[ChrisW]

Should detailed pedophilia in fantasy be considered acceptable just because it is in the context of the setting? I know some authors mention characters that like young boys but the only author I recall actually describing an act of pedophilia is Martin. Now this imo does not constitute gritty realism. Martin did not need to go into graphic detail when writing that scene. At the time it didn't bother me as I wasn't really thinking about how old Dany was but reading some of the answers in the "Female character" thread well it disturbed me that some people consider her a women and not a child.

[rotty1021]

It seems that all you want to do is bash Martin, Caladzar. Why don't you stop? Martin's world is medieval, and Dany was married, which is normal in the world for her age. The Khal going to bed with her was not pedophilia, and I highly doubt that Martin even thought about such a thing. Pedophilia should stay out of all literature, and Martin doesn't use it.

[ChrisW]

You will note I used the word context. I'm not disputing that people her age got married and had sex but in our society it is considered the worst crime someone is able to commit thus I asked if it should be acceptable for an author to write about it just because he is writing in a setting that it was common place in as it wasn't considered wrong then. The fact is you are reading about a child having sex with a grown man.

Oh and i'm not bashing Martin.

[Eventine]

Is that the sound of a can of worms opening?

The problems with discussing a topic like this are many.
I understand you original question Cald, but people won't limit themselves to answering just that question due to the sensitive nature of the question, and the many, many other questions it raises:

Does reading about pedophilia make it more acceptable?
Should we be able to read about pedophilia?
Should authors be able to write about pedophilia?
What if the act in question was acceptable in context?
What if the act wasn't acceptable in context, and was designed to make us hate a character?
Should we sanitise fantasy based on a particular epoch based on our current values?
Should we sanitise historical fiction based on a particular epoch due to our changed values?
Should we sanitise history based on our current values?

Get my drift? It's hard to get people to talk sensibly about things that generate an emotional rather than logical response.

[ChrisW]

Yeah Rooty was a tad emotional about me using Martin as an example. ;)

[Eventine]

That really just tops it off doesn't it?
Call Tolkien a hack and add some political commentary and dirty jokes and you have the worlds most explosive thread!

[Pluvious]

Rotty is right Caldazar. Very poor taste mentioning an author in association with pedophilia. I know you think you are being clever but maybe being clever isn't the most important thing?

[Holbrook]

Pedophilia is a sensitive subject. But as some above have stated if one is writing historial fiction or fantasy based on "historical facts" one must bear in mind the societies of the times being used.

It was common for young girls to be married at the age of 12-13 and often to men 10 or 15 years older depending on class, rank etc. Remember people were considered middle aged in their early 30's

The mother of Henry VII was 15 when he was born... She was considered a powerful woman of her time at that age.

Also remember a writer will write about things that in no way reflect their personal point of views. They are writing about "characters" in given situations. Right or wrong depends on the "rules" of the society they chose to create.

We bring our own ideas of what is right and wrong to a piece of written work, but we must remember when we open a book we are reading a work of fiction, that in no way reflects the writer's personal views on any said subject.

[Sammie]

Thanks Hol - agree totally.

Guys, as has been said, this is a bit of an explosive topic, with a lot of other issues attached that some people will feel very strongly about. Feel free to discuss this for now, but keep it 'nice' please........we are watching you :D

Caldazar - i've taken the last option off your poll as it was somewhat more than unnecessary!

Oh - and Eventine forgot the most important question.......

Should paedophilia have an 'a' in it? :)

[mistri]

I don't think I've ever seen paedophilia in a fantasy book - and I've read Martin's. I can't answer the poll because I feel like if I said 'acceptable in context' I'd be saying there was no difference between

a) a sexual incident with a young character in any society (including medieval) where said character is regarded as an adult/ready for marriage (not paedophilia)

b) a sexual incident in any society/setting (including medieval) with a child who is in no way regarded a adult. (paedophilia)

I don't think Martin should be mentioned in the poll at all because I don't believe he depicts paedophilia in his work.

I don't feel entirely comfortable with this thread actually - is there any danger of legal action????