It's a bit late for another year-end review, but I found this article by Andrew Liptak interesting because it covers events in the field and not just books. He discusses topics like the effect of COVID-19 on science fiction conventions, the increasing diversity of the field, and the controversies generated by the behaviour of major authors like J. K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin.
While we’ve seen some — sometimes considerable — efforts on the part of creators and fans, 2020 marked a couple of instances that show just how far the fields have to go. Notably, authors like J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin made headlines for their out-of-touch attitudes towards race and gender.
Rowling notably took the side of anti-trans activists this summer, after mounting speculation speculation about her attitude towards trans people. Over the last couple of years, she was called out for liking anti-trans sentiments on Twitter (initially chalked up as mistakes), which escalated to a lengthy essay shot through with bad-faith arguments justifying her views. She’s not alone in the field: authors like Richard K. Morgan have also jumped on that particular bandwagon, using the misguided argument that they’re standing up for women’s rights against men who are lurking in the shadows of bathrooms, waiting for their next victim.
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