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Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
On 8/13/2025 9:17 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Not a single mention of Andre Norton in the article.
And one mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley for her 1964 book "The Bloody
Sun". I am impressed as I thought that her name was not to be mentioned
in polite society anymore.
And one mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley for her 1964 book "The BloodyWhy?
Sun". I am impressed as I thought that her name was not to be mentioned
in polite society anymore.
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> schrieb:
On 8/13/2025 9:17 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Not a single mention of Andre Norton in the article.
And one mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley for her 1964 book "The Bloody
Sun". I am impressed as I thought that her name was not to be mentioned
in polite society anymore.
Why?
James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to FindI never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the authors I read were indeed men.
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-
always-easy-to-find/
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls but I
had already read two of her novels and morality went out the window. I yielded to temptation.
I also knew that my friends would rag me ceaselessly if they discovered
that I was reading a book by a girl, but I decided that, as illiterate thugs, they'd never find out.
Shortly after came CL Moore, Judith Merril, Anne Mcaffrey (pre-Pern), LeGuin, the female writers in DV, and so on.
I knew that women could write under men's names, or quasi-hide their
gender with initials, and for that matter that men could write under
women's names.-a When buying an SF book by an author new to me my only question was whether or not I had the money.-a Nothing else mattered
except in those rare cases when the blurb told me not to read this book.
And many thanks to those blurb writers.
William Hyde
And one mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley for her 1964 book "The Bloody
Sun". I am impressed as I thought that her name was not to be mentioned
in polite society anymore.
Why?
On 2025-08-13, Thomas Koenig <tkoenig@netcologne.de> wrote:
And one mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley for her 1964 book "The Bloody
Sun". I am impressed as I thought that her name was not to be mentioned >>> in polite society anymore.
Why?
| Though Bradley remained popular during her lifetime, her reputation
| was posthumously marred when in 2014 her daughter reported that
| Bradley had sexually abused her, and allegedly assisted her second
| husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in his own grooming
| and sexual abuse of multiple unrelated children.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Zimmer_Bradley
James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to FindI never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the authors I read were indeed men.
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-
always-easy-to-find/
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls but I
had already read two of her novels and morality went out the window. I yielded to temptation.
I also knew that my friends would rag me ceaselessly if they discovered
that I was reading a book by a girl, but I decided that, as illiterate thugs, they'd never find out.
Shortly after came CL Moore, Judith Merril, Anne Mcaffrey (pre-Pern), LeGuin, the female writers in DV, and so on.
I knew that women could write under men's names, or quasi-hide their
gender with initials, and for that matter that men could write under
women's names.-a When buying an SF book by an author new to me my only question was whether or not I had the money.-a Nothing else mattered
except in those rare cases when the blurb told me not to read this book.
And many thanks to those blurb writers.
William Hyde
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-
to-find/
In article <107i6q5$opg$1@reader1.panix.com>,
jdnicoll@panix.com (James Nicoll) wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy- >> to-find/
Kristine Kathryn Rusch's introduction to her anthology _Women of Futures >Past_ (Published in 2016 by Baen Books) went into some length on this >problem. I know that you have been ignoring Baen, but her introduction
is still present in the sample pages for the electronic version, see ><https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781476781617/9781476781617.htm>, for
anybody to read.
James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to FindI never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the authors I read were indeed men.
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the window. I yielded to temptation.
-a When buying an SF book by an author new to me my only question was whether or not I had the money.-a Nothing else mattered except in those rare cases when the blurb told me not to read this book.
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
James Nicoll wrote:authors I read were indeed men.
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to FindI never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I
but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a Iknew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls
but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
Because she was targeting a male audience and she felt boys would
not buy from a woman author.
However, I'd already been, shall we say, "immunized". My grade
school librarian repeatedly recommended a book about a "girl",
one Mary Poppins. She wore me down, and I finally tried one.
Then, I devoured the other books about her in our library. By the
time the movie came out, I had no objections to seeing it.
I have no idea why I hadn't been put off earlier by the fact that
Dorothy Gale was a girl. Maybe because at age six or eight, I was
too young to be worried stuff like that. Who knows?
-a -a When buying an SF book by an author new to me my only question was
whether or not I had the money.-a Nothing else mattered except in those
rare cases when the blurb told me not to read this book.
That was the case for me, as well. Actually, when I started
buying, I paid no attention to the author, only the blurb.
Although, if the spinner racks had ever had anything by Norton,
it probably would have caught my eye.
