Feminism in Science Fiction

» Dan_Ellsworth - The "Recommendations for Beginners" list was daunting, but one t

The "Recommendations for Beginners" list was daunting, but one that I remember reading, James Tiptree, Jr.'s "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?", never quite leaves me. The men are a little too "stock" to suit me (though unfortunately, some real men are also stock characters), but it's one of those stories I re-read every few years.

Having just read the trilogy [Color] Mars (Where [Color] = Red, Green, Blue, in that order - I really didn't save any space this way, did I?), I am impressed at how little difference it makes to one's contribution, to be a man or woman. Nor did it feel like forced representation ("Let's see, we need two more flawed but heroic women here to balance it out."); the people just were what they were. Maybe this is what it looks like where a balanced feminism succeeds - so thorough it's invisible, like water to a fish.

If this trilogy goes to movies and they get glamorous actresses to play Nadia or Ann, save your money.

Dan Ellsworth, Editor, "Religion, esp. Christianity"

-- posted by Dan_Ellsworth

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Ecwrite - Oh, COOL!!! I haven't been reading fiction of any sort much f

Oh, COOL!!!

I haven't been reading fiction of any sort much for a while (too tempting for me to leave the planet and hide in the books) but I never really much got into science fiction, partly because I DID view it as something that would usually have women as the "pnumatic" (sp?) plaything that some famous guy in the 60's wrote about....

Your article and your links are inspiring!!

Now I still do not have time to go on a real reading binge, but when I do, I will check out some of these women's books.

(Gotta say though, I did try the Mists of Avalon and it put me to sleep quicker than George (female) Elliot's Middlemarch used to do in college. Mind you I even LIKED the book (Middlemarch) but I used it as a reliable sleeping pill.

Anyway... thanks

**ecwrite, Contrib. Editor/writer:

Web WomenNew article on first of the month!

GTO Staff Writer: In The Blind Spot new article every Thursday nite

-- posted by Ecwrite

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Karen_James - If you looked over the recommendations and it was too "daunting"

If you looked over the recommendations and it was too "daunting" I'll suggest Atwood's

The Handmaid's Tale

, Connolly's

The Rising of the Moon

and Le Guin's

The Left Hand of Darkness

. I usually find the "in-your-face" feminist style over done. I really enjoyed Bank's

Against a Dark Background

-- his matter-of-fact feminist characters were a pleasant surprise.

Karen James

Fantasy and Science Fiction Genres

-- posted by Karen_James

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions