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sunlit_musicTo anyone who has read the Vorkosigan Saga:
Was anyone bothered by the racist portrayal of Indian characters? I notice that all of the Indian characters in the Vorkosigan saga books I've read so far are unlikeable, pathetic or cruel. In 'Cordelia's Honour', Dr Mehta drugs Cordelia against her will and treats Cordelia like an interesting experiment (she offers no sympathy, emapthy or compassion for all the horrors Cordelia has been through while she is talking to her).
See here for yourself:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1fys98YnuGMC&pg=PT126&lpg=PT126&dq=dr+mehta+cordelia&source=bl&ots=4aBq5oPxIf&sig=4tKpqB-uO7zhyxCifOx-3viO_zI&hl=en&ei=oxAGS7rCDsuSkAXg9fneCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=dr%20mehta%20cordelia&f=false
Plus Gupta from "Diplomatic Immunity" is surly and has no good redeeming traits whatsoever. And Miles calls him "Guppy", so I get the impression from that rude nickname that the readers aren't supposed to take him seriously. I know Miles shows him some caompassion, but the fact that Gupta still remains ungrateful to Miles (and still has no redeeming traits) gives me the impression that Bujold regards Indian people negatively. I've never seen a positive or neutral portrayal of an Indian character in her stories before.
Plus for a saga set in the future, the Vorkosigan saga world is overwhelmingly white. There are few or no characters who are Asian (Middle Eastern or far east Asian characters. I know there's Commodore Tung, but he's the only positive Asian character in the VS I've encountered), black, first nations people, Aboriginal people etc (although to be fair, there are a few Spanish characters).
Now, some may say that the racist overtones are unintentional. However, that doesn't make them any less damaging, and it doesn't undo the hurt it causes.
Was anyone bothered by the racist portrayal of Indian characters? I notice that all of the Indian characters in the Vorkosigan saga books I've read so far are unlikeable, pathetic or cruel. In 'Cordelia's Honour', Dr Mehta drugs Cordelia against her will and treats Cordelia like an interesting experiment (she offers no sympathy, emapthy or compassion for all the horrors Cordelia has been through while she is talking to her).
See here for yourself:
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=1fys98YnuGMC&pg=PT126&lpg=PT126&dq=dr+mehta+cordelia&source=bl&ots=4aBq5oPxIf&sig=4tKpqB-uO7zhyxCifOx-3viO_zI&hl=en&ei=oxAGS7rCDsuSkAXg9fneCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=dr%20mehta%20cordelia&f=false
Plus Gupta from "Diplomatic Immunity" is surly and has no good redeeming traits whatsoever. And Miles calls him "Guppy", so I get the impression from that rude nickname that the readers aren't supposed to take him seriously. I know Miles shows him some caompassion, but the fact that Gupta still remains ungrateful to Miles (and still has no redeeming traits) gives me the impression that Bujold regards Indian people negatively. I've never seen a positive or neutral portrayal of an Indian character in her stories before.
Plus for a saga set in the future, the Vorkosigan saga world is overwhelmingly white. There are few or no characters who are Asian (Middle Eastern or far east Asian characters. I know there's Commodore Tung, but he's the only positive Asian character in the VS I've encountered), black, first nations people, Aboriginal people etc (although to be fair, there are a few Spanish characters).
Now, some may say that the racist overtones are unintentional. However, that doesn't make them any less damaging, and it doesn't undo the hurt it causes.
