Feminist Sci-Fi Joanna Russ First edition Pulp Collection 1968-77

[Feminism][Sci-Fi] Archive of three books by feminist sci-fi author Joanna Russ. One of the most influential feminist voices in science fiction, Joanna Russ's works redefined the genre by centering women's perspectives and challenging patriarchal norms. This archive comprises three of her most seminal publications: Picnic on Paradise (1968), The Female Man (1975), and We Who Are About To... (1977). These works collectively represent the height of Russ’s literary innovation, contributing to feminist science fiction's critical ascent during the 1970s, a pivotal era for both speculative fiction and second-wave feminism.

[1] Russ, Joanna. Picnic (truncated) on Paradise. New York: Ace Books, 1968. First edition. 157 pages. Original pictorial wrappers. 12mo. Russ’s debut novel introduces Alyx, a strong female protagonist functioning as both action hero and philosophical counterpoint to the genre’s traditionally male leads. Russ complicates conventional adventure tropes by integrating critiques of imperialism, bureaucracy, and gender norms. The book marked an early departure from escapist narratives, opting instead for introspective, character-driven fiction grounded in feminist sensibilities.

[2] Russ, Joanna. The Female Man. New York: Bantam Books, 1975. First edition. 214 pages. Mass market paperback in pictorial wrappers. 12mo. A foundational feminist sci-fi novel, The Female Man interweaves four women from alternate realities, each confronting gender oppression in distinct societal structures. The novel critiques the social construction of gender and articulates a collective feminist consciousness across timelines. It is a scathing and stylistically experimental work, regarded as a cornerstone of feminist speculative fiction.

[3] Russ, Joanna. We Who Are About To... New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1977. First printing. 170 pages. Mass market paperback with striking cosmic cover art. 12mo. A bleak, philosophical rebuttal to the survivalist tropes in science fiction, this novel centers on a woman who refuses to participate in the forced repopulation of a colonized planet. Through journal-like entries, Russ critiques coercion, reproductive politics, and martyrdom, offering a raw and intimate portrayal of resistance and autonomy. It remains a radical and deeply unsettling entry in feminist literature.

This archive of three major works by Joanna Russ showcases her groundbreaking contributions to feminist science fiction, blending genre conventions with political critique and paving the way for later authors interrogating gender and identity through speculative frameworks. (Inventory #: 21724)