Have any of these books been published post-Serenity? Because the pose reminds me of the end of River's fight scene with the Reavers at the end of the movie. Maybe they're saying, "Hey! Joss Whedon fans! You like messed-up chicks who kick ass, right? Right??"
Heh. Actually, I believe several of them were -- this style has been around on urban fantasy covers for six or seven years now, at least. (I think the first really influential ones were at least one of LKH's, and then someone else started using the pose as a branding feature for some series...)
Per reply above, CP and I were talking about this tonight, and when I mentioned your comment about River, he said, "well, there's yet another phallic symbol weapon." Which, if you think about it, often negates the woman in position-of-power: strong enough to turn her back on the audience yet still clutching some phallic extension. To which I pointed out that I'm almost positive the image of River used in the promos showed River holding shotels, or similar -- nasty-looking weapons with a distinct curving blade. Very un-phallic, now that I thikn about it.
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Date: 8 Sep 2008 08:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9 Sep 2008 08:31 am (UTC)Per reply above, CP and I were talking about this tonight, and when I mentioned your comment about River, he said, "well, there's yet another phallic symbol weapon." Which, if you think about it, often negates the woman in position-of-power: strong enough to turn her back on the audience yet still clutching some phallic extension. To which I pointed out that I'm almost positive the image of River used in the promos showed River holding shotels, or similar -- nasty-looking weapons with a distinct curving blade. Very un-phallic, now that I thikn about it.