Feminist SFF Starter Kit
Sep. 23rd, 2013 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryThis post is for people who like the idea of feminist science fiction and fantasy but aren't quite sure where to start. I attempted include a mix of older classics along with some newer favorites of mine.(However I haven't made any effort to make sure the books are in print.) These books explore feminism and gender in a variety of ways.
Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy: Synonymously distopic and utopic this book is about a women in mental institute who visit a utopic future.
A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski: This is the only planet of women book on the list. The planet is called Shora and the women are purple and have the most awesome ecotech. Very influenced by Slonczewski's Quaker values.
Slow River by Nicola Griffith: All of Griffith's work is amazing an worth checking out, but this one happens to be my personal favorite. Its about troubled families and finding your place in the world, and also bio engineering microbes to treat sewage.
Lifelode by Jo Walton A book that centers domestic work. Also has complex and amazing worldbuilding, and non-liner time. (I hear there is going to be a e-book which would make this much easier to get a hold of but I'm not sure when.)
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin All of Le Guin's work touches on Feminist themes but this one deals with gender most directly. Features a planet were the people are physically sexless most of the time, except for a few days a month, were they become either male or female bodied.
Spiritwalker Trilogy by Kate Elliott This series engages with feminism in much more political sense than the works I've discussed so far. Much more about the legal rights of women. This book also features a complex alternative earth, were the ice age didn't end, the intelligent descendants of dinosaurs are still with us, Rome didn't defeat Carthage, oh and their is magic.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan: Secondary world fansty about a young woman in a restrict society who wants to be a scientist. Brennan has background in Anthropology and folklore, which really shows in her world building.
On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard A study of two women in power. Also an awesome story about a complex family that lives on a space station that makes its own fish sauce.
Is there anything you think would be a good addition to the list?
Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy: Synonymously distopic and utopic this book is about a women in mental institute who visit a utopic future.
A Door Into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski: This is the only planet of women book on the list. The planet is called Shora and the women are purple and have the most awesome ecotech. Very influenced by Slonczewski's Quaker values.
Slow River by Nicola Griffith: All of Griffith's work is amazing an worth checking out, but this one happens to be my personal favorite. Its about troubled families and finding your place in the world, and also bio engineering microbes to treat sewage.
Lifelode by Jo Walton A book that centers domestic work. Also has complex and amazing worldbuilding, and non-liner time. (I hear there is going to be a e-book which would make this much easier to get a hold of but I'm not sure when.)
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin All of Le Guin's work touches on Feminist themes but this one deals with gender most directly. Features a planet were the people are physically sexless most of the time, except for a few days a month, were they become either male or female bodied.
Spiritwalker Trilogy by Kate Elliott This series engages with feminism in much more political sense than the works I've discussed so far. Much more about the legal rights of women. This book also features a complex alternative earth, were the ice age didn't end, the intelligent descendants of dinosaurs are still with us, Rome didn't defeat Carthage, oh and their is magic.
A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan: Secondary world fansty about a young woman in a restrict society who wants to be a scientist. Brennan has background in Anthropology and folklore, which really shows in her world building.
On a Red Station, Drifting by Aliette de Bodard A study of two women in power. Also an awesome story about a complex family that lives on a space station that makes its own fish sauce.
Is there anything you think would be a good addition to the list?
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Date: 2013-09-24 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-24 11:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-24 01:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-24 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-23 05:01 pm (UTC)Thanks for this - will be checking a couple of those out.
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Date: 2014-03-23 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-03-24 02:24 pm (UTC)