Joanna Russ

Joanna Russ (born February 22, 1937), American writer, is the author of a number of works of science fiction (among other sorts of writing), including The Female Man, a meditation on how differing societies might produce very different versions of the same person, and how all might interact, particularly in the face of sexism.

Related Topics:
February 22 - 1937 - American - Science fiction - The Female Man - Sexism

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Russ was a notable feminist writer in science fiction in the early 1970s, a time when women were starting to enter the field in larger numbers. It can be said that science fiction was a field dominated by male authors, often thought to be writing for a predominantly male audience; by contrast Russ was one of the most outspoken authors to challenge male dominance.

Related Topics:
Feminist - 1970s - Male dominance

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A notable example is her novel, We Who Are About To, a clever variation on an established science fiction theme: a group of space travelers marooned on an uninhabited planet decide that they must form a colony and "propagate the species". One of the castaways is a woman who has no particular desire to be part of such an effort. When the others try to force her to be part of the colony, she rebels.

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Along with her work as a science fiction and fantasy writer (much of her earliest published work is short horror fiction), she has been a playwright and essayist, much recognized for such nonfiction works as the collection Magic Mommas, Trembling Sisters, Puritans & Perverts and the book-length study of modern feminism, What Are We Fighting For?

Related Topics:
Fantasy - Horror fiction - Playwright - Essayist - Feminism

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Other books include:

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• The Adventures of Alyx (collection of shorter works)
• The Female Man
• And Chaos Died
• The Two Of Them
• Kittatinny
• The Zanzibar Cat
• Extra(Ordinary) People
• How to Suppress Women's Writing
• On Strike Against God
• Picnic on Paradise

See also Feminist science fiction.

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Joanna Russ: External link ►