We appreciate it, Ms. McGuire.

A September 28th blog post by sci-fi/fantasy author Seanan McGuire about the prevalence of rape scenes in fiction has inspired a fair amount of internet buzz, and deservedly so. Apparently, Ms. McGuire, author of the October Daye series, recently had a staggering encounter with one of her readers, who wanted to know when—not if—one of McGuire's female protagonists was going to be raped. (The person felt it would be "unrealistic" if the books' characters managed to avoid being sexually assaulted, despite their array of magical defenses. Because that's what we read fantasy for: grim realism!) McGuire's response was both passionate and thoughtful, and is well worth reading in full.