Problem Daughters: the next Futurefire.net anthology

Today we kick off a fundraiser for a new anthology, Problem Daughters, showcasing speculative fiction by and about marginalized women, to be co-edited by Nicolette Barischoff, Rivqa Rafael and Djibril al-Ayad. You can find our Indiegogo campaign, all our goals and rewards, at igg.me/at/problem-daughters.

Like many good ideas, this began when a few people who didn’t know each other very well found a light-hearted chat veering into a deeper discussion of how we judge the feminist credentials of a story or film. The idea grew in the telling, as these things do, until we reached our brief:

Problem Daughters will amplify the voices of women who are sometimes excluded from mainstream feminism. It will be an anthology of beautiful, thoughtful, unconventional speculative fiction and poetry around the theme of intersectional feminism, with a specific focus on the lives and experiences of women of colour, QUILTBAG women, disabled women, sex workers, and any intersection of these.

We’d love your support for this project, either by backing the fundraiser yourself (you can pick up some great perks, including pre-ordering the paperback or ebook, bundles of previous FFN anthologies, story crits, historical feminist dolls, or tuckerizations), by spreading the word to all your friends on- and offline, or by offering rewards or perks to add to the bounty!

This fundraiser will run for six weeks, and we’ll be adding further perks and stretch goals to our IndieGoGo campaign as we go. We’ll also be visiting various blogs and social media platforms to talk more about the project, and inviting guests to talk with us about intersectional feminism in spec fic more generally. We hope very soon to have exciting news about cover art, and all being well we’ll be able to share some initial images with you in the near future.

We’ll open our Call for Submissions as soon as we have raised enough contributions to guarantee pro rates, or when the fundraiser ends on February 14, 2017, whichever is the sooner. The anthology will then officially be published in October 2017, but perks will be delivered as soon as possible, and you can find us showing off ARCs at WorldCon in Helsinki this August.

We are:

• Nicolette is a pirate queen, ruling her empire from her levitating Professor X chair. She writes stuff. Find her on Twitter @NBarischoff, or check out some of said stuff at nbarischoff.com.
• Rivqa is a queer Jewish cyborg who lives in the future (ie, Australia), where she writes speculative fiction and edits science literature. She tweets as @enoughsnark.
• Djibril is by night the dashing general editor of The Future Fire and Futurefire.net Publishing, by day a mild-mannered, bespectacled historian and educational futurist.

Accessing the Future CFS

Inspired by the cyberpunk and feminist science fiction of yesterday and the DIY, open access, and hacktivist culture of today, Accessing the Future will be an anthology that explores the future potentials of technology to augment and challenge the physical environment and the human form—in all of its wonderful and complex diversity. We are particularly interested in stories that address issues of disability (invisible and visible, physical and mental), and the intersectionality of race, nationality, gender, sexuality, and class—in both physical and virtual spaces. Accessing the Future will be a collection of speculative fiction that places emphasis on the social, political, and material realms of being.

We want stories from as many diverse people as possible, especially from people with disabilities (visible and invisible, physical and mental), chronic illness or mental illness, who are neuroatypical, or people who have an understanding of the institutional and social construction of disability. We welcome stories from marginalized groups within the speculative fiction community (e.g., QUILTBAG, people of colour, non-North American writers), and from anyone with sensitivity to intersectional politics.

Submission Guidelines

We pay $0.06/word (six cents a word) for global English first publication rights in print and digital format. The authors retain copyright.

• Send your submissions to accessingfutureatgmailcom by midnight UTC on November 30th, 2014.
• Length 2500-7500 words (with a preference for 4000-6000 words).
• No reprints or simultaneous submissions.
• Attach your story as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf file, with your name, the story title, and the wordcount on the first page.
• We do not require or request that submitting writers identify themselves as a person with a disability, but we respect anyone’s desire to self-identify.

We want stories that place emphasis on intersectional narratives (rejection of, undoing, and speaking against ableist, heteronormative, racist, cissexist, and classist constructions) and that are informed by an understanding of disability issues and politics at individual and institutional levels. We want to read stories from writers that think critically about how prosthetic technologies, new virtual and physical environments, and genetic modifications will impact human bodies, our communities, and planet.

For details, see the full CFS at futurefire.net/guidelines/accessingfuture.html.

Recommend some non-straight/white/male/anglo SFF anthologies

When looking for new speculative fiction by or about people other than the generally over-represented straight, able-bodied, white, anglophone, rich, cis male, my search began with looking at themed anthologies in the area. Stories I liked, I looked for more by the authors; other magazines an anthologies they were in, novels by them, etc. By way of the beginnings of a reading list for others trying to do the same thing, I'll try to compile here a list of anthologies that specifically cater to SF/F fiction and/or criticism by, for or about women, quiltbag, people of color, etc. This is a very incomplete list; I'll add more as and when suggestions or corrections are made in the comments, via Twitter or email (the more intersectional the better).

