What do you think?
Rate this book
Five to Twelve
This provocative science-fiction novel tells of the revolt of a lone, implacable male against a woman-dominated society of 2071. Dion Quern, sensitive, independent & intellectually affluent, is an anachronism in a world consiting of five enslaved men for every twelve superwomen.
As an apparently irreversible side effect of birth control, the men have been so outnumbered by a new breed of women significantly superior in several masculine strongholds--notably the sciences & politics. Marriage as a social institution has fallen apart. Female prostitution has vanished; male prostitution grown. Women are numerically, physically & psychologically unassailable. Men are mere chattels.
Born into this matriarchal society, Dion, the rebellious last of the troubadors, thumbs his nose at a world without love, & at eighteen, resolves to change the rules...
As an apparently irreversible side effect of birth control, the men have been so outnumbered by a new breed of women significantly superior in several masculine strongholds--notably the sciences & politics. Marriage as a social institution has fallen apart. Female prostitution has vanished; male prostitution grown. Women are numerically, physically & psychologically unassailable. Men are mere chattels.
Born into this matriarchal society, Dion, the rebellious last of the troubadors, thumbs his nose at a world without love, & at eighteen, resolves to change the rules...
154 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1968
4 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Cooper
100 books45 followersExcerpted from wikipedia:
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).
In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Edmund Cooper was born in Marple, near Stockport in Cheshire on April 30, 1926. He served in the Merchant Navy towards the end of the Second World War. After World War II, he trained as a teacher and began to publish short stories. His first novel, Deadly Image
(later republished as The Uncertain Midnight) was completed in 1957 and published in 1958. A 1956 short story, Brain Child, was adapted as the movie The Invisible Boy (1957).In 1969 The Uncertain Midnight was adapted for Swiss television, in French. At the height of his popularity, in the 1970s, he began to review science fiction for the Sunday Times and continued to do so until his death in 1982.
Apart from the website mentioned above there was another Edmund Cooper website full of information about the author and his publications.
Known Pseudonyms:
Richard Avery
George Kinley
Martin Lester
Broderick Quain
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 26, 2015
A curious and distant, bleak brother-in-law of Clockwork Orange; a genetic, accidental Fahrenheit 451.
From the beginning, Cooper paints a picture of a strange dystopia, harkening a similarly inventive, not-to-distant future as in Clockwork Orange. It is a dark place, where we're introduced to an anti-social 'teen-aged' male character and troubadour of his Age (In, Five to Twelve, Dion Quern, age 46, practically teen-aged in a future where the average 'privileged' lifespan could be 150 years). Also, Cooper, like Burgess, employs invented vocabulary: 'Doms' equal the privileged, female-sexed members of society; 'Sports' are the lowest caste of male members of society, usually prostitutes; 'Infras' are female 'infant-vending machines'; 'Lions,' the currency of the Day.
Besides, as the back cover blurb explains of the plot,
"This provocative SF[Fantasy] novels tells of the revolt of a lone, implacable male against a woman-dominated society of 2071. Dion Quern is....an anachronism in a world consisting of five enslaved men for every twelve superwomen,"
the book expounds on our main character's musing and perception of a soulless and love-deprived world. It does not go too deep to be profound---this is more of an action-adventure story---but it is certainly provocative.
I found this to be an interesting read that I enjoyed, notably Cooper's writing and dialogue. This is the first book by Edmund Cooper that I've read and a first reading. As far as rating goes, I am most inclined to give a 3.5/5. I wouldn't be surprised if most readers who enjoyed this book who issue a 3/5. But, I personally think there is something special in the writer Cooper and can see myself reading this book again, as much as, say, the two classic novels that I mentioned above, so, my verdict: 4/5.
