Remnant Population

Remnant Population is a science fiction novel by Elizabeth Moon.

Remnant Population is a fabulous book about an old woman on a planetary colony. When the "Company" moves out, she decides to ditch the company and stay on the planet. She encounters an intelligent native population, and becomes their representative to human society. The characterization of this old woman — her testiness and irritability, the way she sheds the strictures of a sexist ageist society and releases her own creativity, her ultimate humanity — is marvelous. The disdain with which society treats older women, and working-class people, is apparent; and yet Moon avoids a polemic while making you love the irascible protagonist.

Further reading

• Book discussion group on feministSF mailing list (April 2000)