• Jack Dann, Wandering Stars: an anthology of Jewish fantasy and science fiction. Harper, 1974. (Also More Wandering Stars, 1981)
• Pamela Sargent, Women of Wonder: Science Fiction Stories by Women About Women. Random House, 1974. (Also More Women of Wonder, 1976 and The New Women of Wonder, 1978.)
• Virginia Kidd, Millennial Women. Delacorte Press, 1978.
• Camilla Decarnin, Eric Garber and Lyn Paleo, Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Lesbian and Gay Science Fiction and Fantasy. Alyson Publications, 1986.
• Janrae Frank, Jean Stein and Forrest J Ackerman, New Eves: Science Fiction about the Extraordinary Women of Today and Tomorrow. Longmeadow Press, 1984.
• Pamela Sargent, Women of Wonder, the Classic Years: Science Fiction by Women from the 1940s to the 1970s. Mariner, 1995.
• Pamela Sargent, Women of Wonder, The Contemporary Years: Science Fiction by Women from the 1970s to the 1990s. Mariner, 1995.
• Eric Garber and Jewelle Gomez, Swords of the Rainbow: Gay and Lesbian Fantasy Adventures. Alyson Publications, 1996.
• Lawrence Schimel, Things Invisible to See: Gay and Lesbian Tales of Magic Realism. Circlet Press, 1998.
• Helen Merrick and Tess Williams, Women of Other Worlds: Excursions Through Science Fiction and Feminism. University of Western Australia Press, 1999.
• Debbie Notkin, Flying Cups & Saucers: Gender Explorations In Science Fiction & Fantasy. Edgewood Press, 1999.
• Nicola Griffith, Bending The Landscape: Science Fiction v. 1: Original Gay and Lesbian Writing. Overlook Press, 2000. 
• Lee Martindale, Such A Pretty Face. Meisha Merlin, 2000.
• Sheree R. Thomas and Martin Simmons, Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora. Warner Books, 2000.
• Connie Willis and Sheila Williams, A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and about Women. Warner Books, 2001.
• Andrea Bell and Yolanda Molina Gavilan, Cosmos Latinos: An Anthology of Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain. Wesleyan University Press, 2003.
• Lucy Sussex and Judith Buckrich, She's Fantastical: The First Anthology of Australian Women's Speculative Fiction, Magical Realism, and Fantasy. Sybylla Co-operative Press, 2003.
• Nalo Hopkinson and Uppinder Mehan, So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial visions of the future. Arsenal Pulp Press, 2004.
• Sheree R. Thomas, Dark Matter: Reading the Bones. Aspect, 2004.
• Richard Labonte and Lawrence Schimel, The Future is Queer. Arsenal Pulp Press, 2007.
• Justine Larbalestier, Daughters of Earth: Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century. Wesleyan University Press, 2006.
• Gene van Troyer and Grania Davis, Speculative Japan: Outstanding Tales of Japanese Science Fiction and Fantasy. Kurodahan Press, 2007. (See also Speculative Japan 2: The Man Who Watched the Sea, 2011 and Speculative Japan 3: Silver Bullet, 2012.) 
• Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad and Ahmed A. Khan, A Mosque Among the Stars. ZC Books, 2008. 
• Lynne Jamneck, Periphery: Erotic Lesbian Futures. Lethe Press, 2008.
• Catherine Lundoff, Haunted Hearths and Sapphic Shades. Lethe Press, 2008.
• Paolo Chikiamko, Ruin and Resolve: Pinoy SF for Charity. Rocket Kapre Books, 2009.
• Lavie Tidhar, The Apex Book of World SF. Apex Publications, 2009, and Apex Book of World SF 2, 2012 (ABWSF 3 forthcoming 2014).
• Connie Wilkins, Time Well Bent: Queer Alternative Histories. Lethe Press, 2009.
• Derwin Mak and Eric Choi, The Dragon and the Stars. DAW Books, 2010.
• JoSelle Vanderhooft, Steam-Powered: Steampunk Lesbian Stories. Torquere Press, 2010. (Also Steam-Powered 2, 2011)
• Paolo Chikiamko, Alternative Alamat: Stories Inspired by Philippine Mythology. Rocket Kapre Books/Flipside, 2011. 
• Kay T. Holt and Bart R Leib, Fat Girl in a Strange Land. Crossed Genres Publications, 2011.
• Catherine Lundoff and JoSelle Vanderhooft, Hellebore and Rue: Tales of Queer Women and Magic. Lethe Press, 2011.
• Lee Martindale, Ladies of Trade Town. Harphaven, 2011.
• Helen Merrick, The Secret Feminist Cabal. Aqueduct Press, 2011.
• Tobias S. Buckell and Joe Monti, Diverse Energies. Tu Books, 2012.
• Grace Dillon, Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction. University of Arizona Press, 2012.
• Kay T. Holt, Winter Well: Speculative Novellas About Older Women. Crossed Genres Publications, 2013.
• Eduardo Jimenez Mayo and Chris N. Brown, Three Messages and a Warning: Contemporary Mexican Short Stories of the Fantastic. Small Beer Press, 2012.
• Michael M Jones, Scheherazade's Facade. Circlet Press, 2012.
• Hannah Kate, Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws and Lycogyny. Hic Dragones, 2012.
• Jason Erik Lundberg, Fish Eats Lion: New Singaporean Speculative Fiction. Math Paper Press, 2012.
• Nick Mamatas and Masumi Washington, The Future is Japanese. VIZ Media, 2012.
• Brit Mandelo, Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction. Lethe Press, 2012.
• Alicia McCalla, Possibilities. ffpincolor books, 2012.
• Anil Menon and Vandana Singh, Breaking the Bow: Speculative Fiction Inspired by the Ramayana. Zubaan Books, 2012.
• Radcliffe and Stacia Seaman, Women of the Dark Streets: Lesbian Paranormal. Bold Strokes Books, 2012.
• Charles Tan, Lauriat: A Filipino-Chinese Speculative Fiction Anthology. Lethe Press, 2012.
• J.Y. Yang and Joyce Chng, The Ayam Curtain. Math Paper Press, 2012.
• Athena Andreadis and Kay Holt, The Other Half of the Sky. Candlemark and Gleam, 2013.
• Josie Brown, Daughters of Icarus: New Feminist Science Fiction and Fantasy. Pink Narcissus Press, 2013.
• Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade, Steamfunk! MVMedia, 2013.
• Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade, Ki-Khanga: The Anthology. MVmedia, 2013.
• Ivor W. Hartmann, AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers. Storytime, 2013.
• Nisi Shawl, Bloodchildren: Stories by the Octavia E. Butler Scholars. Carl Brandon Society, 2013.

