We Who Are About To

Eight passengers crash-land on an unknown planet with no hope of rescue. The unnamed narrator, a middle-aged musicologist, quickly recognizes the dire reality of their situation while her fellow survivors cling to unrealistic plans for colonization. The group dynamics deteriorate as the passengers split into factions over how to proceed in their new circumstances. Their competing visions for survival reflect deeper conflicts about power, gender, and what gives human life meaning. This lean 1977 science fiction novel strips away conventional space adventure tropes to examine existential questions about death, choice, and civilization itself. The story challenges assumptions about progress and human nature through its unflinching look at how people behave when removed from the structures of society.

Readers describe this as a subversive take on space colonization stories that challenges assumptions about survival narratives. Many appreciate the philosophical depth and unflinching examination of death, mortality, and human nature. Readers liked: - The narrator's blunt, sardonic voice - The deconstruction of sci-fi tropes - The short, focused length - The feminist themes and social commentary Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - The narrator comes across as pretentious - Limited character development - The dark, pessimistic tone Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (40+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (200+ ratings) "A punch to the gut that makes you question everything about survival stories" - Goodreads reviewer "The protagonist's voice grates after a while" - Amazon review "Not an easy read but a memorable one" - LibraryThing user

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin This story of space colonists confronts ideas of survival, radical politics, and the tension between individual autonomy and group expectations.

Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy A patient in a mental hospital moves between dystopian present and utopian future while wrestling with questions of personal agency and societal control.

The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison In a post-apocalyptic world where pregnancy means death, one woman defies social expectations to determine her own path through the ruins.

Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin Women linguists in a repressive future society develop their own language as a means of resistance and self-determination.

The Female Man by Joanna Russ Four women from different versions of Earth confront their societies' gender expectations through encounters with alternate realities.

🔹 Published in 1977, this feminist sci-fi novel deliberately subverts common tropes of space colonization stories, challenging the notion that humans have a duty to survive and reproduce in hostile environments. 🔹 Author Joanna Russ was one of the first openly lesbian sci-fi writers and a prominent feminist literary critic who also wrote "The Female Man" and "How to Suppress Women's Writing." 🔹 The novel's protagonist is a classically trained musician who uses her knowledge of medieval plainchant as a form of meditation while facing death, reflecting Russ's own deep interest in early music. 🔹 The book's stark examination of mortality and rejection of heroic survival narratives was partially influenced by Russ's experiences with chronic pain and illness throughout her life. 🔹 Despite its initial mixed reception, the novel has become increasingly recognized as a significant work in feminist science fiction, particularly for its critique of gender roles and colonial narratives in space exploration stories.