30 review for Women of Wonder, the Contemporary Years: Science Fiction by Women from the 1970s to the 1990s

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Elisa Berry – May 14, 2009

   Pamela Sargent has been compiling short science fiction collections by women for 25 years; she knows the sub-genre really well and manages to mine out the "headier" authors who often get pushed aside for pulp sci-fi. The collection is a great way to discover new authors and, as always, Sargent includes historical context by way of her introduction, and an annotated list of works by the authors in the back, making this an invaluable reference. I would recommend any of her collections, all titled Pamela Sargent has been compiling short science fiction collections by women for 25 years; she knows the sub-genre really well and manages to mine out the "headier" authors who often get pushed aside for pulp sci-fi. The collection is a great way to discover new authors and, as always, Sargent includes historical context by way of her introduction, and an annotated list of works by the authors in the back, making this an invaluable reference. I would recommend any of her collections, all titled Women of Wonder--she has a classic version of this one, a novella collection, etc. Unfortunately though, her own stories included here can be the weakest.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Sookyung – Jul 17, 2008

   science fiction offers me space and intellectual exercise to temporarily free myself from any social assumptions. "the myths of science fiction run along the lines of exploring a new world conceptually (not necessarily physically), creating needed physical or social machinery, assessing the consequences of technological or other changes, and so on. These are not stories about men qua Man and women qua Woman; they are myths of human intelligence and human adaptability. They are not only ignore ge science fiction offers me space and intellectual exercise to temporarily free myself from any social assumptions. "the myths of science fiction run along the lines of exploring a new world conceptually (not necessarily physically), creating needed physical or social machinery, assessing the consequences of technological or other changes, and so on. These are not stories about men qua Man and women qua Woman; they are myths of human intelligence and human adaptability. They are not only ignore gender roles but - at least theoretically - are not culture-bound. Some of the most fascinating characters in science fiction are not human." --- Joanna Russ

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Dustin – Jan 30, 2015

   Like most anthologies there were some great stories (Cassandra - C.J. Cherryh, And Wild for to Hold - Nancy Kress). some less than stellar (Abominable - Carol Emshwiller, At the Rialto - Connie Willis) and a load of middle of the road stories.

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Shel – Aug 13, 2011

   A fantastic sampler of stories by fabulous women writers including an introduction to each author and a recommended reading list. This anthology won't save you, however. It has "BloodChild," by Octavia Butler, but you'll still need BloodChild: and Other Stories, for the other stories and Butler's commentary. It has "Game Night at the Fox and Goose," but you'll want Karen Joy Fowler's anthology What I Didn't See, where every story reels you in. It has "Scorched Supper on New Niger," by Suzy McKee A fantastic sampler of stories by fabulous women writers including an introduction to each author and a recommended reading list. This anthology won't save you, however. It has "BloodChild," by Octavia Butler, but you'll still need BloodChild: and Other Stories, for the other stories and Butler's commentary. It has "Game Night at the Fox and Goose," but you'll want Karen Joy Fowler's anthology What I Didn't See, where every story reels you in. It has "Scorched Supper on New Niger," by Suzy McKee Charnas, but you'll want Stagestruck Vampires, the anthology of her fabulous fantasy works. It has "Abomidable," but can you live without The Collected Stories of Carol Emshwiller? There's a story by Angela Carter, but you'll want Bloody Chambers and possibly Saints and Strangers, too. You'll probably also want the anthology Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century edited by Justine Larbalestier which, in addition to Pat Murphy's "Rachel in Love" collected here, also has Pamela Zoline's "Heat Death of the Universe." After reading "Tiny Tango," you'll want to read Judith Moffett's novel The Ragged World. Notable here are Jayge Carr's "Webrider," and Pat Cadigan's "Angel." This anthology won't sate you or necessarily introduce you to each author's most compelling work, but it does spark thought. The stories each explore a particularly feminist line of speculation. What if: • the fate of the world rested on a discarded old woman? Lisa Goldstein's "Midnight News" • women and men lived apart? Emshwiller's "Abdomidable" • people chose only to have male babies until women were an extremely scare resource? Pamela Sargent's "Fear" The ideas may be ones you've considered before, but it is remarkable how a science fiction short story can tighten the focus on an issue, magnify and bright it to light, and make a searing impression.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Clare Driscoll – Mar 15, 2015

   The tradition continues. Another wonderful anthology of top-shelf scifi.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   Alexa – Mar 23, 2015

   A quite satisfying wide-ranging collection. Some truly brilliant gems in here. Altogether it was lots of fun!

