Chicks 'n Chained Males

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Chicks 'n Chained Males is a science fiction and fantasy anthology edited by Esther Friesner. It was first published in 1999 by Baen Books. The anthology is a collection of short stories that parody the sword and sorcery genre, particularly focusing on the trope of the damsel in distress and flipping it to feature male characters in similar predicaments.

Overview

The anthology consists of various short stories written by different authors, each bringing their unique style and humor to the theme. The stories often feature strong female protagonists who rescue or dominate the male characters, subverting traditional gender roles commonly found in the genre.

Notable Stories

Some of the notable stories in the anthology include:

• "The Growling" by Jody Lynn Nye
• "The Guardswoman" by Roland J. Green
• "Blood Calls to Blood" by Harry Turtledove
• "The Truth About the Gotterdammerung" by Elisabeth Waters

Themes

The primary theme of Chicks 'n Chained Males is the subversion of traditional gender roles in fantasy literature. The anthology uses humor and satire to challenge the conventional portrayal of women as helpless and men as their saviors. Instead, it presents women as powerful and capable, often rescuing or outsmarting the male characters.

Reception

The anthology received positive reviews for its humorous take on the genre and its clever subversion of stereotypes. It has been praised for its entertaining stories and the way it addresses gender dynamics in a light-hearted yet thought-provoking manner.

Related Works

Chicks 'n Chained Males is part of a series of anthologies edited by Esther Friesner that includes:

• Chicks in Chainmail
• Did You Say Chicks?!
• Chicks 'n Chained Males II

Editor

Esther Friesner is an American science fiction and fantasy author and editor. She is known for her humorous and satirical works, particularly in the Chicks in Chainmail series. Friesner has won multiple awards for her writing, including the Nebula Award.

See Also

• Sword and sorcery
• Damsel in distress
• Gender roles in literature
• Fantasy literature