9/18/2016 Friday essay: science fiction's women problem https://theconversation.com/fridayessaysciencefictionswomenproblem58626 1/8 Author Bronwyn Lovell PhD Candidate in Creative Writing, Flinders University Academic rigour, journalistic flair Since 1953, the Hugo Awards have been one of science ƺction’s most prestigious honours – past winners include Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clark and Ursula Le Guin. The 2016 results were recently announced, and women and diversity were the clear winners. However, if you saw the list of titles in contention for the awards, you’d have noticed some oddities, such as Chuck Tingle’s Space Raptor Butt Invasion and My Little Pony’s The Cutie Map. That’s because the awards – nominated and voted on by science ƺction writers and readers – have been targeted by two major voting blocs: the Sad Puppies, who started their campaign in 2013, and the Rabid Puppies, who appeared the year aǔer and have been growing stronger ever since. The Sad Puppies wanted more traditional, mainstream popular science ƺction on the ballot. The more extreme Rabid Puppies, who have ties with the Gamergate movement, were about creating chaos. So their bloc included ridiculous-sounding works: both to mock the awards and stack the ballot to prevent more diverse books being nominated. Both groups' gripe is with contemporary trends in science ƺction toward more literary works with progressive themes. Vox Day, leader of the Rabid Puppies, complains that Ɛpublishers have been trying to pass oƹ romance in space and leǔ-wing diversity lectures as science ƺctionƑ. Last year’s leader of the Sad Puppies, Brad R. Torgersen, likewise complains about Ɛsoǔ science majors (lit and humanities degrees) using SF/F as We need women to participate equally in science fiction’s conversations about humanity’s future. MsSaraKelly, CC BYSA September 16, 2016 6.15am AEST Friday essay: science fiction’s women problem