Russ, Joanna - To Write Like a Woman: Essays in Feminism and Science Fiction

[oyceter]

I think I liked the two other Joanna Russ books I've read better (What Are We Fighting For? and How to Suppress Women's Writing), but that is largely because I am much more interested in feminism than I am in SF.

I know! I am a genre reader, but not really an SF reader -- I grew up on fantasy, and that's still what I seek out. And I've read very little SF, so many of the things that Russ comments on, I don't know enough about to really analyze. I also haven't read several other works she refers to, including Willa Cather and "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Shirley Jackson (um. yes i know. i will some day....).

On the other hand, I continue to enjoy Russ' casual, conversational style and notes, along with her wit and her way of looking at things. I may not always agree with her, but I like that she continues to examine "marginal" genres and works, though this collection of essays focuses more (solely?) on white women instead of on POC.

Also, I am glad to have finally read this, despite the horrific overdue fine my library will charge, because I have now finally read her essay on Gothics, "Somebody's Trying to Kill Me, and I Think It's My Husband"! I'm excited because coffeeandink refers to it for romances, and I'm excited because I feel more equipped to read the Gothics rachelmanija has given and lent to me.

So, recced, but more recced if you have actually read what Russ is referring to.

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

I keep meaning to say that "sf" as in "sf fandom" is generally assumed to mean fantasy as well,

Really? I tend to use it that way, & I know other people do too, but I always end up feeling like we're in the minority. Especially in terms of cons whose subtitles say something about being an SF con. Like the one time I went to WorldCon I totally felt like the minority in a huge way (er, & not in the usual race sense). And even @ WisCon, unless it's specifically a panel about fairy tales or the Endicott Studio or something, I feel like a lot of the time it ends up dominated by science fiction. YMMV, obviously! Perhaps I am just prone to feeling excluded. ;)

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

I tend to assume discussions will cover both sf and fantasy unless it's otherwise specified, but that only tells you about my personal usage, really. I haven't been to many sf cons, and Wiscon is the only one I go to regularly, so you know more about usage there than I do. :)

It's odd, I've always loved reading sf and fantasy, but I never felt like an sf fan because I didn't belong to the con culture. My entry into fandom has been through the Internet.

[oyceter]

It's odd, I've always loved reading sf and fantasy, but I never felt like an sf fan because I didn't belong to the con culture. My entry into fandom has been through the Internet.

Me too! For media fandom and anime/manga fandom as well. Ah, internet, the great enabler...