Cross-reading

[supergee]

Katherine Kerr on the grief she got back in the day for reading "boys' books" (such as Heinlein), with an interesting perspective on one beloved old favorite:

A few had horrible female villains, like The Stars My Destination, where a bitter woman, trapped in a teleport-proof prison to protect her virtue, schemed against the hero.

Bester was a sick bastard; he made it subtle in Stars, but let it show in the later books. Since the "hero" raped at least one other woman (offstage of course; there were decencies to preserve), maybe the "villain" needed protection.

Thanx to jimhines