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Zenna Henderson

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257:, pre-feminist, and "distinctly feminine, without being politically feminist." Some feminist critics disliked the gender stereotypes present in her fiction, though her work depicts middle-aged and old women as well as women's relationships. Her women protagonists cherish social roles as mothers and sisters while also being "strong, intelligent", and "outspoken". In an analysis of "Subcommittee," Farah Mendlesohn examines how Henderson uses stereotypical gender roles to emphasize how feminine communication is conducive to peacemaking. In "Subcommittee," the wife of a general, Serena, befriends an alien mother and her child. Through their sharing of "women's things" like cooking and knitting, Serena finds out that the aliens need salt to continue their species. After hearing that peace negotiations are deteriorating, Serena interrupts a meeting with her revelation and a proposed solution. Unlike other popular science fiction at the time, which often centered around war with aliens, "Subcommittee" focuses on conflict resolution. The characters' gender roles enabled the ending plot twist, but were not the focus of speculation. 1300: 305:, and healing, which they call the "Designs and Persuasions". The People suppress their unusual abilities as they attempt to integrate into human life. The stories describe groups of The People, as well as lonely isolated individuals, most often as they attempt to find communities and remain distinct in a world that does not understand them. This aspect of individuality was a common theme in most of Henderson's writing. 1363: 1351: 360:
frequent, gentler tales like "The Anything Box," in which a teacher learns that an unhappy little girl has discovered a box in which she can see her heart's desire. After struggling with her desire to steal the Anything Box for herself, the teacher must instruct the girl on how to use it safely without becoming "lost" in it.
33: 327:." In a book on early women science fiction writers, Eric Davin noted that all of her stories focus on "the search for community and communication," a theme that many women's science fiction stories from the time share. Henderson's years as a school teacher helped her to write believable child characters. 288:
Most of Henderson's stories emphasize the theme of being different and the dangers therein. They often feature children or young people. Most are part of her series concerning the history of "The People", human beings from a faraway planet who are forced to emigrate to Earth when their home world is
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in 1951. Her work is cited as pre-feminist, often featuring middle-aged women, children, and their relationships, but with stereotyped gender roles. Many of her stories center around human aliens called "The People", who have special powers. Henderson was nominated for a Hugo Award in 1959 for her
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to save the colony from an upcoming hostile invasion. In "The Believing Child", a young daughter of a migrant worker believes so strongly in an imaginary magic word that its powers come true; she then uses her newfound powers to take revenge on her abusive classmates. Compared to these are more
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in "Incident After". In "One of Them", a woman's latent telepathic powers cause her to lose her identity as she unwittingly probes the minds of her co-workers. In "You Know What, Teacher?" a young girl confides in her teacher of her father's philandering, and of her mother's plan for revenge.
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fellowship. Her work contains many Christian themes and Biblical names. Many of her stories include The People, aliens who have traveled to Earth, which is their promised land. The People also invoke God as "the Power, the Presence and the Name."
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authors to publish in American science fiction magazines between 1926 and 1960. She never used a male pseudonym. In an essay on the increase in women authors of science fiction in 1950,
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in 1940, and taught school, primarily in the Tucson area, mainly first grade. She also taught in a "semi-ghost mining town," at Fort Huachuca, in France and Connecticut, as well as in a
236:. She married Richard Harry Henderson in 1943, but they were divorced in 1951. In 1955 she received her MA, also from Arizona State College, and continued to teach elementary school. 351:
A common conflict in Henderson's stories is when a child has unusual powers that a school teacher discovers through observation. In "The Last Step," a children's teacher in a future
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during their landing before 1900, they are set apart by their desire to preserve their home culture, including their religious and spiritual beliefs. Their unusual abilities include
183:, the daughter of Louis Rudolph Chlarson and Emily Vernell Rowley. She was the oldest of five children. She began reading science fiction at age 12 from magazines such as 1433: 720: 872: 1443: 355:
takes various petty measures to interrupt a children's game on the grounds that they take it too seriously, unaware that the "game" is in fact using
402:, and concerning the story of a group of human extraterrestrials who live in an isolated rural community on Earth. It was the directorial debut for 261: 264:. Though she never renounced her membership, after her marriage, she was no longer a churchgoing Latter-day Saint. In the standard reference 930: 1398: 249: 142: 1418: 1413: 1428: 1393: 817: 505: 445: 344: 330:
Beginning with "Ararat" (1952), Henderson's The People stories appeared in magazines and anthologies, as well as the novelized
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Mendlesohn, Farah (Summer 1994). "Gender, Power, and Conflict Resolution: 'Subcommittee' by Zenna Henderson".
1016: 692: 381: 364: 225: 1341: 620: 970: 136:(November 1, 1917 – May 11, 1983) was an American elementary school teacher and science fiction and 1334: 1154:
Miller, Ron (April 21, 1995). "Film studios beckon but director John Korty prefers freedom of TV".