On 14/08/2025 14.45, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
Because she was targeting a male audience and she felt boys wouldI was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a Iknew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls
but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
not buy from a woman author.
Yes, sixty years later, I understand that. In fact, I probably
understood it twenty years later. When I said "I still didn't get
why ...", I was referring to when I was a ten-twelve-year-old boy.
Luckily we did have Norton on the spinner racks, as there was no
bookstore for miles and the bookmobile, unaccountably, did not have all
her works.
If I could meet the guy who ran the local variety store I'd thank him.
He had far more SF on his rack than usual. A few years later it was
75% porn, 25% romance. New owners.
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:...
James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to FindI never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the authors
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-
always-easy-to-find/
I read were indeed men.
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I
knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by
girls but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out
the window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
authors I read were indeed men.I never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the
knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I
but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
Because she was targeting a male audience and she felt boys would
not buy from a woman author.
On 8/14/2025 1:37 PM, Michael F. Stemper wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
Andre The Giant.-a-a 7'4" of a whole lot of man.-a You might be familiar with him from the awesome "The Princess Bride" movie.
On 15/08/25 07:45, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick
was finding their work.
authors I read were indeed men.I never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the
knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I
but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
Because she was targeting a male audience and she felt boys would
not buy from a woman author.
When I was a sexist, teenaged boy, I had no money for books so used the >public library. I read only the books, nothing about the authors and I
had no idea that I read and enjoyed female SF authors.
On 14/08/2025 17.28, Lynn McGuire wrote:
On 8/14/2025 1:37 PM, Michael F. Stemper wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.-a I
knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by
girls but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out
the window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
Andre The Giant.-a-a 7'4" of a whole lot of man.-a You might be familiar
with him from the awesome "The Princess Bride" movie.
Yes, I am. But, sixty years ago, I hadn't seen it.
Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> writes:
On 15/08/25 07:45, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/women-have-always-written-sff-but-it-wasnt-always-easy-to-find/
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick >>>>>> was finding their work.
authors I read were indeed men.I never felt that SF was a male field. Even though most of the
window. I yielded to temptation.
I was about ten when I discovered that Andre Norton was a girl.|e-a I >>>> knew full well that it was immoral and wrong to enjoy anything by girls >>>> but I had already read two of her novels and morality went out the
I was about ten when I discovered Andre Norton, period. I read
her stuff for a year or two before I discovered that "Andre"
wasn't typically a "girl's" name. I knew of a total of one
"Andre" -- her.
I still didn't get why she wanted to hide the fact that she was
a "girl". She was the first author that I sought out by name
(as opposed to series).
Because she was targeting a male audience and she felt boys would
not buy from a woman author.
When I was a sexist, teenaged boy, I had no money for books so used the >>public library. I read only the books, nothing about the authors and I
had no idea that I read and enjoyed female SF authors.
Indeed. My 9th grade librarian turned me on to
_The Crystal Cave_ and the gender of the author
was completely irrelevent. I wasn't much interested
in her romance stuff, however. I still re-read the
first two Merlin books every couple of years.
Like most here, I wasn't aware (nor would I have cared)
of Andre Norton's gender.
scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) writes:
Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> writes:Nor was I aware of her gender until I had read and enjoyed a number of
On 15/08/25 07:45, James Nicoll wrote:
In article <107lacl$l8g9$1@dont-email.me>,
Michael F. Stemper <michael.stemper@gmail.com> wrote:
On 13/08/2025 16.41, William Hyde wrote:
James Nicoll wrote:
Women Have Always Written SFF But It Wasn't Always Easy to Find
In the 1970s, many of the best new authors were women -- the trick >>>>>>> was finding their work.
her books, particularly the Ad Astra series and the Star Guard/Star
Ranger duology. I was and still am more science fiction oriented than fantasy, so I have not read the Witch World and other fantasy series of
hers, but of those I have read, I don't think her gender made any
difference to her writing skills.
Speaking of _The Crystal Cave_, I first encountered this on a summer
vacation quite a few years ago and vastly enjoyed it. I had no idea that
Mary Stewart was best known for romantic suspense novels. I sought out
the rest of the books in the series:
The Crystal Cave (1970)
The Hollow Hills (1973)
The Last Enchantment (1979)
The Wicked Day (1983)
and loved them all, even though _The Wicked Day_ was kind of a downer, dealing as it does with Arthur's betrayal and fall.
In looking up the names of the books, I just found out that there is a
fifth book:
The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995)