The fact that someone special is really fascinating - specialness seems to be rejected or something that needs to be hidden or something that is met with scorn. In many SF/F the "special" ability or characteristic that is being shrouded by the social class of the character is something the average reader would find totally acceptable and even amazing.
The abused child is also really interesting. Intertext's icon is from deerskin, a novel she recommended to me and I LOVED, and I really, REALLY, liked the way the character had to deal with her situation, and how it hindered her and did not allow her to interact well with other human beings. She herself became a forest dweller that nobody would have suspected for a princess, and the recession into the woods was part of her healing.
That's another attraction to the "unfortunate" characters: there is often something needing to be 'healed'. The ability of characters to surmount their past, their burdens, etc. is such an empowering message to readers - ESPECIALLY young readers. Young people often escape into fantasy realms to avoid dealing with very real problems, such as abuse. What a better way to communicate directly to them but to show them their experiences are surmountable, and nothing to be ashamed of? It is a great way to deal with serious issues, too. People are more comfortable if bad things are "just a story" rather than bluntly TOLD to them. Stories and characters allow for more speculation that statements and facts.
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The fact that someone special is really fascinating - specialness seems to be rejected or something that needs to be hidden or something that is met with scorn. In many SF/F the "special" ability or characteristic that is being shrouded by the social class of the character is something the average reader would find totally acceptable and even amazing.
The abused child is also really interesting. Intertext's icon is from deerskin, a novel she recommended to me and I LOVED, and I really, REALLY, liked the way the character had to deal with her situation, and how it hindered her and did not allow her to interact well with other human beings. She herself became a forest dweller that nobody would have suspected for a princess, and the recession into the woods was part of her healing.
That's another attraction to the "unfortunate" characters: there is often something needing to be 'healed'. The ability of characters to surmount their past, their burdens, etc. is such an empowering message to readers - ESPECIALLY young readers. Young people often escape into fantasy realms to avoid dealing with very real problems, such as abuse. What a better way to communicate directly to them but to show them their experiences are surmountable, and nothing to be ashamed of? It is a great way to deal with serious issues, too. People are more comfortable if bad things are "just a story" rather than bluntly TOLD to them. Stories and characters allow for more speculation that statements and facts.