Marianne de Pierres

I was excited to find this paper has just been published by
Dr Jessica Aliaga-Lavrijsen in the Humanities open source journal:

Pregnancy, Childbirth and Nursing in Feminist Dystopia: Marianne de Pierres’s Transformation Space

I’ve been blessed to have had several papers written about my work now. It’s a special feeling reading a considered analysis of something you’ve poured your heart into. The Sentients of Orion series was a feminist space opera written at a time when it was hard to get my kind of work published. Special mention to Tim Holman and Darren Nash at Orbit (Hachette) who published me, and with whom I had a wonderful working relationship. Darren’s since moved back to Australia for new challenges at Text Publishing, but Tim’s the big boss now, and deservedly so.

ABSTRACT:
Marianne de Pierres’s Transformation Space (2010) is a rare example of an Australian novel set in an apocalyptic and dystopic interstellar future where pregnancy, childbearing and nursing have a presence that is quite uncommon in Science Fiction (SF). Despite the fact that the genre of SF and that of space opera in particular have been traditionally quite male-oriented, in the last years feminist theories of several kinds have been an undeniable transformative influence. This article intends to analyse not only how these specifically female issues related to motherhood/mothering are presented in the novel, but also to explore their function and role. A close reading of these topics will show whether they endorse a solid feminist stance or are just colourful feminist details in a male-dominated space opera and, in turn, if they have a specifically narrative purpose in the context of the dystopic subgenre.

Keywords: childbirth; contemporary Australian literature; dystopic novel; feminism; feminist SF; nursing; pregnancy; Science Fiction; space opera

I’ve just finished the first of a three week tour and am having a weekend breather before Brisbane and Melbourne events, which include two Supanovas. I’m also still trying to find all my passwords and urls that I lost with my computer crash. So forgive me if my posts are a little sparse the next week or so.

To keep you entertained though I have posts coming soon from LA Gilman and Ilona Andrews. So stay tuned.

I would also like to say how delighted I am that BOTH Mirror Space and Transformation Space have shortlisted for an Aurealis Award in the Science Fiction Novel category. The winners will be announced in May. Many friends and colleagues are also on the lists, notably my ROR-ette writer’s group buds, Trent, Margo, Tansy, Richard and Dirk.