Outrage Group Criticizes Baen Books for Releasing “an Anthology by People Named David” Due to Lack of Diversity
Spencer Baculi
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Science-fiction and fantasy publisher Baen Books became the target of a peculiar outrage mob that criticized the publisher for publishing a sci-fi anthology humorously featuring the works of authors named ‘David’ on the grounds that the anthology was not diverse enough.
On October 16th, Baen Books announced The Chronicles of Davids, “an anthology by people named David” which promised to feature “Maximum Dave” and assured readers that “with a name like “David,” it has to be good!”:
The history of science fiction and fantasy is littered with stories by Davids of distinction. Now, for the first time, an anthology by people named David, for everyone.
Get THE CHRONICLES OF DAVID today!https://t.co/bCIiXNnNck
— Baen Books (@BaenBooks) October 16, 2019
Baen Books Gets Mobbed
In a bizarre turn of events, Baen Books was soon descended upon by a handful of social justice-focused users who criticized the anthology for its lack of diversity:
How inclusive. 🙄
— Carrot-lime! ✨ (@xcarex) October 16, 2019
this is a joke right
— Dubious (@DubiousCA) October 17, 2019
cool but also consider how many times marginalized authors are underrepresented in anthologies and how often [Mostly White Dudes Named David] have ever felt lacking in media representation, in their entire lives… seems like a real weird priority
— Dubious (@DubiousCA) October 18, 2019
Is a gimmick like this supposed to impress anyone? How about an anthology with some kind of diversity…
— JFT votes against bigots and fascists (@BloodSpeaker) October 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/OliverDale/status/1184963522930851840
the diversity of it all
— Trader Joe Joe's Bizarre Adventuring Gear (@selifator) October 17, 2019
i do care who the author is because most professional writers in the west are cishet white men and a book purely about writers called dave plays right into that stranglehold.
— Trader Joe Joe's Bizarre Adventuring Gear (@selifator) October 18, 2019
In the midst of the outrage, Baen Books Assistant Editor Christopher Ruocchio stepped in to defend the publication against its detractors, asking if “you only crawl out of your pits when you have something negative to say?”:
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184949959633842178
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184950710456242177
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184950969471250434
Ruocchio Tells His Critics Where to Go
Ruocchio expanded on his criticisms in a separate thread, stating that The Chronicles of David is “just a cute little anthology” before ultimately telling his critics to “get a f–king grip.”:
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184952928756555776
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184952930052575234
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184952931025637381
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184952932074246144
https://twitter.com/TheRuocchio/status/1184952933131132929
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