The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction

by Larbalestier, Justine

• ISBN13: 9780819565273
• ISBN10: 081956527X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-20
• Publisher: Wesleyan Univ Pr

Summary

The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction is a lively account of the role of women and feminism in the development of American science fiction during its formative years, the mid-20th century. Beginning in 1926, with the publication of the first issue of Amazing Stories, Justine Larbalestier examines science fiction's engagement with questions of femininity, masculinity, sex and sexuality. She traces the debates over the place of women and feminism in science fiction as it emerged in stories, letters and articles in science fiction magazines and fanzines. The book culminates in the story of James Tiptree, Jr. and the eponymous Award. Tiptree was a successful science fiction writer of the 1970s who was later discovered to be a woman. Tiptree's easy acceptance by the male-dominated publishing arena of the time proved that there was no necessary difference in the way men and women wrote, but that there was a real difference in the way they were read.

Author Biography

Justine Larbalestier is a research fellow in the Department of English at the University of Sydney. She has served on the jury panels for the James Tiptree, Jr. Memorial Award, the Aurealis Award for Australian science fiction and the Fairy Godmother Award.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(14)
Faithful to Thee, Terra, in Our Fashion	15	(24)
Mama Come Home	39	(34)
Painwise	73	(31)
Fault	104	(40)
The Women Men Don't See	144	(36)
I'm Too Big but I Love to Play	180	(23)
Her Smoke Rose Up Forever	203	(25)
Epilogue	228	(5)
Appendix	233	(8)
Notes	241	(14)
Glossary	255	(4)
Bibliography	259	(26)
Index	285