(Cross listed with WGST 2180)

Space opera heroines, 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 and women-identified 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, Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2021. Students will complete group work assignments, take two exams, give an oral report, write several one-page response papers and a longer (5-7 page) creative or critical work.