From the beginning, Cooper paints a picture of a strange dystopia, harkening a similarly inventive, not-to-distant future as in Clockwork Orange. It is a dark place, where we're introduced to an anti-social 'teen-aged' male character and troubadour of his Age (In, Five to Twelve, Dion Quern, age 46, practically teen-aged in a future where the average 'privileged' lifespan could be 150 years). Also, Cooper, like Burgess, employs invented vocabulary: 'Doms' equal the privileged, female-sexed members of society; 'Sports' are the lowest caste of male members of society, usually prostitutes; 'Infras' are female 'infant-vending machines'; 'Lions,' the currency of the Day.
Besides, as the back cover blurb explains of the plot,
"This provocative SF[Fantasy] novels tells of the revolt of a lone, implacable male against a woman-dominated society of 2071. Dion Quern is....an anachronism in a world consisting of five enslaved men for every twelve superwomen,"
the book expounds on our main character's musing and perception of a soulless and love-deprived world. It does not go too deep to be profound---this is more of an action-adventure story---but it is certainly provocative.
I found this to be an interesting read that I enjoyed, notably Cooper's writing and dialogue. This is the first book by Edmund Cooper that I've read and a first reading. As far as rating goes, I am most inclined to give a 3.5/5. I wouldn't be surprised if most readers who enjoyed this book who issue a 3/5. But, I personally think there is something special in the writer Cooper and can see myself reading this book again, as much as, say, the two classic novels that I mentioned above, so, my verdict: 4/5.
August 25, 2023
I have a mixed history with Edmund Cooper - there is a sense of loyalty due to some of his works being the first SF books I read - along with many of their covers having a very distinctive style meant I often sort them out to read and collect.
Now some of this works I love such as Cloud Walker and the Expendable series however others (and I consider this to be one of them) I do struggle with both in content and message. Yes he was writing from an age now past and with that age come their own specific fears and struggles - the problem is that they do not age well (or in the case of feminist take over fears) never sat well at all.
So yes this book does try to incorporate its one "future" language which heightens the jarring nature of the story this book is an interesting window in to the mind of an author from a different time
Now some of this works I love such as Cloud Walker and the Expendable series however others (and I consider this to be one of them) I do struggle with both in content and message. Yes he was writing from an age now past and with that age come their own specific fears and struggles - the problem is that they do not age well (or in the case of feminist take over fears) never sat well at all.
So yes this book does try to incorporate its one "future" language which heightens the jarring nature of the story this book is an interesting window in to the mind of an author from a different time
June 18, 2025
I first read “Five to Twelve” in 1971-72 as a paperback. It stayed in my memory, so I sought out a hardcopy. Here is what I wrote 10.17.1998:
In the mists of memory (Dallas, circa 1971-72) I found a book in my possession, it was a paperback edition of Edmund Cooper’s “Five to Twelve”. I found the book fascinating both in subject and style. It spoke to the poet in me, subliminally. [I had not yet become a novelist] How I came by this book I have no specific knowledge now. I could have been purchased in a bookstore. But more likely I either bought it at a drugstore’s round revolving paperback book rack or I could have just picked it p somewhere, like the old paper mill that collected old books and magazines, where I sometimes procured old books and magazines. This last possibility seems the most plausible as I was at the time not a reader, especially of Science Fiction or novels and such. I don’t recall how many times I re-read that paperback copy, but I kept it as I moved until such time as memory was its only bookshelf. In every move since its undetermined loss, I have packed up my books and unpacked my books in hopes of finding it, and not. Longing to re-read it, I had periodically looked in library card catalogues in vain attempting to find a book who’s author’s name I had forgotten and who’s title I had perverted to ‘Twelve to Five’. Here, some 25 plus years later I have this hardbound copy in my possession. I found it through the awesome auspicious of amazon.com. I went on-line to search for new books and fond they also tracked out of print books. Through their search engine I searched for ‘Twelve to Five’ and got a hit on Five to Twelve! A review of the subject convinced me I had found that for which I had been searching. I reveled in my discovery for six months then finally went on-line and ordered it. They indeed found me a copy and shipped it to me with in two-weeks. I have just finished re-reading Five to Twelve. the poet that I have become is still fascinated by the book[s content and style. A small boo of finely juxtaposed words. I recommend it’s reading. However, unjustified this book may be to some, its reading did something miraculous for me. It introduced me to reading for its own sake. The enjoyment found in reading this book precipitated the pleasure found in reading thousands of other books since. Thanks Mr. Cooper! rjs 10-17-98 Dallas, Texas. I continued to re-read this book time and again.
