Great read. Not sure Rude Boy character types are actually ignored by publishing "gatekeepers". I think they're just really hard to write both critically and sympathetically. A delicate balance that would require exceptional skill to achieve.
The Rude Boy audience though is pandered to regularly. Jordon Peterson's fulminating rants on the diminishment of AWMs (abused white men) are a pot of gold. Admirals, captains and marine drill sergeants appear on every best seller list ordering men to "make your bed" "respect authority" but "be authoritative". Militarism remains a perfect expression of maleness for millions. And every rude boy's salvation.
I've always thought we don't see more Teddy Wayne character types because they're so tough to write. Wayne's characters are deeply disturbed--borderline and over the line sociopaths. It's reasonable their paranoia and misogyny be criticized even if they're occasionally right about women using men. Wayne has a masterful touch. Another is Salinger. Our now beloved Holden Caulfield was the antithesis of American can-do and industry: lazy, bored and disaffected. A schmuck who became the poster boy for 50s discontent. Alas, it isn't easy to be a JD or a Teddy.
Creepy and sympathetic simultaneously--infuriating but deserving. That's a heavy lift. But I think books, TV and film would all like, no love to find a new James Dean, more Teddy Waynes and a few rebels without causes. It's the editor/agent/talent scout's dream come true. Entertainment for men that isn't a comic book. Strange new world.
both writers are very worried about getting doxxed. I think they're *too* worried but there's a fear out there that taking on controversial material could damage your personal life/work prospects
Great read. Not sure Rude Boy character types are actually ignored by publishing "gatekeepers". I think they're just really hard to write both critically and sympathetically. A delicate balance that would require exceptional skill to achieve.
The Rude Boy audience though is pandered to regularly. Jordon Peterson's fulminating rants on the diminishment of AWMs (abused white men) are a pot of gold. Admirals, captains and marine drill sergeants appear on every best seller list ordering men to "make your bed" "respect authority" but "be authoritative". Militarism remains a perfect expression of maleness for millions. And every rude boy's salvation.
I've always thought we don't see more Teddy Wayne character types because they're so tough to write. Wayne's characters are deeply disturbed--borderline and over the line sociopaths. It's reasonable their paranoia and misogyny be criticized even if they're occasionally right about women using men. Wayne has a masterful touch. Another is Salinger. Our now beloved Holden Caulfield was the antithesis of American can-do and industry: lazy, bored and disaffected. A schmuck who became the poster boy for 50s discontent. Alas, it isn't easy to be a JD or a Teddy.
Creepy and sympathetic simultaneously--infuriating but deserving. That's a heavy lift. But I think books, TV and film would all like, no love to find a new James Dean, more Teddy Waynes and a few rebels without causes. It's the editor/agent/talent scout's dream come true. Entertainment for men that isn't a comic book. Strange new world.
Look forward to checking out Incel.
Thank you for this wonderfully crafted review!
Am working on a longer response piece that expands into a general survey of the same issue in publishing.
I ended up reading both of these books because of this review (through being shared in r/slatestarcodex). Thankful!
Why do you think both these novels were publised under psuedonyms. Also curious how you came across them?
both writers are very worried about getting doxxed. I think they're *too* worried but there's a fear out there that taking on controversial material could damage your personal life/work prospects
Its also just emotionally hard to write controversial, embarrassing stuff under your real name.
Wow that's wild. I'm sort of with you on this, but I suppose we'll never know if they're being too careful or not.
I think they are both coming out of an online self-publishing world in which that's the norm.
Huh! So interesting!
Nobody wants to admit using 4chan. (Odd, since Taylor Swift is known to have done.)
I wouldn't pay much heed to these -- classic "I looked so you don't have to" bit. I can tell you that these folks haven't even scratched the surface.
As someone who's driven a few nails into the surface, ask me anything you like.
I used it but I wore latex gloves.
Though they were ribbed.
I thought most kids now were having less sex and having it later.
And that's after the pill and it being much safer now to be a gay teen.
So are they all incels now, but one only uses that word if they are white, male, and have no nose ring?
To Substack.
I'm right here.