E-Book Overview
Works of science fiction and fantasy increasingly explore gender issues, feature women as central characters, and are written by women writers. This book examines women's contributions to science fiction and fantasy across a range of media and genres, such as fiction, nonfiction, film, television, art, comics, graphic novels, and music. The first volume offers survey essays on major topics, such as sexual identities, fandom, women's writing groups, and feminist spirituality; the second provides alphabetically arranged entries on more specific subjects, such as Hindu mythology, Toni Morrison, magical realism, and Margaret Atwood. Entries are written by expert contributors and cite works for further reading, and the set closes with a selected, general bibliography.Students and general readers love science fiction and fantasy. And science fiction and fantasy works increasingly explore gender issues, feature women as central characters, and are written by women writers. Older works demonstrate attitudes toward women in times past, while more recent works grapple with contemporary social issues. This book helps students use science fiction and fantasy to understand the contributions of women writers, the representation of women in the media, and the experiences of women in society.
E-Book Content
Women
in Science Fiction and Fantasy
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Women
in Science Fiction and Fantasy
VOLUME 1: OVERVIEWS .............................................................................................................................. Edited by Robin Anne Reid
GREENWOOD PRESS W E S T P O R T, C O N N E C T I C U T. L O N D O N
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Women in science fiction and fantasy / edited by Robin Anne Reid. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-313-33589-1 ((set) : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-313-33591-4 ((vol. 1) : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-313-33592-1 ((vol. 2) : alk. paper) 1. Science fiction—Women authors—History and criticism. 2. Fantasy fiction—Women authors—History and criticism. 3. Science fiction, American—History and criticism. 4. Science fiction, English—History and criticism. 5. Fantasy fiction, American—History and criticism. 6. Fantasy fiction, English—History and criticism. 7. Women and literature— History—20th century. 8. Feminism in literature. 9. Gender identity in literature. 10. Women in literature. I. Reid, Robin Anne, 1955– PS374.S35W63 2009 809.30 8762082—dc22 2008035424 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright C 2009 by Robin A. Reid All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008035424 ISBN: 978-0-313-33589-1 (set) ISBN: 978-0-313-33591-4 (vol. 1) ISBN: 978-0-313-33592-1 (vol. 2) First published in 2009 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America
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Contents PREFACE Robin Anne Reid
vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
xv
1
The Middle Ages 1 Gillian Polack ........................................................................................................ 2
Nineteenth-Century Fiction 12 Helen Pilinovsky ........................................................................................................ 3
Nineteenth-Century Poetry 23 Donelle R. Ruwe .......................................................................................