PS. 6.17.2025: Since that time I have an oeuvre of over 4400 poems published in five volumes and have just finished my 34th novel.
In the mists of memory (Dallas, circa 1971-72) I found a book in my possession, it was a paperback edition of Edmund Cooper’s “Five to Twelve”. I found the book fascinating both in subject and style. It spoke to the poet in me, subliminally. [I had not yet become a novelist] How I came by this book I have no specific knowledge now. I could have been purchased in a bookstore. But more likely I either bought it at a drugstore’s round revolving paperback book rack or I could have just picked it p somewhere, like the old paper mill that collected old books and magazines, where I sometimes procured old books and magazines. This last possibility seems the most plausible as I was at the time not a reader, especially of Science Fiction or novels and such. I don’t recall how many times I re-read that paperback copy, but I kept it as I moved until such time as memory was its only bookshelf. In every move since its undetermined loss, I have packed up my books and unpacked my books in hopes of finding it, and not. Longing to re-read it, I had periodically looked in library card catalogues in vain attempting to find a book who’s author’s name I had forgotten and who’s title I had perverted to ‘Twelve to Five’. Here, some 25 plus years later I have this hardbound copy in my possession. I found it through the awesome auspicious of amazon.com. I went on-line to search for new books and fond they also tracked out of print books. Through their search engine I searched for ‘Twelve to Five’ and got a hit on Five to Twelve! A review of the subject convinced me I had found that for which I had been searching. I reveled in my discovery for six months then finally went on-line and ordered it. They indeed found me a copy and shipped it to me with in two-weeks. I have just finished re-reading Five to Twelve. the poet that I have become is still fascinated by the book[s content and style. A small boo of finely juxtaposed words. I recommend it’s reading. However, unjustified this book may be to some, its reading did something miraculous for me. It introduced me to reading for its own sake. The enjoyment found in reading this book precipitated the pleasure found in reading thousands of other books since. Thanks Mr. Cooper! rjs 10-17-98 Dallas, Texas. I continued to re-read this book time and again.
PS. 6.17.2025: Since that time I have an oeuvre of over 4400 poems published in five volumes and have just finished my 34th novel.
March 4, 2024
The finest garbage I ever read. I am blown away by how someone can completely reverse patriarchy while upholding it in dynamic at the same time. Truly the finest trash of its generation. I ate well
One question though- not to seem too nit picky on this, ah, sci-fi novel. Cooper you know that a foetus with YY chromosomes are not capable of life right
One question though- not to seem too nit picky on this, ah, sci-fi novel. Cooper you know that a foetus with YY chromosomes are not capable of life right
May 29, 2010
Women's liberation in the 1970's led to longer lasting contraception that spanned into years. Over the ensuing 100 years, the effects of this are shown through not only lower birth rates, but also an alteration of females to males. Females now out number men by a ratio of Five to Twelve. Due to the increased ratio, women now run every facet of society while men are nothing more than sex objects.
Add the main protagonist. A misogynistic nihilist, who equally loves and hates women. He is, against his will, dragged into a scheme to assassinate the Queen, and bring about turmoil and chaos upon this dystopian world.
Edmund Cooper, is somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. While being relatively popular during the 60's and 70's, the man and his novels have disappeared into obscurity. Undoubtedly a few of Edmund Cooper's novels, including this one, are what could be called Misogynistic. Though I try to look past these sorts of things and concentrate on the story. Which I felt was pretty damn good for a forgotten, hack SF writer.
If you wish to get a real taste of Edmund Cooper's brilliance. Read Voices in the Dark
Add the main protagonist. A misogynistic nihilist, who equally loves and hates women. He is, against his will, dragged into a scheme to assassinate the Queen, and bring about turmoil and chaos upon this dystopian world.
