Reviews

Memoirs of a Spacewoman by Naomi Mitchison

amalelmohtar's review against another edition

4.0

I thought this was amazing. I didn't want it to end -- and indeed, it more stopped than ended -- because Mitchison's narrator is so fascinating in her own right, and the perspective she offers on the experiences of her life, the communication lens through which she sees everything, feels so very much like an antidote to the kind of space exploration SF enshrined in canon. The one thing that surprised me was how conservative it was in terms of gender politics, given how progressive everything else about it was (especially in terms of family construction and a multiplicity of partners).

Basically I just want to read everything Mitchison's ever written. She's fantastic, and it's appalling to me that this book isn't considered a standard of the genre.

popestig's review against another edition

2.0

This book has not stood the test of time and was mainly dull.

The snobbery in the introduction of this edition also sets a high bar for the book which it completely fails to clear.

hramona's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Don’t ever want to read a memoir that isn’t this book. 

therewithal's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed the protagonist's matter-of-fact competence as a scientist/explorer and the weirdness of the aliens she communicates with. I wished Mitchison had written more episodes in her life, because the book just kind of stops without much resolution.

rebeccanakaba's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

anb's review against another edition

5.0

Una manera diferent de llegir ciència ficció. Protagonitzada i escrit per una dona, tracta breument de temes que encara ara ens toquen: maternitat, comunicació, animalisme, erotisme, etc.
El recomano molt.

lordofthemoon's review against another edition

4.0

I very much enjoyed this book but find it difficult to describe. It is written as exactly what it says on the tin. A space explorer by the name of Mary is writing a record of her adventures. Set at some point in the undefined future, the heroine is a scientist, explorer and "communications expert" who explores and establishes communication with alien species. It's never stated what "communication" is, although it's clearly not just language, and it's suggested that some form of telepathy is involved.

This is very much the antithesis of gung-ho SF of the Heinlein/Doc Smith variety. It's thoughtful, with no up-front conflict, more concerned with the ethical concerns of exploring space and the problems of communication. Despite, or perhaps because of this, I found it compelling reading.

kelseythefancyhatladyreads's review against another edition

3.0

In many ways, this is a lovely little understated gem of a vintage sci-fi novel, with interesting structure and themes, but I found the detached narrative style consistently frustrating.

forestofglory's review against another edition

4.0

So this book came up several times is discussions of older SF by women. I finally tracked down a copy. This turned out to be a fun read. The main character seems to live in post scarcity society (this part of the worldbuilding is only lightly sketched ) and spends her time exploring -- going to new planets and attempting to communicate with the life she meets there. Sometimes she takes a break to have a baby. Being a book form 1962 it does have some issues, there are no queer people, there are hints of gender essentialism, and while there are few brown people they tend to be a bit exoticised. Still it was far better than I feared. I really liked all weird aliens she meets. I do think that the ending just kind of trails off though -- I wish it had kept going, or at least explained why she stopped writing.

hammard's review against another edition

4.0

A very interesting piece of classic science fiction which looks at gender and sexuality among alien species. Mitchison is clearly a skilled character writer and puts this to use taking us through what could be a flat exploration of these very alien environments. Excellent stuff.