Annual anthologies:

• Heiresses of Russ (various editors). Lethe Press, 2011-. Annual anthology of best lesbian speculative fiction from previous year.
• cf. Wilde Tales (annual anthology of gay SFF).
• Dean Francis Alfar and Nikki Alfar, Philippine Speculative Fiction. Kestrel. 2005-.
• Sword and Sorceress
• Warrior Wisewoman

Magazines/Journals:

• Expanded Horizons: http://expandedhorizons.net/magazine/
• Femspec: http://www.femspec.org/
• Icarus: The Magazine of Gay Speculative Fiction: http://lethepressbooks.com/icarus.htm
• Indian SF: http://indiansf.wordpress.com/
• International Speculative Fiction: http://internationalsf.wordpress.com/
• Jungle Jim: http://www.junglejim.org/
• Luna Station Quarterly: http://lunastationquarterly.com/

 Publishers:

• Crossed Genres Publications (multiple themes, but all books and magazine also promote inclusiveness and underrepresented groups)
• Dagan Books (ditto)

FeministSF and IWD

As most people who have cause to interact with me over fiction or reviews at TFF know already, I'm running a little behind on everything at the moment, so writing this post only 8 days after International Women's Day is actually slightly ahead of the curve, by this month's standards...

A while ago I found lying around a few copies of a flyer that we made to call for stories for the Feminist Science Fiction themed issue of TFF (published as TFF 2010.19). We did have better flyers, which I think we sent to WisCon 2009 and elsewhere, but this is the only one I apparently still have copies of:

(Click through for a readable version of the text.)

My first thought when I looked at this, nearly four years later, was "Why am I apologising for the word 'feminism' in there?" Maybe that's a bit strong—I just wanted to make it clear that a "feminist SF" issue didn't have to be only stories about and by women—but I think I was a bit sensitive and defensive about the topic at the time. A female friend at the time had recently said something to me like, "I don't think you mean feminist; you mean feminine. Feminism did great things in the 1960s, but we don't need it any more, do we?" (While obviously I disagree with that, and the introduction to that feminist issue in part answered that question, I also don't want to start preaching to women about what feminism should or shouldn't mean for them.)

I'm also not sure I entirely agree with my formulation in that call for submissions that all speculative fiction that addresses issues of sex, gender, sexuality and sexual identity falls under the category of feminist. On the one hand, there are plenty of themes within the gender/sexuality area that are not in themselves specifically feminist (masculinity, m/m queer stories, etc.), so my attempt at a broad church was maybe a bit too woolly. On the other, the most interesting feminist writing is that which is properly intersectional, which recognises that male privilege and discrimination against women do not exist in a vacuum, but intersect significantly with racism, trans- and homophobia, classism, linguistic dynamics, cultural imperialism, colonial privilege and ableism. So yes, all of those things belong in feminist science fiction.

There will never come a time when feminist science fiction is not welcome at The Future Fire.

Although the CFS for the themed issue was from several years ago, and in some ways it served its function which was to raise awareness of the fact that we're very interested in including more fiction from a feminist perspective and featuring a more equitable balance of male and female authors, I would like to end this IWD post with a call for submissions—or a call to arms—of sorts: we'd love to receive more feminist speculative fiction, especially intersectional feminist stories, in TFF. Come up with stories that challenge not only one but several hierarchies; write stories that show in a radical light the full variety and beauty of the world, rather than just the straight, white, anglo males who fill the Masterworks and Mammoths of our genre; send us stories that are militant, angry, amazing, pushy, hilarious, challenging, mind-blowing, astonishing, useful, beautiful, feminist, postcolonial, intersectional and new.