Edmund Cooper, is somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. While being relatively popular during the 60's and 70's, the man and his novels have disappeared into obscurity. Undoubtedly a few of Edmund Cooper's novels, including this one, are what could be called Misogynistic. Though I try to look past these sorts of things and concentrate on the story. Which I felt was pretty damn good for a forgotten, hack SF writer.
If you wish to get a real taste of Edmund Cooper's brilliance. Read Voices in the Dark
October 22, 2018
This was an interesting read. A lot of the social politics hasn’t aged well, as is often the case with science fiction when it stays close to earth and near future. So often with these kinds of stories, the technology advances tremendously, but the ideology and social norms stay static; with this one, we see almost an over compensation leading to some fairly absurd concepts. It was however still enjoyable and interesting too read. I was particularly entertained by the changes in slang and language, used freely in a way that fees natural to the setting, but never explained, always left to the reader to define from context clues. Almost a linguistic scavenger hunt.
January 27, 2016
Five men to twelve women. A lot of dribble
June 6, 2022
Five to Twelve by Edmund Cooper published 1968 (What_the_fuck_did_I_just_read) that’s one of my bookshelves and this is it’s newest occupant. Everyone this is Five to Twelve, Five to Twelve this is the other wacky books I’ve read and highlighted here. I introduce my newest read to the ten or so books that were so outside the ordinary so twisted in tone or belief that they fell into a grouping that could only be described as the strange bizarre and sometimes awful list. The Circus of Dr. Lao looks up and says “I hear your pretty old fashioned” well not quite as old fashion as you, old chap says Five to Twelve I wasn’t talking about jungle bunnies or the yellow peril just stupid big-breasted bitches, Woah! Hold it right there, I think the Misogyny is strong in this one. “ Says the book whose title is “Break Her,” is that your nom de guerre? Dead girl blues looks up and says “Can’t tell a book by it’s cover or in this case it’s title so what is your story how did you end up on the what the fuck did I just read shelf?” Five to Twelve considered the gathered books and said it’s the 60’s things were changing things that should never change were changing. By letting women control their own bodies by letting them have birth-control we changed the whole course of human history. At this point Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians
” looks over at Attack of the 50 Foot Indian and whispered “White people” The fifty-foot Indian did not respond just stared out towards the ocean like a cigar-store Indian and grunted softly under his breath uggh! Five to Twelve continued My story, it’s 2071 and all men are enslaved to these super feminist Dom’s who run the world Men are now chattel, the orthodox western concept of marriage took a beating during the latter decades of the twentieth century the disintegration had been hastened both by easy divorce and by efficient and widespread use of birth control with the development of greater social security and a noticeable numerical imbalance between the sexes, marriage – as a social institution- fell apart it became acceptable for women to have babies without declaring or involving the father Promiscuity was no longer a social crime; carried to excess, it was merely regarded as slightly vulgar-rather more acceptable than gluttony and infinitely more acceptable than prudery. “ Bryan Smith’s Depraved yawned then said “So you made an entire book about what bad things could happen too men if they were not in charge anymore?” Precisely so, my observant friend. Cried Dion Quern in a engaging and affable manner, I was born in 2025 and I’m the last of the a dying breed of real men troubadours, minnesinger, we who drink , write poetry, and hate technology. He bows and then looks around as if awaiting some sort of recognition. “Look” Bakker Scott
The Warrior Prophet
said “I don’t give a fig, and neither does anyone else you have been on the market for almost sixty years and what you got what a hundred and sixty reviews? NO ONE CARES! He shouts, “not now, not ever, and if you are on the what the fuck I just read shelf it’s probably for a reason. A lot of books have looked at times of change and war and new styles of living you represent the old as in the old republic, the old order, that which is or has been replaced by the new, you are the dinosaur the one who didn’t adapt to a new age, you are here because you were wrong in your viewpoint you were wrong then and your wrong now. So just have a seat Dion Quern of Five to Twelve. You’re a three-star read at best and only of interest to those interested in knowing how fragile male ego’s failed to come to grips with the energy of the age of aquarist.” You are lucky if you can be found in a bargain book bin at a going out of business sale so shut up and sit over there next to On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous a gay Asian in drag waves and pats a empty chair next to him. Dion Quern having endured much and remembering little, realized dimly at last the journey had been worthwhile. Holding out his hands their was a strange scent of fulfillment in the air “My son” he smiles as he sits down.
