A couple of days ago word came that Joanna Russ had suffered a series of strokes and wasn't expected to survive long. Today it was announced that she died at 7 this morning in a Tucson hospice
( Read more... )
Huh. I'll have to reread And Chaos Died, which I remember as deeply misanthropic rather than homophobic. Homophobia may well have been invisible to me in those days, when I was soaked in it without having any clue that it existed.
When I talked to Amy yesterday, she said she'd really like to have a wake-like gathering for Joanna, a sitting around and telling Joanna stories session. I predict that's what the next Vanguard will include.
I think memorializing Joanna at a Vanguard would be very appropriate indeed.
And Chaos Died depicts large portions of humanity/civilization as sick and debauched, and the protagonist's homosexuality is depicted as part of his sickness. He's cured of it in the end by the love of a good woman, and it's part of the curing of his overall sickness. I'd agree that the way that civilization is portrayed as sick is misanthropic.
I should also mention that very early on I read Chip's introduction to the Gregg Press edition of the book, in which he writes about the issue of the book's homophobia. (I never managed to score the Gregg Press edition of The Female Man, but I have the Gregg Press editions of the first three novels.)
I would find the prospect of talking about her just as intimidating as I found the prospect of talking to her. But I agree that there should be some panels about her at Worldcon. It's been heartwarming to see the tributes around the internet. Her writing meant a lot to a lot of people.
Comments 6
Oh! It's really true. That's got to be the best single sentence anyone has written about her in the last few days.
Reply
Reply
When I talked to Amy yesterday, she said she'd really like to have a wake-like gathering for Joanna, a sitting around and telling Joanna stories session. I predict that's what the next Vanguard will include.
Reply
And Chaos Died depicts large portions of humanity/civilization as sick and debauched, and the protagonist's homosexuality is depicted as part of his sickness. He's cured of it in the end by the love of a good woman, and it's part of the curing of his overall sickness. I'd agree that the way that civilization is portrayed as sick is misanthropic.
I should also mention that very early on I read Chip's introduction to the Gregg Press edition of the book, in which he writes about the issue of the book's homophobia. (I never managed to score the Gregg Press edition of The Female Man, but I have the Gregg Press editions of the first three novels.)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment