With a special focus on British and American speculative work, Reid (Bradbury: A Critical Companion) compiles the essays and research of 29 scholars, focusing on women rather than gender conceptions. Volume 1 features 29 essay-style chapters that provide broad topic surveys, like music, genre poetry, and comics. Volume 2 offers 230 shorter encyclopedia-style entries. The first book to chart this underrecognized scholarly territory, it broadens work begun by Judith Little in Feminist Philosophy and Science Fiction (2007). While the set lacks a supporting topic chronology, it is a landmark work that belongs in large literature collections and engaging enough for casual readers.

Library Journal

[T]his is a work of impressive scope on an increasingly popular, important subject. It will be a useful addition to academic library reference collections in genre fiction and women's studies.

Choice

Because of its academic tone, the encyclopedia is more likely to suit scholars than casual readers. This is an important addition for institutions with gender or genre-studies programs…

Booklist

For general readers, Reid . . . provides a two-volume reference on women's contributions in science fiction and fantasy genres—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, film, television, comics, graphic novels, art, gaming, and music—with a focus on works from the twentieth century to the present. The first volume contains essays about periods, genres, media, and themes, including sociohistorical context, movements, connections to feminist movements, themes and forms, transmission methods and media, audience and reader issues, intersections of race, class, age, and sexual identity, religion, and fandom. The second contains alphabetical entries on writers and other figures and topics such as national traditions. Some discussion of how men have treated women and gender in works is included.

Reference & Research Book News

Developed for general readers, Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy is an effective reference guide . . . The text is readable and engaging, and the authors include appropriate background and clearly define all concepts and terminology. . . . As a unique, well-researched, and clearly written reference tool, Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy is highly recommended for college and university library collections.

Feminist Collections

…the set is highly recommended for academic libraries.

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