Picnic on ParadiseA new kind of sci-fi heroine, the tough-as-nails Alyx, is introduced in this Nebula Award finalist that Poul Anderson called an “extraordinary” novel. Set in a semi-utopian world, Joanna Russ’s groundbreaking debut novel is the story of Alyx, a female soldier, survival guide, and agent of the Trans-Temporal Authority. Displaced in time from her ancient Greece, Alyx is tasked with safely leading a group of pampered human vacationers—including some unconventional nuns and a detached teenager known as the Machine—across an uninhabited scenic terrain to a relief station. But the journey proves more challenging than anticipated as they confront one another’s failings; the physical dangers of an icy, hostile wilderness; and Alyx’s own personal demons. Long before the kick-ass heroines of current science fiction and fantasy, Russ unapologetically introduced readers to a short, strong, middle-aged (for her world/time) woman of twenty-six who knows how to survive but struggles with the emotional nuances of her charges and the confusion of her own mixed feelings. With iconic characters like Alyx, Russ “four decades ago helped deliver science fiction into the hands of the most alien creatures the genre had yet seen—women . . . [and] helped inaugurate the now flourishing tradition of feminist science fiction” (The New York Times). |
From inside the book
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... Gavrily's a conamon , of course . " " Conamon ? " said Alyx , with some difficulty . " Influence , " said the lieutenant , his face darkening a little . “ Influence , you know . I don't like the man . That's too personal an evaluation ...
... Gavrily's a conamon , of course . " " Conamon ? " said Alyx , with some difficulty . " Influence , " said the lieutenant , his face darkening a little . “ Influence , you know . I don't like the man . That's too personal an evaluation ...
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... Gavrily , the middle - aged politician , and the whole thing was taking on the air of a picnic . Alyx grew exasperated . She pinched a nerve in the lieutenant's arm the next time he darted across the shed and stopped him , he going ...
... Gavrily , the middle - aged politician , and the whole thing was taking on the air of a picnic . Alyx grew exasperated . She pinched a nerve in the lieutenant's arm the next time he darted across the shed and stopped him , he going ...
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... Gavrily laughed and tried to catch at it . They were all between two and two - and - a - half meters tall . It was intolerable . They were grabbing at Iris's hair and explaining to each other about the different frazzles they had used ...
... Gavrily laughed and tried to catch at it . They were all between two and two - and - a - half meters tall . It was intolerable . They were grabbing at Iris's hair and explaining to each other about the different frazzles they had used ...
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... Gavrily danced around the couple . Maudey was chatting with Raydos , who made sketches on a pad . “ Maybe , Agent , " said the lieutenant , very quietly , “ I know how much you cost , and maybe it is very important to get these people ...
... Gavrily danced around the couple . Maudey was chatting with Raydos , who made sketches on a pad . “ Maybe , Agent , " said the lieutenant , very quietly , “ I know how much you cost , and maybe it is very important to get these people ...
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... Gavrily confessed he had nothing . The nuns , of course , said everybody , had nothing and would not carry weapons . Everyone had almost forgotten about them . They all straggled out into the snow to where Machine was picking up the ...
... Gavrily confessed he had nothing . The nuns , of course , said everybody , had nothing and would not carry weapons . Everyone had almost forgotten about them . They all straggled out into the snow to where Machine was picking up the ...
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Common terms and phrases
Agent Alyx shook Alyx thought androids arms baby began binoculars bolts breath cave climb close cried crossbow damned dead ears ebook electromagnetic spectrum epigram everything eyes face feeling feet fell finally fingers front Gavrily giggled girl gloves grabbed Gunnar hair hands holding hood hurt inside insulated suit Iris Iris's Joanna Russ keep kill kind knees knew laughed legs lieutenant living doll long underwear looked Machine marriage Maudey Maudey's meters Minoans mouth move neck never night numbers nuns pack Paradise picnic Prince of Tyre pulled Raydos Raydos's rock rope science fiction shook her head shoot shoulder shouted shut side silently sleep slowly smiled snow softly someone sorry staring stood stopped stupid talking tell thing thought Alyx threw took Trans-Temp trying turned voice walked wall watch whispered wienie wind woman Youth Core