Monday, April 06, 2015

SF Women A-Z: Excellent Es: Elgin, Elrod, Emshwiller, and Eskridge

We lost one of our great authors in January with the passing of Suzette Haden Elgin. I was privileged enough to meet her at WisCon in 2001, as you can see by the autograph. She was a Guest of Honor at WisCon in 1982 and 1986, long before I started attending. In addition to writing feminist science fiction, Elgin was also a poet, linguist, and non-fiction writer. I'm surprised Native Tongue didn't earn any major awards; is it too late to give Elgin a posthumous Tiptree? Learn more about her on Wikipedia, and buy her books here from Amazon.


P.N. Elrod was a favorite read of mine for a long time. I enjoyed her Vampire Files series set in 1920s Chicago, but I lost track of the series somewhere along the way. It looks as if she's become an anthology editor and a hybrid author to boot. Find her at her website, Wikipedia, and Amazon.

Another former WisCon Guest of Honor making this list is Carol Emshwiller. I have two of her works (The Mount isn't pictured), but unfortunately no autograph. She is an excellent short story writer. You can learn more about her on her website, Wikipedia, or Amazon.

 I know of Kelley Eskridge through her novel Solitaire, about a woman who endures a virtual solitary confinement. Eskridge is married to another SF woman author, Nicola Griffith, who will also be featured as part of this blogging challenge. Learn more about Eskridge via her website, Wikipedia, and Amazon.

Honorable Mentions: Phyllis Eisenstein and Anna Erishkigal, who was featured on the Blog Ring of Power.
.

Would you add any other authors to this list? Please post them in the comments.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved the Vampire Files waaaaay back when I read them. this post really brought me back. of the other authors I haven't heard of them.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

No wonder you enjoy attending WisCon - it draws some great authors.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

I hope you check some of the other authors out, njmagas!

Alex--Yes, it does! Being involved in WisCon and Broad Universe definitely helps me learn about women authors.

Anna_esq said...

Thank you for the shout-out Sandra!

I really enjoyed the 'EARTHSONG' saga when I read it years ago. I hadn't heard of Suzette's passing, but now I am sad. I think women sci-fi authors still get passed over far more than they should.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

You're welcome, Anna. And the whole point of this blogging challenge is to bring more visibility to women authors in our genre!

PT Dilloway said...

I really don't know many women SF authors.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Hopefully you'll learn of a lot more women SF authors by the end of the month, Pat!

Unknown said...

The first two books of Elgin's Native Tongue are classics both of feminism and of science fiction. So sad she is no longer with us.

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

It's been several years since I read them, Mary. I should probably read them again.

Li said...

Not familiar with the Vampire Files, but I'm adding them to my reading list - I find the setting of 1920s Chicago intriguing. Thanks for posting!

Alex Hurst said...

Maybe NJ still has her Vampire Files books! Then I can read them... ;) Another great post in the series! My TBR is getting larger by the day, haha.

Alex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
A-Z Blogging in April Participant

Sandra Ulbrich Almazan said...

Jeremy, I'm quite certain Hollywood is nuts.

I hope you enjoy the books, Li!

Alex H, I'm always happy to help others add to their TBR pile!

Site Meter