Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965

by Eric Leif Davin

Overview

Partners in Wonder revolutionizes our knowledge of women and early science fiction. Contrary to accepted interpretations, women fans and writers were a welcome and influential part of pulp science fiction from the birth of the genre. Davin finds that at least 203 female authors, under their own female names, published over a thousand stories in science fiction magazines between 1926 and 1965. This work explores the distinctly different form of science fiction that females produced—one that was both more utopian and more empathetic than that of their male counterparts. Partners in Wonder presents, for the first time, a complete bibliography of every story published by women writers in science fiction magazines from 1926 to 1965 and brief biographies on 133 of these women writers. It is thus the most comprehensive source of information on early women science fiction writers yet available and of great importance to scholars of women's studies, popular culture, and English literature as well as science fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739112670
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	12/12/2005
Pages:	446
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 8.94(h) x 1.34(d)

About the Author

Eric Leif Davin is Lecturer in the Department of History at University of Pittsburgh.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Science Fiction and the Contested Terrain of Popular Culture Part 3 Part One - Presumption of Prejudice: Science Fiction's Contested Terrain, 1926-1949 Chapter 4 The Genesis of the Mythology Chapter 5 Present at the Creation Chapter 6 Weird Sisters Chapter 7 Female Fandom Chapter 8 Women Without Names Chapter 9 The Usual Suspects Chapter 10 Anecdotes and Antidotes Chapter 11 Haven in a Heartless World Chapter 12 Ebony and Ivory Chapter 13 Femalien Empathy Chapter 14 Feminist Futures Chapter 15 History and Mythistory Part 16 Part Two - The Crest of the First Wave: Science Fiction's Female Counter-Culture, 1950-1960 Chapter 17 Ecce Femina Chapter 18 Alone Against Tomorrow Chapter 19 Across the Great Divide Chapter 20 A Counter-Culture of Tending and Befriending Part 21 Part Three - Hidden From History:The Ebbing of First Wave Women's Science Fiction, 1961-1965 Chapter 22 Into Time's Abyss Chapter 23 The Persistence of Myth Part 24 Appendix I: Bibliography of Women Science Fiction Writers, 1926 - 1965 Part 25 Appendix II: Biographies of Women Science Fiction Writers, 1926 - 1965

Editorial Reviews

[This book] is a masterpiece of scholarly fieldwork.

The New York Review Of Science Fiction

Davin's book is a fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts. It is also a compelling examination of how 'common knowledge' may influence the choices people make, right down to coloring their perceptions of themselvessss

Jane Lindskold

Davin's book should be essential reading for all in order to dispel the myth that there was a bias against women writers before the 1960s. Quite the opposite. Davin proves that the sf magazines were arguably the most liberal and most receptive of all of the pulps and that the sf fraternity welcomed the female contribution to the world.

Foundation

Davin's book should be essential reading for all in order to dispel the myth that there was a bias against women writers before the 1960s. Quite the opposite. Davin proves that the sf magazines were arguably the most liberal and most receptive of all of the pulps and that the sf fraternity welcomed the female contribution to the world.

Foundation

Davin's book should be essential reading for all in order to dispel the myth that there was a bias against women writers before the 1960s. Quite the opposite. Davin proves that the sf magazines were arguably the most liberal and most receptive of all of the pulps and that the sf fraternity welcomed the female contribution to the world.--Foundation

[This book] is a masterpiece of scholarly fieldwork.--The New York Review Of Science Fiction

Davin's book is a fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts. It is also a compelling examination of how 'common knowledge' may influence the choices people make, right down to coloring their perceptions of themselves--Dr. Jane Lindskold, Author of the Firekeeper Saga

From the Publisher

Davin's book is a fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts. It is also a compelling examination of how 'common knowledge' may influence the choices people make, right down to coloring their perceptions of themselvessss

Dr. Jane Lindskold