Libertarian science fiction

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Libertarian SF (usually science fiction rather than fantasy) is a prominent strain in SF, not quite amounting to a subgenre. It is notable for having relatively few women writers. "Libertarian SF" is capital-L Libertarian, hewing more closely to the ideology of the Libertarian Party (US) than to Ursula K. Le Guin's anarchism. It might also be better called "libertarian capitalism" to distinguish it from "libertarian socialism" or "libertarian communism".

Some works and writers would likely identify as "Libertarian SF" writers, as opposed to, for instance, simply embodying or exploring Libertarian ideas.

Writers within this strain usually look to Robert A. Heinlein as a forefather of sorts; Ayn Rand is often an honorary foremother although writers rarely cite her for her plots or storytelling.

Foremost practitioners

Prometheus Award

The Prometheus Award [1] is a Libertarian SF award from the "Libertarian Futurist Society"[2], created by L. Neil Smith in 1979. It tends to recognize works that examine revolution against or tyranny of the state, as distinguished from other oppressive systems (racism, unfettered capitalism, etc.). It first recognized a woman author almost 20 years after its inception, when it recognized as co-honorees Jo Walton's Ha'penny and Harry Turtledove's The Gladiator (2008). In the interim, it had recognized three separate times the award's founder, L. Neil Smith; compare the James Tiptree, Jr. Award's policy of not permitting recognition of its founders Pat Murphy and Karen Joy Fowler.

The Prometheus Award has also established a "Hall of Fame" award winner (established 1983), to recognize Libertarian works previously published. Its first recognition (1983) was jointly awarded to Robert A. Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. Rand's Anthem was jointly recognized in 1987 with Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land, and Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed was recognized in 1993. No other woman writer has been recognized.

The Libertarian Futurist Society has had few or no women involved in its leadership; in January 6, 2011, for instance, no women are listed on the LFS' website's "About Us" page.

  • We really should write about their logo ....

Further reading

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