December 15, 2021
“Five to Twelve” by Edmund Cooper (1968) This Edition 1974
Overall Rating 3/10 – Marmite
Plot
In a world where females are dominant over males (ratio of 12 females to 5 males) and where female are both much stronger than men and who are also nymphomaniacs, our protagonist, Dion Quern, has to find his way through life. Life can be extended with “Life shots” but only if you have enough money and, of course, the females have all of that.
Writing Style
A significant stray from his normal writing style; Cooper uses alternative words and metaphors throughout in an effort to create a comedy. It fails miserably and comes across as stupid.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Present Tense (standard convention)
Critique
A totally “apart from the rest” novel which you will either love or hate. I found it difficult to adjust to the alternative style of writing but loved the basic premise of the plot. A world dominated by females where males were subjugated had an appeal. However, arriving at the mid point I felt I could not take it any more as the plot when into some kind of fantasy that was beyond the pale. I never finished the book and I hope the author hasn’t written any others in this style although I hope he revisits the underlying plot.
Overall Rating 3/10 – Marmite
Plot
In a world where females are dominant over males (ratio of 12 females to 5 males) and where female are both much stronger than men and who are also nymphomaniacs, our protagonist, Dion Quern, has to find his way through life. Life can be extended with “Life shots” but only if you have enough money and, of course, the females have all of that.
Writing Style
A significant stray from his normal writing style; Cooper uses alternative words and metaphors throughout in an effort to create a comedy. It fails miserably and comes across as stupid.
Point of View
Written in the 3rd Person / Present Tense (standard convention)
Critique
A totally “apart from the rest” novel which you will either love or hate. I found it difficult to adjust to the alternative style of writing but loved the basic premise of the plot. A world dominated by females where males were subjugated had an appeal. However, arriving at the mid point I felt I could not take it any more as the plot when into some kind of fantasy that was beyond the pale. I never finished the book and I hope the author hasn’t written any others in this style although I hope he revisits the underlying plot.
March 20, 2025
[Hodder Paperbacks] (1968). SB. 187 Pages. Purchased from the Zardoz Bookshop (Westbury).
Prescient. Playful. Chaotic. Creative. Unconventional. Rum. Amusing in part - plenty of quirky dialogue. Occasionally unpalatable. Often tedious.
An interesting mess with an absurd ending.
Prescient. Playful. Chaotic. Creative. Unconventional. Rum. Amusing in part - plenty of quirky dialogue. Occasionally unpalatable. Often tedious.
An interesting mess with an absurd ending.
September 17, 2025
Another one of Edmund Cooper's wonderful, polarizing, novels. An ex-girlfriend of mine thought Cooper was a sexist monster. She was probably right. But he tells a good tale. And that's all that really matters.
September 29, 2018
fantastic and admirable dystopian future novel hamstrung I suspect by the authors inescapable values. Born in 1926, a product of his times no doubt.
December 7, 2023
Didn’t find the story very engaging, but some of the dialogue was as pretty witty. Little like hearing a futuristic Phillip Marlowe.
December 24, 2025
A feminist utopia.
I understand why Edmund Cooper is blacklisted by most modern publishing houses.
I recommend this book.
I understand why Edmund Cooper is blacklisted by most modern publishing houses.
I recommend this book.
April 7, 2021
Ugh I could not finish this book, which is rare, I finish almost all books, even bad ones.
