Merril Collection of Science Fiction shines focus on women sci-fi authors

Mar 22, 2023 | Headlines, News

Women who shattered the doors of science fiction were honoured on March 8 — International women’s day — by Kim Hull, lead curator at the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation, and Fantasy in Toronto.

The exhibit is called Speculating Women: Pioneers of the Fantastic, and is being held at the Lillian H. Smith branch of the Toronto Public Library, running until April 1.

The exhibit celebrates women science fiction writers across history such as Thea von Harbou, author of Metropolis, a 1925 novel that served as the basis for Fritz Lang’s 1927 film Metropolis.

“It’s kind of forgotten how influential women were,” Hull said.

“For example, Mary Shelley, so much of her work, other writers have built on. People think that she was an anomaly, that she was kind of writing on her own, but there were a lot of women writing at the time that was very influential and their influences have been lost.”

Authors such as Shelley, Marie-Anne de Roumier-Robert and and Mary Cavendish were among the women honoured at the exhibit for their historic contributions.

Shelley was the author of the classic “Frankenstein” at the age of 20 in 1818, de Roumier-Robert penned one of the earliest science fiction novels of all time in the form of “Voyage de Milord Céton dans les Sept Planètes” in 1766, and Cavendish wrote the Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne who wrote “The Blazing World” in 1666, credited as the first science fiction book written by a woman.

“We have one of the earliest utopian novels here, one that I love. “The Blazing World” by the Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,” she said.

“I call her the original Mary Sue. She cast herself as the main character, this wonderful ruler of this utopian country. It’s one of the earliest utopian books that are out there,” Hull said.

A huge problem is what’s known as erasure, one of the largest forms of discrimination facing women in sci-fi literature. The genre was historically seen as ‘by men for men’.

This led to many famous examples of women writers having to resort to being credited under their husbands’ names, gender-neutral initials, and famously — male pseudonyms such as Alice B. Sheldon who for decades took up the name James Tiptree Jr. to avoid prejudice.

“James Tiptee Jr. was writing in the 1970s. Her writing style was considered to be very masculine and she felt that she had to keep her identity hidden until it finally came out. It came out kind of by accident,” she said.

“People were quite surprised because a number of people had said ‘Oh, well, this is obviously a man, who writes in a very Hemingwayesque masculine style.’”

This was strange to be happening at the time since, as Hull notes, the science fiction scene had a strong female wave coursing through its veins thanks to first-wave feminism.

“I think the situation with Tiptee Jr. was a little unusual for the time. Women were definitely writing under their own names at that point,” she said. “I think perhaps first-wave feminism or women’s lib as it was called at the time kind of kick-started things in the right direction.”

Feminist science fiction authors such as Joanna Russ and Kate Wilhelm are highlighted in the exhibit as particularly strong examples of the marriage between women science fiction writers and the new strength given to them by the women’s liberation movement.

Hull, a lifelong sci-fi fan, said she has been immersed in science fiction literature since the age of six and has dedicated large parts of her career to researching and putting together exhibits like this one.

“I’ve been interested in science fiction since I was a small child. It’s been a lifelong interest of mine,” Hull said.

“I can remember the very first book that made pictures in my head and that was “One Thousand and One Nights” — obviously a seriously abridged version for children. Ever since then I just keep reading and never stopped.”

On March 29, a panel discussion regarding women in science fiction and fantasy with authors Chinelo Onwualu, Julie Czerneda, and Michelle Sagara will be hosted and moderated by Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation & Fantasy.