#83. THE FEMALE MAN By Joanna Russ

Published : 1975
Pages : 207
Overall Mark : 6/10

Joanna's world is recognisable; it's very much like our own. So is Jeannine's - except that in hers the Second World War never happened, the Great Depression is still going on, and inequality is even more rampant.

But Janet's world is rather different. On the planet Whileaway there is no problem of relations between the sexes because there is only one. Janet is unfettered, she is free to lead her life as she wants, as an able and competent being, as a female man.

JOANNA RUSS (1937-)
Born in New York, Joanna Russ was educated at Cornell University and Yale Drama School. After teaching at several universities she became a full professor at the University of Washington. She won the Nebula Award in 1972 for her short story, 'When It Changed' and the Hugo Award in 1983 for her novella 'Souls'. She received the Pilgrim Award in 1988 for her SF criticism.

VERDICT
I struggled through this book and couldn't really get to grips with what Russ was trying to achieve through her confusing narrative and multiple-worlds (obviously, I know this was a feminist piece, but the message was a little shallow, or perhaps too deep). It may be that, by trying to be radical at a time when such novels weren't being written, Russ has simply confused issues and dated the content of the book and, although she has paved the way for other authors to explore similar paths in a more successful way, this is not as expertly executed as it could - and indeed should -  have been.