Ursula K. Le Guin, confronting sexism in sci-fi publishing since 1987

_{Image: Hugh D’Andrade (Click image to enlarge)}

Dear Mr Radziewicz,

I can imagine myself blurbing a book in which Brian Aldiss, predictably, sneers at my work, because then I could preen myself on my magnanimity. But I cannot imagine myself blurbing a book, the firt of a new series and hence presumably exemplary of the series, which not only contains no writing by women, but the tone of which is so self-contentedly, exclusively male, like a club, or a locker room. That would not be magnanimity, but foolishness. Gentlemen, I just don’t belong here.

Yours truly,
Ursula K. Le Guin

One of the commenters on Facebook suggested that the book Le Guin is referring to is the first volume of the Synergy science fiction anthology of stories authored exclusively by men, published in 1987.

Her firm but polite response shows she’s one classy lady. I really need to read one of her books.