When It Changed

Last updated
"When It Changed"
Short story by Joanna Russ
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s)Science fiction
Publication
Published in Again, Dangerous Visions
Publication type Short story
Publisher Doubleday
Publication date1972

"When It Changed" is a science fiction short story by American writer Joanna Russ. It was first published in the anthology Again, Dangerous Visions .

Contents

Synopsis

Janet Evason lives on Whileaway, an all-female human colony planet whose inhabitants produce offspring by combining ova because all their males died in a plague 30 generations earlier. When male astronauts arrive from Earth, they say that Earth has become genetically deficient and tell her that they would like to reproduce with women. Janet's wife tries to kill the astronauts; Janet stops her, but realizes that their very existence will change Whileaway society forever.

Reception

"When It Changed" won the 1972 Nebula Award for Best Short Story, [1] and was a finalist for the 1973 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. [2]

Themes and historical time period

In the afterword, Russ states that "When It Changed" was written to challenge ideas in science fiction that had not, at the time of writing, been addressed. These ideas were related to the way women—and societies consisting solely of women—were handled by writers who are male. She wrote:

I have read SF stories about manless worlds before; they are either full of busty girls in wisps of chiffon who slink about writhing with lust (Keith Laumer wrote a charming, funny one called "The War with the Yukks"), or the women have set up a static, beelike society in imitation of some presumed primitive matriarchy. These stories are written by men. Why women who have been alone for generations should "instinctively" turn their sexual desires toward persons of whom they have only intellectual knowledge, or why female people are presumed to have an innate preference for Byzantine rigidity, I don't know. [3]

(Note: The Laumer story was actually named "War Against the Yukks".)

Russ also mentions Ursula K. Le Guin's novel The Left Hand of Darkness as an influence on the story.

In the "Image of Women in Science Fiction", Russ asserts that women have not been accurately portrayed in science fiction. She wrote:

There are plenty of images of women in science fiction. There are hardly any women. [4]

"When It Changed" contains themes of queer theory and its contribution to the non-rigid definition of women's image. This in turn gives women the opportunity to not follow the defined past role of feminism and partake in queer relationships. The story's conclusion alludes to the ending of such an ideal when masculine/heterosexual forces threaten the character's way of life, and in turn, queer as a concept. [5] The story emphasizes the rigidity of such forces through the steadfast beliefs of the alien species about the traditional gender roles. The alien's language equates the word people to men, implying the implicit sexist and masculine connotation behind the non-native's words, contrasting with Whileaway's current opinion on the role of women. [6]

Awards and nominations

Related Research Articles

Feminist science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction focused on such feminist themes as: gender inequality, sexuality, race, economics, reproduction, and environment. Feminist SF is political because of its tendency to critique the dominant culture. Some of the most notable feminist science fiction works have illustrated these themes using utopias to explore a society in which gender differences or gender power imbalances do not exist, or dystopias to explore worlds in which gender inequalities are intensified, thus asserting a need for feminist work to continue.

Science fiction and fantasy serve as important vehicles for feminist thought, particularly as bridges between theory and practice. No other genres so actively invite representations of the ultimate goals of feminism: worlds free of sexism, worlds in which women's contributions are recognized and valued, worlds that explore the diversity of women's desire and sexuality, and worlds that move beyond gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanna Russ</span> American writer and academic (1937–2011)

Joanna Russ was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as How to Suppress Women's Writing, as well as a contemporary novel, On Strike Against God, and one children's book, Kittatinny. She is best known for The Female Man, a novel combining utopian fiction and satire, and the story "When It Changed".

<i>Dangerous Visions</i> Science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison

Dangerous Visions is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by American writer Harlan Ellison and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It was published in 1967 and contained 33 stories, none of which had been previously published.

<i>The Female Man</i> 1975 English-language book by Joanna Russ

The Female Man is a feminist science fiction novel by American writer Joanna Russ. It was originally written in 1970 and first published in 1975 by Bantam Books. Russ was an ardent feminist and challenged sexist views during the 1970s with her novels, short stories, and nonfiction works. These works include We Who Are About To..., "When It Changed", and What Are We Fighting For?: Sex, Race, Class, and the Future of Feminism.

<i>Again, Dangerous Visions</i> Science fiction short story anthology edited by Harlan Ellison

Again, Dangerous Visions (1972) is a science fiction short story anthology, edited by American author Harlan Ellison. It is the follow-up to Dangerous Visions (1967), also edited by Ellison. Cover art and interior illustrations are by Ed Emshwiller.

"Even the Queen" is a science fiction short story by Connie Willis, exploring the long-term cultural effects of scientific control of menstruation. It was originally published in 1992 in Asimov's Science Fiction, and appears in Willis' short-story collection Impossible Things (1994) and The Best of Connie Willis (2013), as well as in the audio-book Even the Queen and Other Short Stories (1996).

Gender has been an important theme explored in speculative fiction. The genres that make up speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, supernatural fiction, horror, superhero fiction, science fantasy and related genres, have always offered the opportunity for writers to explore social conventions, including gender, gender roles, and beliefs about gender. Like all literary forms, the science fiction genre reflects the popular perceptions of the eras in which individual creators were writing; and those creators' responses to gender stereotypes and gender roles.

