Lubkin@caip.RUTGERS.EDU (10/24/85)
From: "Lubkin David"@LLL-MFE.ARPA
(1) Re: query on _Children of the Atom_
Originally published in Astounding as separate novellas in 1948,
1949 and 1950. Then Gnome Press published it in hb. I have the
pb original -- Avon, 1953, 35 cents. It is now available in a
small press acid-free illustrated edition in hb ($14.95) and pb
(price unknown) published in 1978 from Pennyfarthing Press,
Box 7745, SF, CA 94120. I am not *sure* that Pennyfarthing is
still in business.
(2) Re: Keith F. Lynch's query on Joan Vinge
Joan Vinge was married to Vernor Vinge. He was a writer first,
and encouraged her career. At some point they amicably divorced.
He moved to California and she married Jim Frenkel, then Dell
science fiction editor (and publisher of both Vernor and Joan,
esp. Joan's _Snow Queen_) and now publisher of Bluejay Books.
The marriage was in early 1980, I believe. They have a daughter.
Maybe more by now.
(3) Re: Caro's belief in James Tiptree, Jr.'s masculinity
Greatly abbreviated, the story of Tiptree is as follows: Alice
Sheldon has done many interesting things in her life, some of
them classified. When she took up sf, she chose to write under
the name of Tiptree. The name was taken from, I believe, a
brand of English preserves. After a time, she started a second
nom de plume, Raccoona Sheldon, under which she marketed her
lesser stories (with letters of introduction to publishers
from Tiptree). Tiptree started winning awards. Since no one
had met him, people became curious as to his identity. Pomposities
were published declaring that he had to be a man, because his style
was unmistakably masculine. Tiptree was nominated for a Nebula
for "The Women that Men Never See." Much of the praise for the
story focussed on how well a man could write from a woman's
viewpoint. Sheldon thought the situation was unethical, and withdrew
her story from consideration without an explanation. Shortly
thereafter, parts of the community found her out, and she went public.
(4) Re: Caro's belief in Andre Norton's masculinity
I can't remember her real first name, but the "secret" of her sex
was a secret no more decades ago. She also used to write as Andrew
North. Is her real name Alice?
(5) Re: Varley's strong women are lesbians
The only lesbian I can remember is Gaby in the Titan trilogy. The
other strong women are bisexual (or more, in the case of Rocky Jones).
The men are presumably bisexual as well, but we don't see this on
stage as often. You should also bear in mind that in most of Varley's
work, a sex change is about as easy as getting your hair dyed. Delany
plays with this sometimes. It lets you focus on people as people, and
play havoc with our remaining prejudices.
By the way, John Varley is also a pseudonym.
(6) Re: feminist authors
John Varley
Ursula Le Guin
Joanna Russ
Pamela Sargent
Vonda McIntyre
Joan Vinge
Elizabeth Lynn
Marion Zimmer Brandley
Harlan Ellison?
Diane Duane
spring to mind.
You're welcome.
-- Lubkin