5 to 12 is a book about a man's paranoia that not oppressing women will lead to them taking over the world and oppressing men the way patriarchal culture has done to women. The entire book felt rooted in fear of women as some strange, super-human, monsters who given something basic like the right to control their own bodies will lead down a slippery slope of them enslaving men almost as bad men had previously enslaved them. We should all make sure to control women and clip their wings so that this never happens.
Now to be honest, at the time I read this book (I was 17) I didn't really care so much about the misogyny. I mean that is something I was used to seeing in books. And I like a good sci-fi, dystopian futuristic novel enough to stomach the fear of women. What really bothered me though was the unrealistic ideas of how women would behave if we ruled the world. Okay yes, I believed the whole for some reason women are now the majority and born with super-human strength and men are the minority kept in sexual servitude, whatever. But just who these women are and what they like to do with their time wasn't something an actual person would do, rather what a sex monster, there to please men would do, which is ironic given the nature of the story.
For example, I remember a chapter where all the world leaders (naturally women) all came together to have a political meeting. What do you think world politicians would do when they come together to have meetings? Talk about trade deals? Discuss world peace? Wage war? No, naturally being women, and super amazonian attractive ones at that, they have hours of lesbian sex with each other. And not the kind of sex actual lesbians have, but the kind of lesbian sex that men fantasize about. Really? Doesn't that sound a bit male gaze to you? Currently most of the world leaders are men, we don't assume they go off and have gay sex with each other whenever they have peace talks. The Dom's are described as monsters, but sexy ones, the ones that turn men on. Their power again is from how hot they are in terms of male standards, how much they can turn on and also scare the hell out of the assumed male reader. There's no real other definition, description or development there. The class of enslaved women are of course the sweet, sensual, timid, submissive women that is often put forth as the idea of feminine beauty. The poor little sweet things you can so easily control, don't you just miss them?
Okay, I can accept this idea that women rule the world, as women, sure this is a fun thought experiment. But then don't portray them through the point of view of the male gaze. You would think in this society how much men are turned on by women don't matter, except their very personalities and characters are based purely on what turns men on. There is no real character development of the women, they have paper thin descriptions mostly that they are hot, powerful, evil and everything men are turned on by and afraid of. The most developed character is our protagonist who simply hates women and does illogical self-destructive things out of protest to the female oppression.
Look, if you're going to make a book where women rule the world, don't make all the women paper thin characters who exist nothing but to turn men on. Women are actual people, with depth! Come one, these are world leaders, star athletes, and apparently their major interests are to behave like 80's porn characters, and then be bitches about it. Not a true role-reversal, more like a deeply insecure, illogical fear of feminism told with the warning tone that if we let them, the monsters will escape their cages and oppress you, sexily.
5 to 12 is a book about a man's paranoia that not oppressing women will lead to them taking over the world and oppressing men the way patriarchal culture has done to women. The entire book felt rooted in fear of women as some strange, super-human, monsters who given something basic like the right to control their own bodies will lead down a slippery slope of them enslaving men almost as bad men had previously enslaved them. We should all make sure to control women and clip their wings so that this never happens.
Now to be honest, at the time I read this book (I was 17) I didn't really care so much about the misogyny. I mean that is something I was used to seeing in books. And I like a good sci-fi, dystopian futuristic novel enough to stomach the fear of women. What really bothered me though was the unrealistic ideas of how women would behave if we ruled the world. Okay yes, I believed the whole for some reason women are now the majority and born with super-human strength and men are the minority kept in sexual servitude, whatever. But just who these women are and what they like to do with their time wasn't something an actual person would do, rather what a sex monster, there to please men would do, which is ironic given the nature of the story.
