Memories and Visions: Woman's Fantasy and Science Fiction

by Susanna J. Sturgis (Editor), Barbara Krasnoff (Contributor), Lorraine Schein (Contributor)

For decades science fiction was a notoriously male preserve, ranged by a very few intrepid women writers. In the 1970s women authors took center stage, creating vital, colorful female characters, envisioning societies where gender was not an issue, even worlds where men did not exist. Then in the 1980s, women in a community gave way to the strong woman hero who went adventuring alone, unsupported by female friends, lovers, kinfolk, mentors, protegees, or peers.

The fifteen stories in Memories and Visions feature women who travel and fight and celebrate together, women who reacch out to each other across times and cultures, women who find allies in the most unexpected places.

Stories by Adrienne Lauby, Barbara krasnoff, Caro Clarke, Charlotte Watson Sherman, Hattie Gossette, Judith Katz, Kiel Stuart, L. Timmel Duchamp, Laurell K. Hamilton, Lorraine Schein, Mary Ellen Mathews, Nona M. Caspers, R.M. Meluch, Rosario Champagne, and Shirley Hartwell.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies, Science Fiction Fantasy

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous tapestry of woman-centered sci fi and fantasy! Well woven and I enjoyed the queer features. My favorite stories include L. Timmel Duchamp's "O's Story, Barbara Krasnoff's "Signs of Life" and Mary Ellen Mathew's "Children of Diver's Kind". The shorts cover topics ranging from space ships that connect to your mind, clones in the USA, literary genius chimps and elven goddesses. I only kept it from 5 stars because of a few stories that I found included were less than perfect.

[Sono Lumin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unlike the second book in this series by the editor, I found this book to not contain any stories that I would have liked to have read!

[Raven L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed bag of stories.

[Metltzi Eli]

Recommended by LB Lee on Dreamwidth. Barbara Krasnoff posted her story online after LB reached out.

[Jack Ziegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a Wheaton Library book sale. As the father of two daughters I thought it would be a good reminder of the different viewpoints of women. I have not been disappointed.

One thing that surprised me is the tone of Feminism. The book was published in 1989. I don't hear feminist discussions like this anymore. But, I'm not in college anymore either.

My favorite stories were" Signs of Life" by Barbara Kransoff, "A Token for Celandine" by Laurell K. Hamilton, and "womanmansion" by Hattie Gossett. They all had unique parts that I really enjoyed.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked most of the stories, actually. Some were very thought provoking, some were rather fantasical, and some were flat out weird. This collection was published in 1989, so a little bit of what may have seemed new and weird and futuristic seemed just fine to me, if not outdated. I enjoyed it.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read the story by Laurell K Hamilton. This story is very early in her career and you can see themes of her future stories. What I found most interesting was her author bio at the end, if you read her blog, you will notice she doesn't sound that bright and shiny any more.