Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965 [Paperback]

Eric Leif Davin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 12, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0739112678 | ISBN-13: 978-0739112670

Partners in Wonder revolutionizes our knowledge of women and early science fiction. Contrary to accepted interpretations, women fans and writers were a welcome and influential part of pulp science fiction from the birth of the genre. Davin finds that at least 203 female authors, under their own female names, published over a thousand stories in science fiction magazines between 1926 and 1965. This work explores the distinctly different form of science fiction that females produced—one that was both more utopian and more empathetic than that of their male counterparts. Partners in Wonder presents, for the first time, a complete bibliography of every story published by women writers in science fiction magazines from 1926 to 1965 and brief biographies on 133 of these women writers. It is thus the most comprehensive source of information on early women science fiction writers yet available and of great importance to scholars of women's studies, popular culture, and English literature as well as science fiction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Essential reading for all in order to dispel the myth that there was a bias against women writers before the 1960s. Davin proves that the sf fraternity welcomed the female contribution to the world." --Foundation

"A fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts." --Dr. Jane Lindskold

"Systematically disproves many myths regarding SF women writers. The research is impressive, with the last 100 pages dedicated to a comprehensive bibliography of all women writers in the early SF magazines." --Journal of Popular Culture

"The amount of fiction by women Davin unearths...is phenomenal, even shocking...a treasure trove of material...his coverage is exhaustive. Anyone interested in science fiction must read this book." --Choice, May, 2006

"...brushes away the dust of reconstructed history...to show that not only have women been writing SF since they arguable created the field, but that the real conspiracy has been to pretend it wasn't so." --SFRevu, February, 2006

Davin's book should be essential reading for all in order to dispel the myth that there was a bias against women writers before the 1960s. Quite the opposite. Davin proves that the sf magazines were arguably the most liberal and most receptive of all of the pulps and that the sf fraternity welcomed the female contribution to the world. (Foundation )

Davin's book is a fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts. It is also a compelling examination of how 'common knowledge' may influence the choices people make, right down to coloring their perceptions of themselvessss (Dr. Jane Lindskold )

Davin's book is a fascinating and superbly researched look at an area where for too long anecdotal evidence has been accepted in place of facts. It is also a compelling examination of how 'common knowledge' may influence the choices people make, right down to coloring their perceptions of themselves (Dr. Jane Lindskold )

About the Author

Eric Leif Davin, Ph.D., teaches American Popular Culture at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the author of "Pioneers of Wonder: Conversations with the Founders of Science Fiction," Prometheus Books, 1999.

Product Details

• Paperback: 446 pages
• Publisher: Lexington Books (December 12, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739112678
• ISBN-13: 978-0739112670
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,884,240 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Leif Davin, Ph.D., teaches labor history and popular culture at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the winner of the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Literature Prize for his essay, "The Very Last Hurrah: The Defeat of the Labor Party Idea, 1934-1936." His new book is "Crucible of Freedom: Workers' Democracy in the Industrial Heartland, 1914-1960," from Lexington Books. He can be reached at [e-mail]. Visit his web site at: http://ericleifdavin.vpweb.com/ and join him on Facebook.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new view of early women SF writers, March 12, 2006

By 

Paul M. Dellinger (Wytheville, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926-1965 (Hardcover)

When science-fiction got its start in the pulps, nobody would have dreamed it would one day be a subject of scholarship. As SF grew in stature, so did its myths including the one that it was a closed shop to women writers in its early days. I had believed women SF writers were the exception unless they used male pseudonyms. I was wrong, and stand corrected by the awesome scholarship and research which produced this volume. It will be of great interest to anyone interested in the roots of SF (also true of the author's previous "Pioneers of Wonder."