For example, I remember a chapter where all the world leaders (naturally women) all came together to have a political meeting. What do you think world politicians would do when they come together to have meetings? Talk about trade deals? Discuss world peace? Wage war? No, naturally being women, and super amazonian attractive ones at that, they have hours of lesbian sex with each other. And not the kind of sex actual lesbians have, but the kind of lesbian sex that men fantasize about. Really? Doesn't that sound a bit male gaze to you? Currently most of the world leaders are men, we don't assume they go off and have gay sex with each other whenever they have peace talks. The Dom's are described as monsters, but sexy ones, the ones that turn men on. Their power again is from how hot they are in terms of male standards, how much they can turn on and also scare the hell out of the assumed male reader. There's no real other definition, description or development there. The class of enslaved women are of course the sweet, sensual, timid, submissive women that is often put forth as the idea of feminine beauty. The poor little sweet things you can so easily control, don't you just miss them?
Okay, I can accept this idea that women rule the world, as women, sure this is a fun thought experiment. But then don't portray them through the point of view of the male gaze. You would think in this society how much men are turned on by women don't matter, except their very personalities and characters are based purely on what turns men on. There is no real character development of the women, they have paper thin descriptions mostly that they are hot, powerful, evil and everything men are turned on by and afraid of. The most developed character is our protagonist who simply hates women and does illogical self-destructive things out of protest to the female oppression.
Look, if you're going to make a book where women rule the world, don't make all the women paper thin characters who exist nothing but to turn men on. Women are actual people, with depth! Come one, these are world leaders, star athletes, and apparently their major interests are to behave like 80's porn characters, and then be bitches about it. Not a true role-reversal, more like a deeply insecure, illogical fear of feminism told with the warning tone that if we let them, the monsters will escape their cages and oppress you, sexily.
May 9, 2023
If you're into bizarre stories and theories, this is the book for you.
March 31, 2018
This title is set in a dystopian Britain of the future. Women outnumber men Twelve to Five. Woman govern and hold high profile jobs while the men are decadent and spoilt by such an oversupply of women. Ed Cooper did a female dystopian sci-fi novel before. It was called Who Needs Men. This version has men being tolerated but they are subservient to the ruling female class. There are also less educated classes of women too. It was a strange story. A little far-fetched even for me, but it was a fun dystopian world read.
October 8, 2013
Well this is an interesting book - written in 1968, and it tells of a future dominated by women who are completely emancipated from their child bearing capacity.
It was at times quite thought provoking - and what a world would look like. But I found some of the characters hard to enjoy, and also found it at times quite heavy handed with some of it's themes.
But for a hark back to what SF was it was still a satisfying read.
It was at times quite thought provoking - and what a world would look like. But I found some of the characters hard to enjoy, and also found it at times quite heavy handed with some of it's themes.
But for a hark back to what SF was it was still a satisfying read.
August 29, 2025
Dion Quern, a man living in a woman's world, lives a life of quiet rebellion against the dominant majority female population. But there are other rebels with plans that include Dion, plans with devastating consequences. A great little book of 187 pages, written in 1968 and quite dated, and shockingly sexist now, but still enjoyable. Over fifty years old it is, but nice to take a trip down memory lane. I just wish Edmund Cooper had written more books. His talents are missed.
December 1, 2015
Ekero nasomete egetabu eke emiaka 8 yaetire nabo kiangogeti, korende nanyorire ebitabu ebiya gokebua. Aba omogano ore ase egetabu eke n'omuya. Omogano bw'omogaka oyomo obwateranirie ase ense y'abakungu n'obwokogoki. Nonya nabo, tindochi gose kaa nenyarekane chintetere chiogotanga oroiboro kogera ense koba bo.
May 12, 2009
The ending of the first semester of 1982/83 brought on another period of intensive science fiction escapism. Having read Cooper before, I picked this title up at a resale shop with some trepidation. Like its predecessor, it wasn't very good.
April 26, 2016
Re-read this after many years. Kind of like culture shock, it is very dated. It is a morality play about the impact of gender domination, but is extrapolated from a 1970s mindset. If you can stick with it, I find the main character becomes more likeable as the story progresses.
November 8, 2014
1987 grade C-
June 21, 2021
A strange book, beem 30 plus years since I read it, but interesting to read again. Still strange
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews