Introduction to Women’s Literature: Future Fictions: Speculative Fiction by Women Writers

Cross listed with WGST 2180-01

Gender-bending aliens, apocalyptic pregnancies, changeling children, and interplanetary battles of the sexes. According to feminist science fiction scholar Lisa Yaszek, these are just a few of the tropes we encounter in the surprisingly long and varied tradition of female-authored science fiction. In this class will take a historical approach to science fiction and science fantasy by women authors, from the classic Frankenstein through pulp sci-fi, feminist sci-fi, and current Nebula and Hugo award winners. We will work with Yaszek’s anthology The Future is Female, supplementing it with contemporary short stories. Other texts will include Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia Butler, and Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. You will write short in-class responses, participate in group reading assignments, take two exams, create a collaborative science fiction story, and give an oral report. This course meets the DI requirement for the English Department.