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Kate – Nov 02, 2011

   Lots of great stories, interesting & new ideas I haven't read in other scifi before. Definitely worth a read if you like scifi - you may not otherwise encounter these authors. Lots of great stories, interesting & new ideas I haven't read in other scifi before. Definitely worth a read if you like scifi - you may not otherwise encounter these authors.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Kathleen O'Nan – Dec 29, 2017

   Having read the original Women of Wonder when it first came out in the early 70s, it was quite fun to read this anthology so many years later. Some great stories, many very good ones and I think there was only one I didn't like at all. Having read the original Women of Wonder when it first came out in the early 70s, it was quite fun to read this anthology so many years later. Some great stories, many very good ones and I think there was only one I didn't like at all.

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Jenny Thompson – May 06, 2020

   An impressive variety of stories. Personal favorites were: "And wild for to hold," "Cassandra," and "Scorched supper on New Niger." An impressive variety of stories. Personal favorites were: "And wild for to hold," "Cassandra," and "Scorched supper on New Niger."

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Larry – Apr 06, 2019

    You know, like right, it's an anthology. So not every story is a hit. But a lot of them are. You know, like right, it's an anthology. So not every story is a hit. But a lot of them are.

11. 

    4 out of 5

    Judaye – Aug 16, 2019

    Reading a compilation is always rewarding to me because I learn of writers I never knew existed. The book is good, but about 1/3 of it grossed me out or bored me. I want to read some more of Pamela Sargent, Suzy Mckee Charness, Mary Gentle, and Pat Murphy. I think that's enough. Somebody help me. I don't need any more books. Reading a compilation is always rewarding to me because I learn of writers I never knew existed. The book is good, but about 1/3 of it grossed me out or bored me. I want to read some more of Pamela Sargent, Suzy Mckee Charness, Mary Gentle, and Pat Murphy. I think that's enough. Somebody help me. I don't need any more books.

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Michael – Aug 08, 2017

    080817: well it is contemporary of its time, now the most recent is 24 years old. but this is to differentiate the stories here from the golden age sff anthology of the same name, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... have only previously read a few, but interesting that this publication/anthology is the most recent i have found that is feminist sf. on the other, i have not kept up with how sff is going these days, except by the strange horizons website... i understand there continues to be a 080817: well it is contemporary of its time, now the most recent is 24 years old. but this is to differentiate the stories here from the golden age sff anthology of the same name, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... have only previously read a few, but interesting that this publication/anthology is the most recent i have found that is feminist sf. on the other, i have not kept up with how sff is going these days, except by the strange horizons website... i understand there continues to be a masculinist prejudice, has even been a fervent attack on the diversification, in gender, race, class, that seems to threaten some men. who have managed to believe their favourites, hard science, military, are not gendered. i do not know what else to do but search out and read sff which is aware of its typical discourse and so critically examines this in fictional form. as a collection there are some very good, some less. protagonists and plots slightly different. feminist? i guess so though as mentioned have not read much to know...

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Foxtower – Apr 19, 2012

    Most excellent colection of stories! OK, one real dud, but overall a wonderful collection! Wait... I didn't read the essays! As a reader Science Fiction is so dominated by men that I've always tried to find and buy books by women just to get variety, this book being one example. While not all women authors appeal to me, just as not all male authors appeal to me, this book is a great introduction to a wonderful variety of woman authors who weave great stories! Most excellent colection of stories! OK, one real dud, but overall a wonderful collection! Wait... I didn't read the essays! As a reader Science Fiction is so dominated by men that I've always tried to find and buy books by women just to get variety, this book being one example. While not all women authors appeal to me, just as not all male authors appeal to me, this book is a great introduction to a wonderful variety of woman authors who weave great stories!

14. 

    5 out of 5

    Kenny V – Dec 01, 2014

    The stories were simply okay but I didn't like the layout of the book. Missed the author information pushed way to the end so I didn't get a chance to learn anything about any of the writers. The editors story was included and was pretty lackluster, making the book feel like an excuse to publish her own work. The stories were simply okay but I didn't like the layout of the book. Missed the author information pushed way to the end so I didn't get a chance to learn anything about any of the writers. The editors story was included and was pretty lackluster, making the book feel like an excuse to publish her own work.

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Dominick – Jan 27, 2013

    As with the earlier volume, this is something of a hodge-podge, with many good stories but some odd selections, and some highly dubious ones given the SF focus; at least some are by no reasonable definition SF.

16. 

    4 out of 5

    MB (What she read) – Aug 03, 2009

    Lots of interesting reading here!

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Thomas – Jul 14, 2009

    Looking forward to this.

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Kae Cheatham – Feb 18, 2011

    Part two of Women of Wonder. I received both volumes from a friend in 1996. Still go back and read some of the stories. Inspired me to give SF a try.

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Sarah Barlow –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Mary –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Sheree –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Laurie Carlson –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Alia Atreides –

24. 

    5 out of 5

    Ryan Naughton –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Linden –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Lindig –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    R.A. –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Elainewc –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Linda –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Al-Amin Aliyu –