Growing up in a safe—that is, dull—neighborhood in Brooklyn in the 1960s, I
inevitably dreamed of escape. So it was no surprise that I read a lot of science
fiction and fantasy novels. Books crammed full of distant planets ripe for
adventure and exploration, boasting bizarre alien creatures totally unlike the
pigeons and squirrels that marked my own humdrum existence.
There was, however, one thing these novels almost invariably lacked: strong
female characters.
Exceptions existed, of course, but most science-fiction novels of that era
(almost overwhelmingly written by men) featured only certain female types: the
girlfriend, the mom (“Why do you spend so much time tinkering with that
spaceship, Jimmy? Have some milk and cookies.”), occasionally the enticing alien.
Even back then, I almost immediately realized that the women in my own life were
far different from the ones in the books I’d been reading. (Beginning with the
fact that my own mother, a physician, was usually far too busy to serve me milk
and cookies.)
As I grew, it became obvious how much the books had missed. My whole life is
full of equally uncategorizable women. From my wife, daughter, and niece,
through the women writers I know, to the young students I work with as a
creative-writing mentor, they’re smart, tough, opinionated, diverse…impossible
to fit into the slots that filled the novels I’d read. It turned out that the
categories were the problem, not the people.
Well, duh.
But what could I do about it? Well, there was one thing: In my short
stories, my previous novels (DIAMOND RUBY, which is
about a female baseball player in the 1920s, and INVASIVE SPECIES), and
especially in my new novel, SLAVEMAKERS (the follow-up
to INVASIVE SPECIES),
I’ve always been determined to create female characters who reflect the
complexities of the women and girls I know in real life.
So SLAVEMAKERS, set
twenty years after an apocalypse that has seemingly left only one human
settlement—Refugia—in existence, features Mariama, Refugia’s clear-eyed,
no-nonsense leader; Kait, whose own parents perished in apocalypse when she was
a child, and who is haunted and introspective; Aisha Rose, born after the
apocalypse, different in some essential ways from all other humans, and
possessed of an inner strength and resiliency that closely matches that of the
young people I know; and several others.
Do these characters work? Are they believable? Can I, as a man, create female
characters who live and breathe on the page? I don’t know: Those questions need
to be answered by each individual reader. But it has always been important to
me—essential—to try, to take on the challenge. And, as it turned out, all of
those characters were a joy to write. I can say that, for me at least, they came
to life.
I still love the science-fiction novels I read as a teenager, but today I read
them with a different eye. I recognize that they’re a product of their time and
its attitudes (attitudes that sadly are far from extinct in today’s books and
movies.)
But we don’t live in that time anymore, and there’s no requirement that a writer
has to march in lockstep with those attitudes. So I’ve chosen not to.
Giveaway
Win a copy of SLAVEMAKERS by just telling
us below, what's YOUR favorite science fiction novel? Do you connect
with the female characters?
Joe Wallace's career as a writer has now spanned about three decades,
but it’s still as unpredictable and hard to classify as it was when he was a
struggling young freelancer back in the 1980s.
Unpredictable how? Well, he started out writing for magazines and newspapers
on health, medicine, and the environment; segued into articles and books about
dinosaurs; took a sharp turn to baseball history; plunged into noir short
stories; and then finally achieved my lifelong dream of being a published
novelist.
He is now the author of three novels: DIAMOND RUBY (2010, Touchstone), set in
1920s New York City; the global apocalyptic thriller INVASIVE SPECIES (2013,
Penguin/Berkley); and its follow-up, SLAVEMAKERS (2015, Penguin/Ace). His short
fiction includes stories in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine (most recently
“Jaguar,” in the Sept/Oct 2014 issue) and anthologies including Bronx Noir,
Baltimore Noir, Hard-Boiled Brooklyn, and two Mystery Writers of America
collections: The Prosecution Rests and Ice Cold. My story “Custom Sets,” first
published in The Prosecution Rests, was also selected for The Best American
Mystery Stories 2010.
He lives with his family north of New York City, where he also runs
storytelling/creative-writing workshops in the local elementary school, organize
writing contests in the middle and high school, and work as a mentor for young
writers in his community. If he can have an unpredictable yet deeply fulfilling
writing career, so can they.
The new postapocalyptic thriller from the
author of INVASIVE SPECIES
IT’S THEIR TERRITORY NOW.
