Another Of My “Most Disliked” Tropes Of SFF / Epic Fantasy
I know this one’s been done to death, but honestly: purportedly ‘warrior’ chicks in chainmail scanties!
Ew—tres uncomfortable! Plus, bets on their survival statistics, anyone?
Both they — and possibly those who deploy ’em — should be ‘slain on principle’ imho. Just sayin’…
And I feel pretty much the same abut the boyz-own equivalent: all those barbarians in fur codpieces, carrying huge – er – battleaxes. 😉
I wonder did this arise out of imitations of Boris Vallejo’s art or was it just a cheap ploy to get 14 yr old boys and 14 yr old boys at heart to pick up the book /magazine? Is there any noticeable difference in culture ie between Commonwealth and American covers?
Nekkid women and big muscly men both male power fantasies.
Sean, I am not familiar enough with Commonwealth and American covers to venture an opinion as to whether there is a difference in this respect.:) I think the industry has been moving away from these sorts of covers—although the whole ‘cover poses’ fun, a la Hines & Scalzi, suggests that the fine art of the improbable, if not downright anatomically impossible, is a very hardy perennial indeed! And for the sake of discussion, while agree that both are male power fantasies, I wonder, given the prevalent covers for Paranormal Romance, whether the appeal is restricted to that?