The role of women in speculative fiction has changed a great deal since the early to mid-20th century. There are several aspects to women's roles, including their participation as authors of speculative fiction and their role in science fiction fandom. Regarding authorship, in 1948, 10–15% of science fiction writers were female. Women's role in speculative fiction has grown since then, and in 1999, women comprised 36% of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's professional members. Frankenstein (1818) by Mary Shelley has been called the first science fiction novel, although women wrote utopian novels even before that, with Margaret Cavendish publishing the first in the seventeenth century. Early published fantasy was written by and for any gender. However, speculative fiction, with science fiction in particular, has traditionally been viewed as a male-oriented genre.

<i>The 1980 Annual Worlds Best SF</i> 1980 anthology edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha

The 1980 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the ninth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1980, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same year by the same publisher as a selection of the Science Fiction Book Club. For the hardcover edition the original cover art of Jack Gaughan was replaced by a new cover painting by Gary Viskupik. The paperback edition was later reissued by DAW under the variant title Wollheim's World's Best SF: Series Nine.

<i>The 1983 Annual Worlds Best SF</i> 1983 anthology edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha

The 1983 Annual World's Best SF is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Arthur W. Saha, the twelfth volume in a series of nineteen. It was first published in paperback by DAW Books in May 1983, followed by a hardcover edition issued in September of the same year by the same publisher as a selection of the Science Fiction Book Club. For the hardcover edition the original cover art was replaced by a new cover painting by Richard Powers.

<i>The Best Science Fiction of the Year 2</i> 1973 anthology edited by American writer Terry Carr

The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by American writer Terry Carr, the second volume in a series of sixteen. It was first published in paperback by Ballantine Books in July 1973, and reissued in May 1976.

<i>The Best Science Fiction of the Year 12</i> 1983 anthology edited by Terry Carr

The Best Science Fiction of the Year #12 is an anthology of science fiction short stories edited by Terry Carr, the twelfth volume in a series of sixteen. It was first published in paperback by Pocket Books in July 1983, and in hardcover by Gollancz in the same year.

<i>Universe 2</i> (Carr anthology) 1972 anthology edited by Terry Carr

Universe 2 is an anthology of original science fiction short stories edited by Terry Carr and illustrated by Alicia Austin, the second volume in the seventeen-volume Universe anthology series. It was first published in paperback by Ace Books in 1972, with a British hardcover facsimile edition following from Dennis Dobson in 1976.

<i>The Cube Root of Uncertainty</i> Collection of short stories by Robert Silverberg

The Cube Root of Uncertainty is a collection of science fiction short stories by American writer Robert Silverberg, published in hardcover by Macmillan in 1970 and issued in paperback by Collier Books in 1971. No further editions have been issued.

Jeanne Gomoll is an American artist, writer, editor, and science fiction fan, who was recognized as one of the guests of honor at the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, having been a guest of honor at numerous previous science fiction conventions. She has been nominated multiple times for awards in artist and fanzine categories, and for service to the genre of science fiction, particularly feminist science fiction.

<i>To Write Like a Woman</i>

To Write Like a Woman: Essays in Feminism and Science Fiction is a collection of essays by Joanna Russ, published in 1995. Many of the essays previously appeared as letters, in anthologies, or in journals such as Science Fiction Studies, Extrapolation, and Chrysalis. Topics range from the work of specific authors to major trends in feminism and science fiction. Through all of these different topics, Russ underlines the importance of celebrating the work of female authors and turning a critical eye on the commentaries and work produced by men.

<i>Women of Wonder</i>

Women of Wonder: Science-fiction Stories by Women about Women is an anthology of twelve short stories and a poem edited by Pamela Sargent, published in 1975. The collection reprints work by female science fiction authors originally published from 1948 to 1973, arranged in chronological order.

<i>Nebula Award Stories Eight</i> 1973 anthology edited by Isaac Asimov

Nebula Award Stories Eight is an anthology of science fiction short works edited by American writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in hardcover in November 1973, in the United States by Harper & Row and in the United Kingdom by Gollancz. The British edition bore the variant title Nebula Award Stories 8. Paperback editions followed from Berkley Medallion in the U.S. in September 1975, and Panther in the U.K. in the same year; both paperback editions adopted the British version of the title. The book has also been published in German.

<i>Nebula Award Stories 6</i> 1971 anthology edited by Clifford D. Simak

Nebula Award Stories 6 is an anthology of award-winning science fiction short works edited by Clifford D. Simak. It was first published in the United Kingdom in hardcover by Gollancz in November 1971. The first American edition was published by Doubleday in December of the same year. Paperback editions followed from Pocket Books in the U.S. in 1972, and Panther in the U.K. in December 1973. The American editions bore the variant title Nebula Award Stories Six. The book has also been published in German.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the sexes in science fiction</span>

The battle of the sexes in science fiction is a recurring trope involving conflicts between male and female societies in a science fiction scenario over power.

References

  1. ↑ When It Changed, at Science Fiction Writers of America; retrieved October 27, 20128
  2. ↑ 1973 Hugo Awards, at TheHugoAwards.org; retrieved October 28, 2018
  3. ↑ Russ, Joanna. "When It Changed". Sci Fiction . Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  4. ↑ Russ, Joanna (29 October 2024). "Women in SF". Sci Fiction .
  5. ↑ Hollinger, Veronica (1999). "(Re)reading Queerly: Science Fiction, Feminism, and the Defamiliarization of Gender". Science Fiction Studies. 26 (1): 23–26. JSTOR   4240749.
  6. ↑ Bülent, Somay (March 1984). "Towards an Open-Ended Utopia (Vers une utopie ouverte)". Science Fiction Studies. 11 (1): 27. JSTOR   4239585.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.