Greetings blog-readers. My name is Jay and up until the beginning of this year I was a volunteer receptionist. I used to do the Monday 10-2 shift so some of you may know me from there. In February, I hit a deep and dark depression and this caused me to take time away from Glasgow Women’s Library. I’m now gently easing back into things and after some discussion with our wonderful Volunteer Co-ordinator Gabrielle, it was decided that I could do so by taking on a wee side project.
I’ve always loved science fiction. My dad was really into it – he introduced me to classic Star Trek and took me to see Star Wars. We used to go to the library together and borrow books then swap them. When it comes to books, films or TV, sci-fi is my first love and I want to share it. A scan of the bookshelves in the library revealed that we have just over two dozen books that fall into this category. I became a woman on a (five-year?) mission…
Not content with just highlighting the books we already have (as Eames says in Inception “You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger darling.”) I decided to try at the minimum to increase our stock and perhaps have some fun with it, maybe even having a mini sci-fi convention. I’ve been delighted to find at least 3 other GWL staff who share my interests and hope via this blog to find some more.
As Magi Gibson said in her excellent blog post, science fiction appears to be dominated by male authors, even now. Women writers nowadays tend to go for the perhaps easier and more popular (though none less valid) route of fantasy, be it swords and sorcery or urban vampires. In trying to come up with a list of new books, I was often stumped but I managed to come up with a decent list.
So what I’m looking for is the input of other women readers – you, the library members. Who are your favourites? We all know of Joanna Russ, Ursula Le Guin and Anne McCaffrey but what about Karen Lord, Cherie Priest or Stephanie Saulter? Who would YOU like to see on our bookshelves? Do you have a collection that you would be willing to share?
Also, being a child of the TV, movie and now the internet age, a lot of my heroines hail from there and I’d like to feature them too. From Christine Chapel and Nyota Uhura, Princess Leia, Servalan and Sarah Jane Smith to Zoe Washburne and Kaylee Frye, Amy Pond and River Song, Starbuck, Boomer and Laura Roslin (yes – I’m currently obsessed with Battlestar Galactica!). Who am I missing out? I’m not much of a gamer but I know there’s a huge fan base out there too. Plus graphic novels – Halo Jones comes to mind but there must be many more?
I hope that this is going to be the start of something and I’d love for others to join me. As they say, to infinity and beyond. And of course, live long and prosper.
