I'm pleased to announce the release, in both print and e-book editions of Adventures in Bodily Autonomy, an anthology of science fiction, fantasy and horror stories edited by Raven Belasco. It's available now from Aqueduct Press at http://aqueductpress.com/.
The fourteen tales in Adventures in Bodily Autonomy flow across alternate universes and through space and time to consider the issues of reproductive justice through a fresh perspectives. There is an adventure here for everyone.
An astronaut on her way to Mars discovers she’s pregnant — can she keep her baby? Bee-like entities try to force a human to be their queen. In 1930s Philly, a vampire offers a novel form of birth control. From a ghost, lessons learned too late. Women who cannot find a comfortable fit in their mythic realities. Future worlds where reproductive choices are different, but individual choice and external battles for that choice are just as real.
On October 16, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York, Margaret Sanger opened the country’s first birth control clinic. Just nine days later police shut down the clinic, and Sanger served 30 days in prison.
For over 50 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels — including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and postpartum care, and paid family leave—for every body.
Authors include Kathleen Alcalá ~ Elizabeth Bear ~ Raven Belasco ~ Tara Campbell ~ Anya De Niro ~ Jaymee Goh ~ Cynthia Gralla ~ K Ibura ~ Ellen Klages ~ Annalee Newitz ~ Nisi Shawl ~ Sonya Taaffe ~ Cecilia Tan ~ Helena María Viramontes
One hundred percent of the royalties from sales of Adventures in Bodily Autonomy are being donated to Reproductive Freedom for All to help them continue their vital fight for women’s bodily autonomy and basic human rights.
Advance Praise
“So satisfying to read a volume of new speculative fiction
stories centered on women’s experience, women’s lives,
women’s choices! You’ll find a pleasurable variety here: hard
sf, fantasy, ghosts, vampires, horror, sweet lyricism and steel-
edged noir — stories from well-known names, and stories
from writers you've never encountered before. I guarantee
that at least one story in this volume will make you punch
the air in triumph, and another will work its way into your
dreams, and not let go.”
——Elizabeth Lynn, World Fantasy Award Winner
“I’m absolutely blown away. Featuring so many authors who
I love, this is a stunning anthology with many different
approaches to the subject of bodily autonomy. Readers
are going to be captivated by its range and variety. This
anthology will be a breath of fresh air in the ongoing fight
for the right of women to control and make decisions about
their own bodies.”
—Chinelo Onwualu
Adventures in Bodily Autonomy is a fresh and bold
collection. In our current political climate, these stories and
imaginings are desperately needed.
—Myriam Gurba, author of Mean and
Painting Their Portraits in Winter
Reviews
For this distinctive anthology, the royalties from which will be donated to NARAL Pro-Choice America, Belasco (Blood Ex Libris) brings together 14 thoughtful speculative tales centered on issues of reproductive freedom and female agency. The opener, Nisi Shawl’s stirring “Queen of Dirt,” about a Black teen at summer camp, explores racial bias and questions about what makes a family, demonstrating that the anthology has more on its mind than a medical procedure....Tones vary throughout: some stories are bleak, presenting hard choices or pyrrhic victories, but others sound more hopeful notes. These timely tales both draw readers in and have the potential to advance important conversations. (Read the whole review) —Publishers Weekly, July 2023
Is there anything scarier this Halloween than the loss of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy? (Okay, this may be only one of the scariest things happening right now, but…) Raven Belasco has assembled this inspiring collection....So get yours and one for each of your friends!--Ms. Magazine, October 2023
