A wonderful and thoughtful analysis of science fiction written by women and about women. While I disagreed with some of her conclusions, I found th book well researched and well written. A must read source for anyone studying women's writing or science fiction as literature.

Another scholarly investigation into the world of science fiction, female characters, and the women who write both. Once more you may not agree with all of Lefanu's conclusions but it will make you stop and think as you pick up that next new book by Bulter or Tepper.

A great collection of original work by women science fiction authors. Here is encountered the expected stories focused on women as well as those told from a male point of view. Likewise not all the endings will please the reading but most are expected from the characters and situations. A good gift for women who like to read other women's work or for those just interested in new voices in science fiction.

I keep looking for a good, down and dirty resource specifically for fantasy fiction, one that doesn't wrap it in with science fiction as an afterthought. Fantasy fiction, while speculative, is also its own genre and has its own archetypes and standards that stand alone, without the crutch of science fiction. The problem with LeFanu's book is that she leans on some archetypes while dismissing others. Any attempt of this sort leads to a narrowing of the genre. Being revolutionary and liberated from all past stereotypes is no more valid a stance than writing something fresh within old and standard archetypes. I was unimpressed with her one-sided viewpoint and sweeping judgements. The moment you say, "You shouldn't do it this way or that way," someone will come along and knock you off your high horse, and I daresay that authors come along every year to prove Sarah LeFanu wrong.