Twenty years ago, venomous parasitic wasps known as “thieves” staged a
massive, apocalyptic attack on another species—Homo sapiens—putting them on the
brink of extinction.
But some humans did survive. The colony called Refugia is home to a
population of 281, including scientists, a pilot, and a tough young woman named
Kait. In the African wilderness, there’s Aisha Rose, nearly feral, born at the
end of the old world. And in the ruins of New York City, there’s a mysterious,
powerful boy, a skilled hunter, isolated and living by his wits.
As the survivors journey through the wastelands, they will find that they are
not the only humans left on earth. Not by a long shot.
But they may be the only ones left who are not under the thieves’
control...
Do not have a favorite. Sometimes (Marissa Yip-Young 10:13am December 17, 2015)
My favorite science fiction novel is Time and Again. I enjoyed your feature and post today. It reawakened fond memories of growing up during 1950's which was the best ever era. Simple, meaningful and safe. I was captivated to learn about your life, writing and background. Wishing you great health, happiness and much continued success. (Sharon Berger 3:07pm December 17, 2015)
My fav sci-fi would have to be Enders Game. I read it waaaaaay back in middle school and its stuck with me ever since :) (H J 11:08pm December 17, 2015)
I would love to win this book!!! (Linda Barrier 11:16am December 18, 2015)
My favorite books are Sci Fi, paranormal, etc. Will certainly read your book and add you to my reading list. (Susan Wise 2:46pm December 18, 2015)
Kings Dark Tower series (Cynthia Mahoney 3:31pm December 18, 2015)
I would love to win this book!I believe it would be a great read. (Donna Klopper 3:53pm December 18, 2015)
I don't actually have a favorite science fiction novel. (Lily Shah 5:20pm December 18, 2015)
I love all genres. I love too many of the sci-fi to say which on is my favorite. The books by Kate Elliott,Michelle Sagara, Robin D. Owens, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Yasmine Galenorn, Jan De Lima, Jean Johnson, James Clemens, Lynn Viehl, David and Leigh Eddings,C.L. Wilson, as well as, the authors of the Hunger Games and Enders Game. I have many more favorites...too many to list. (Beverly Beltz 5:23pm December 18, 2015)
favourite book is Citizen of the Galaxy. I grew up and learned to read with Sci-fi. (Pat Freely 5:23pm December 18, 2015)
It's hard to pick a favorite, but I definitely prefer dystopia and love The Hunger Games. I love having a strong female character to identify with like Katniss. (Diane Pollock 5:56pm December 18, 2015)
One of my all-time favorites is FRIDAY by Robert A Heinlein. She's a strong woman character with whom I identified so closely that I named my kitten after her! (Charmaine Thessin 7:09pm December 18, 2015)
I learned english in school and started reading Sci-Fi so as not to forget most of it. I learned so much vocabulary just through reading! I can't remember the title, but my favorite was a collection of short stories written by women. I still have it and may just have to dig it out. (Dagmar Finch 1:30am December 19, 2015)
I have no favorite, I just love all books. Thank you for this chance. (Sharon Sommer 9:28pm December 19, 2015)
I love the Star Wars Universe. Strong Women are a must. (Laura Davis 10:56pm December 19, 2015)
Hi all! Thanks for reading my blog post, and good luck in the contest! And thank you to Fresh Fiction for giving me the chance to write about a subject that's so important to me....
Whoever wins (and anyone who might get the book and be interested): If you'd like a cool bookmark/card designed by a friend of mine who's a terrific illustrator, please contact me through my website, and I'd be happy to send you one. Thanks again! (Joe Wallace 9:00am December 20, 2015)
I love Stephen Kings books so your book would be a great one to read. (Jean Benedict 12:08pm December 21, 2015)
My favorite sci-fi book is Wool by Hugh Howey, which features a strong female character named Juliette. I grew up surrounded by strong women just like Juliette, so I can really identify with her. (Lu Loy 1:06pm December 21, 2015)
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury is my favorite! I also loved his short atories. I Sing the Body Electric was so classic! (Sandy Fielder 4:14pm December 21, 2015)
Joe Wallace's is a great writter i have read his books,he has good writing style.His science fiction and fantasy novels are the best. gym mats for all kinds of workout buy them from rubbergymflooringco.co.uk (Jhon Rox 7:20am December 23, 2015)
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