Longshadow
Page 26
Obviously, I do not think that accepting death is a virtue. Rather, I think that it is simply a choice. And so, I decided that if I was going to write a faerie tale about death, then I wanted to write a truly fantastical story—one which glorifies life and stubbornness and attempts to accomplish the impossible. Death, in the form of Mercy Midnight, was not a villain… but she did need to learn that people are allowed to fight until the bitter end, if they so choose it.
Which brings me to a small historical footnote known as the Hays Code.
For the longest time, American cinema had an informal code regarding queer characters: they were allowed on-screen, but only if they were eventually punished by the story in some way. Queer characters were not allowed to live happily ever after; at the very least, they were required to die tragically. If you asked most people today, they wouldn’t know what the Hays Code is—but it has endured beneath the surface of our media, even in stories with otherwise-excellent representation.
If there is one thing which I do think should die a horrible, final death, it is definitely the Hays Code. And so, dear readers, while most faerie tales end with a euphemistic sort of death by apotheosis (“they travelled off to faerie and were never seen again”) or a journey into legend (“they became a part of every unionisation effort in England forevermore”), you may rest assured that Abigail Wilder’s further journeys are not a euphemism. Rather, Abigail is quite literally a stubborn, immortal lesbian—and she and her transgender faerie girlfriend will live together happily forever and ever, in perfect defiance of the Hays Code.
There are, as usual, many people who deserve thanks for their help with this book. An endless thank you to my husband, Mr Atwater; without his help, this book would surely not exist—and it would also have at least one less pun. Thank you to Dr Heather Rose Jones for the detailed breakdown of queer Regency history. Thank you to my alpha readers, Laura Elizabeth and Julie Golick, for their unceasing encouragement. A special thank you to Cullen McHael for fielding the strangest questions about British folklore at odd hours of the day. Thank you to my fellow authors from the Lamplighter’s Guild, Jacquelyn Benson, Rosalie Oaks, and Suzannah Rowntree for their support and suggestions. And of course, many thanks to Tamlin Thomas for the historical nitpicks and for believing that I could do this book justice; this book is for many people, but it is really primarily for you.
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About the Author
Olivia Atwater writes whimsical historical fantasy with a hint of satire. She lives in Montreal, Quebec with her fantastic, prose-inspiring husband and her two cats. When she told her second-grade history teacher that she wanted to work with history someday, she is fairly certain this isn't what either party had in mind. She has been, at various times, a historical re-enactor, a professional witch at a metaphysical supply store, a web developer, and a vending machine repairperson.
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Also by Olivia Atwater
Regency Faerie Tales
Half a Soul
Ten Thousand Stitches
Longshadow
Tales of the Iron Rose
Echoes of the Imperium (Forthcoming — 2022)