The genres of pulp fiction (or what is now called “speculative fiction”) that include hard-boiled crime, horror, fantasy, and science fiction, have often both challenged the conservative cultural values of a society and reinforced the idea of a clear battle of good versus evil. The field had true diversity, allowing plots that fought racism and questioned gender roles, such as in Star Trek, and writers who challenged cultural norms, including libertarian philosopher Robert Heinlein and crime-writing legend Mickey Spillane.

Spillane, the subject of a new biography , wrote books including I, the Jury and the anti-communist One Lonely Night. Spillane’s books often feature a protagonist, usually private detective Mike Hammer, going to battle against immoral lowlifes. Hammer himself was not a saint, but as Spillane explained, sometimes his hero was “the monster” that crushed evil, thus making the way for good. It’s no wonder Ayn Rand loved Spillane . So did the public: Spillane’s books have sold more than 225 million copies.

J.K. Rowling , the author behind the Harry Potter franchise, has also sold millions of books. Just as Spillane found himself an outsider to the literary establishment in the 1950s, Rowling has now been canceled by our cultural elites — though the wider public continues to love her and her work. Rowling’s dilemma points to an important problem within the creative industry: Even though fans and creators of speculative fiction are open to all kinds of different stories and characters, even conservative ones, the field is increasingly controlled by a woke elite.