Native Tongue Sequence: Native Tongue; The Judas Rose; Earthsong

Native Tongue #1-3

by Suzette Haden Elgin

Genres: Feminism, Science Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Suzette Haden Elgin was an American science fiction author. She founded the Science Fiction Poetry Association, and is considered an important figure in the field of science fiction constructed languages. Elgin was also a linguist; she published non-fiction, of which the best-known is the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense series.

Born in 1936 in Missouri, Elgin attended the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in the 1960s, and began writing science fiction in order to pay tuition. She has a Ph.D. in linguistics, and was the first UCSD student to ever write two dissertations (on English and Navajo). She created the engineered language Láadan for her Native Tongue science fiction series. A grammar and dictionary was published in 1985. She is a supporter of feminist science fiction, saying "women need to realize that SF is the only genre of literature in which it's possible for a writer to explore the question of what this world would be like if you could get rid of [X], where [X] is filled in with any of the multitude of real world facts that constrain and oppress women. Women need to treasure and support science fiction." [1]

In addition, she published works of shorter fiction. Overlying themes in her work include feminism, linguistics and the impact of language, and peaceful coexistence with nature. Many of her works also draw from her Ozark background and heritage.

Elgin became a professor at her alma mater's cross-town rival, San Diego State University (SDSU). She retired in 1980.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago, when it first came out. It's actually a trilogy, and I've been reading away on it for several weeks. The first book is the best, and the third is somewhat weak (this is a scenario that would be hard to conclude). It's definitely a blast from the feminist past and sometimes seems a bit preachy, but, overall, it's hard to criticize a sci fi series with female linguists as the heroes.

[Mark Tranter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed reading the full trilogy after first reading "Native Tongue" years ago. "Earthsong" is quite different, but brings to the fore the question of how the human race might "evolve". In essence this mean, for Elgin, how we can solve the problem of male violence.
This is a great book and I'd recommend it to people who enjoyed "The Power" by Naomi Alderman