Don’t Feed the Trolls

Kudisch tackles video game misogyny in this charming, geeky, but ultimately unwieldy romance. Daphne Benoit, a somewhat employed French-born actor living in the U.S., is elated when her fictionalized version of her online RPG gaming strategy wins the game company’s story-writing competition. However, male players who feel threatened by her success unleash a torrent of vitriol and actual threats on her. Hoping to evade notice, Daphne switches to a male persona in the game—which quickly leads to adopting the name Daphnis and trying on masculine mannerisms in person—and takes refuge with the help of Laura, another player who experienced similar harassment. Much of the early dialogue appears in chat log form and rewards those familiar with gamer slang and musical theater. Daphnis stumbles through overlapping online and offline dangers and a burgeoning romance with Laura until things come to a head at a national gaming convention. Kudisch brings needed attention to online harassment and rightly shows how well-meaning allies often cause more harm than good. However, the tale is hampered by the glib treatment of Daphnis’s sudden gender shift (including the implication that a transmasculine identity can save someone from misogynist abuse) and an extraneous acting career subplot. Kudisch’s attempt to cram so much into the story waters down its impact. (Apr.)