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.
15 replies on “My mama told me I should never venture into space, But I did, I did, I did,”
I wouldn’t say fantasy is any “easier” than SF, but the community tends to be more welcoming. We have a lot of SF writers over at Broad Universe, take a look!
Thanks for responding so quickly to this Kate :) Maybe “easier” wasn’t the best word – sorry. What I meant was that when sparkly quiffed boys and hunky werewolf types are in vogue, it’s a harder sell for something new and more techy. Great to have you on board, my friend <3
So glad to have you back Jay! And working on such a fab project. Laura and I will put our heads together and start rummaging in the depths of the archive! x
To quote the Ninth Doctor, Fantastic! If you find Kara Thrace in there, she’s mine :D xxx
Great idea, Jay! I’ll need to get my thinking cap on…
Madeleine L’Engle was my introduction to SF (in books, anyway) – A Wrinkle in Time was formative for me.
(Love the ‘Space Girl’ reference, btw – love that song!)
Superb Helen – I’ll add Madeleine to the list. you don’t happen to have a copy? And bonus points for getting my song reference :D X
I’m not sure – if I do, it’s boxed up somewhere, I’m afraid…
No worries Helen. I’ll put it on my wishlist x
My favourite contemporary SF writers are: Liz Williams, Tricia Sullivan, Justina Robson, Lauren Beukes, Pat Cadigan; all Clarke Award nominees/winners.
Also good but I haven’t read everything by them: Nicola Griffith, Melissa Scott, Sheri S Tepper, Linda Nagata, Maureen F McHugh, Mary Gentle, Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Bear, Karen Traviss.
From the pulp era you could have CL Moore and Leigh Brackett.
In non-fiction, you could have Chicks Dig Time Lords (Lynne M Thomas, Tara O’Shea, ed.), a collection of essays by women on Doctor Who, and there are similar collections by the same editors on Joss Whedon and comics.
You could also include the 1974 anthology Women of Wonder (Pamela Sargent, ed.)
Brilliant stuff there Elaine :) Women Of Wonder is coming up a lot today. I’ve just taken my copy down off of my bookshelf to put in my pile. Please keep in touch – Jay x
Elaine’s mentioned some great writers there, and let’s not forget that one of the greatest writers in the world today – Joyce Carol Oates – also writes horror, and also let’s not forget Elizabeth Hand – great prose stylist. While there is a glut of paranormal/vampire “stuff”, female writers like Anne Rice, Nancy Collins, and Freda Warrington, among others, have creatively driven forward vampire fiction, while most people just riff off “Dracula”.
I agree about Liz Bear and Bujold. I would also say Eugie Foster, who writes fantasy for the most part. She has a wonderful short story collection. I will see if I can’t acquire some things for your collection and bring them over in my suitcase next time (I live in NC but in Bridgeton near the green for several weeks of the year).
What about things for children, like Miss Pickerell?
I am glad you are doing better, Jay. I like your dream :). I read all the comments ahead of me so not to duplicate any names. The name I would include in the list is Stephanie Osborn and her Displaced Detective Series. They are fantastic.
Hi Jay, great to hear from you. How about Margaret Atwood’s “Oryx and Crake”? She’s not known as a sci-fi author, butI’d definitely classify this one as science fiction.
Thanks I.W., Angela, Lee Ann and Morag – some more great suggestions there. Keep them coming. And of course, if you can bear to part with your copy, all the better :)