-progress too. My books are character-driven and not direct commentaries on imperialism and colonialism. You won’t find clashes of large armies or overt revolutionary heroism. Yet being inspired by this history means my characters’ struggles stem from just wanting to define their own lives. Should be simple, but history proves again and again that it’s not.
By the way, I’m sure this is also fueled by the draw I’ve had to outsiders my whole life, and my own feelings of being an outsider. But I’ll end this here – I already feel like an old hippie just ranting about “the Establishment, maaaaan!” My brand, I suppose!
(PS I also love dragons.)