Posted by Diana Hamilton on March 25, 1998 at 07:02:05:
In Reply to: Prototypical Vance hero's Romantic Interest posted by The Professor on February 27, 1998 at 23:21:25:
: Did anyone else notice how Keith Gersen, especially, but other protagonists also seem to fall for a particular type of woman.
: She is usually of a higher social/economic/race/??? class than the hero (Emphyrio, The Killing Machine, The Face). She is not only attractive but often haughty, almost unattaniable, and at first, not at all interested in him.
[snip]
I've often been a bit disappointed with Vance's heroines because usually all I can find in them is a simple collection of attributes- wry twists of the mouth, inscrutable glances and well-cut clothes. To the extent that I identify with characters in a Vance novel it's typically with the male protagonist, because there's more to latch onto.
Speaking of Vance females' poise and clothes, it's funny but I often picture them in a mildly Emma Peel-like way (pantsuits-and-nice-dresses mode, not black-leather mode), in exterior appearance if not in force of character. She's got the upperclass unattainability described above, plus slimness and a wealth of arch glances and half-smiles.
...And speaking of Mrs. Peel, for any Avengers fans out there here's a sudden amusing notion- imagine Steed and Peel as Galactic Effectuators in the Gaean Reach! Now *there* would be a strong female character. Best of all, their conversational style seems made for the Vance universe. :)
Diana Hamilton -- hamilton@umbc.edu -- Baltimore, MD