A Son of the Rock

I’ve just caught up with the news that Joanna Russ has died.

She was one of the first women to break into the male dominated world of 1960s Science Fiction and used feminism as her main theme, explicitly critiquing sexism and women’s perceived role in society. In this respect SF was, of course, a perfect vehicle with its ability to take a fresh look at how things are and how perhaps they ought to be.

I do not recall reading The Female Man, perhaps her most famous novel, but may have done so in my teens when most of my reading came from the local Library. I do have Picnic On Paradise (1968) on my shelves and certainly read that but must admit I don’t remember much of it from this distance in time.

What is undeniable is the impact Russ had in promoting women and feminism in SF.

Russ also took a great interest in slash fiction and seems to have been a force in it beginning to be taken more seriously than when it first appeared.

Joanna Russ 22/2/1937-29/4/2011. So it goes.