LRC.HJJH@UTEXAS-20.ARPA (12/30/83)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Scientifictional Matriarchies ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As oldtimers on SF-L may recall (there ARE still some oldtimers around, aren't there? What ever happened to Roger Duffy, or Larke, or Karen at Park-Max, or Bruce Israel?), I collect-- and study-- SF books with female protagonists. Haven't given much attention to this project for a long time, other than buying the paperbacks as I come across them, but am now getting up steam on it again. It's grown beyond what can be readily handled, so for one thing, I'm working it up as a database (using System 2000). For another, I'll be putting out queries on the net from time to time in hopes of gleaning information from the more voracious readers out there. For instance, regardless of the gender of the protagonist, what SF (NOT mainstream or feminist-published) novels (NOT short stories) feature matriarchies? I've come across: Anderson's VIRGIN PLANET Bradley's RUINS OF ISIS Charnas' MOTHERLINES Cherryh's SERPENT'S REACH (non-humanoid aliens) Cooper's GENDER GENOCIDE DeCamp's ROGUE QUEEN (humanoid aliens) Lane's MIZORA Maine's ALPH Reynolds' AMAZON PLANET Surely there's more than that! Anyone know of any others? -------
SOMMERS@RUTGERS.ARPA (01/01/84)
From: LIz <SOMMERS@RUTGERS.ARPA> You will find matriarchies in Joanna Russ' The Female Man and many of her other books. (I like this book - even though most of my friends think it is terrible - of course I like Dahlgren also...) A very interesting matriarchy is in (author unremembered and my books are still packed) the two book series containing Walk to the End of the World Motherlines. liz// Ps. These are both in the radical feminist-lesbian tradition - but they are definitly science fiction. If you are interested in matriarchies per se - try Jane Harrison's Themis - published early in this century but reprinted within the last ten years. This book deals with the conflict between matriarchy and patriarchy in Hellenic Greece as a source of myth. -------
RTILLSON%DEC-MARLBORO@sri-unix.UUCP (01/13/84)
From: Rita M. Tillson <RTILLSON at DEC-MARLBORO> One of the finest books I have read involving a matriarchy is actually about the decline and fall of a matriarchy - THE MISTS OF AVALON by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It is Arthurian legend, told completely from the viewpoint of the female characters, Vivianne, Morgaine, Morgause, and Gwenefheur. Its focus is on the conflict between the ancient Druidic society, a matriarchy, and the patriarchal Christian society. It is a "must read" for anyone interested in matriarchy, Arthurian legend, or Marion Zimmer Bradley. In my opinion, this is Bradley's best work to date. It is a well-researched work; the Druidic ritual is very close to actual Wiccan ritual, although MZB freely admits to some modification of the Wiccan versions. It is a very long book (about 800 pages, if my memory serves me correctly), and very complex. The interpersonal relationships that develop as the years (and pages) pass are superbly detailed. The characters are real and believable, and the plot is well developed. The book is not without flaws. The wonderful character development is occasionally at the expense of action and pace, and the concluding chapter should have been left out entirely. I found that these were flaws I easily overlooked. The prose often approached poetry, and the three page introductory chapter by Morgaine was almost worth the price of the hardcover edition by itself. THE MISTS OF AVALON is an innovative and imaginative approach to a legend whose retellings often seem like last night's leftovers - stale and tiresome. I recommend it highly. There is a short story with a matriarchal theme that I enjoyed very much. Unfortunately, I read it years ago and cannot remember the title. I believe it was by Johanna Russ, and was included in the DANGEROUS VISIONS series. It is about a group of colonists whose male population has been wiped out by a sex-linked disease. The remaining colonists succeed in cloning new offspring. Having only X chromosomes to clone from, they have only female children. The story takes place several generations later, when the colonists are "rescued" by a group of male explorers. Does anyone remember the title of this story? /phae --------