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in 1959 for her novelette "Captivity". Her books were long out of print until the 1995 release of
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Zena Chlarson (she began using the spelling "Zenna" in the early 1950s) was born in 1917 in
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mentioned her as an up-and-coming woman SF writer. Her first story was published in
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Partners in Wonder: Women and the Birth of Science Fiction, 1926–1965
395: 294: 841:"Star Trek Rerun Reread Rewritten: Fan Writing as Textual Poaching" 302: 254: 449:, published by the New England Science Fiction Association Press. 289:
destroyed by a natural disaster. Scattered mostly throughout the
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noted that "As a sentimental portrait of the alien out-Simaks
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Pohl, Frederik; Greenberg, Martin H.; Olander, Joseph (1980).
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Henderson mentions mental illness in several tales, including
1362: 818:"Mormon Literature Database – Henderson, Zenna Chlarson" 1131: 421:
Henderson's story "Hush" was adapted as an episode of the
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Speaking Science Fiction: Dialogues and Interpretations
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American science fiction and fantasy writer (1917–1983)
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Unofficial fan page with many commentaries and reviews
1339: 742: 645:"Q&A: Horror/Science Fiction Author Dale Bailey" 380:Henderson's story "Pottage" was made into the 1972 1434:American women science fiction and fantasy writers 1172:""Tales from the Darkside" Hush (TV Episode 1988)" 790: 744: 220:She received a bachelor of arts in education from 1375: 987:Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Volume 2 270:Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Volume 2 268:, she identified as Methodist, and according to 1073: 1071: 673:. Archived from the original on August 18, 2000 524:Believing: The Other Stories of Zenna Henderson 262:the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1204:. World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007 171:have cited her as an influence on their work. 845:Liquid Metal: The Science Fiction Film Reader 797:. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. p.  589:. Vol. 1. St. James Press. p. 431. 375: 250:The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 143:The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 1068: 870: 838: 660: 658: 1298: 1238: 893: 612: 586:St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers 239:Henderson was one of the first 203 female 31: 1444:20th-century American short story writers 1017:"Discussion: Zenna Henderson's religion?" 932:Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series 722:Twentieth Century Science Fiction Writers 608: 606: 406:and was produced by his sometime partner 217:as her favorite science fiction writers. 140:author. Her first story was published in 983: 725:. New York: St. Martin's. Archived from 655: 582: 506:Ingathering: The Complete People Stories 453:was a second place finalist in the 1996 446:Ingathering: The Complete People Stories 410:. It has been released on VHS format by 345:Ingathering: The Complete People Stories 280:Zenna Henderson died of cancer in 1983. 1078:Miesel, Sandra (1978). "Introduction". 714: 712: 710: 708: 706: 704: 702: 1376: 1153: 1077: 738: 736: 603: 553: 551: 549: 547: 1287:Internet Speculative Fiction Database 1102: 1014: 887: 866: 864: 812: 810: 808: 788: 784: 782: 780: 778: 776: 774: 772: 718: 315:described the stories as "haunting". 260:Henderson was born and baptized into 1327:Zenna Henderson letters, MSS SC 1251 1244: 928: 873:"Zenna Henderson's 'People' Stories" 871:Hunter, Preston (Winter 2000–2001). 699: 1399:20th-century American women writers 733: 544: 431:. The episode first aired in 1988. 13: 1419:American women short story writers 1308:by Bud Webster at Galactic Central 1080:Pilgrimage: The book of the people 861: 805: 769: 664: 613:Sawyer, Andy; Seed, David (2000). 467:Pilgrimage: The Book of the People 332:Pilgrimage: The Book of the People 253:in 1951. Her work has been called 126:Pilgrimage: The Book of the People 14: 1455: 1261: 1226:. Science Fiction Awards Database 1082:. Boston: Greg. pp. vii–xv. 1414:American science fiction writers 1361: 1349: 1331:L. Tom Perry Special Collections 1245:Gale, Floyd C. (December 1961). 747:The Great Science Fiction Series 1429:Arizona State University alumni 1394:20th-century American novelists 1216: 1190: 1164: 1147: 1119: 1096: 1049: 1034: 1008: 977: 922: 832: 460: 1322:A Zenna Henderson Bibliography 1306:Past Masters – Zenna Henderson 1043:The New York Times Book Review 883:(4): 87–93 – via Scribd. 637: 576: 479:The People: No Different Flesh 439:Henderson was nominated for a 367:in "Swept and Garnished", and 338:(1966). Other volumes include 336:The People: No Different Flesh 1: 1103:Wands, D. C. (May 22, 2007). 537: 365:obsessive-compulsive disorder 38: 501:, cover art by Mark Harrison 174: 7: 839:Jenkins III, Henry (2005). 10: 1460: 908:10.3828/extr.1994.35.2.120 843:. In Redmond, Sean (ed.). 621:Liverpool University Press 376:Adaptations in other media 151:. Science fiction authors 1268:Zenna Henderson Home Page 1040:"Realm of the Spaceman", 984:Reginald, Robert (2010). 789:Davin, Eric Leif (2006). 719:Smith, Curtis C. (1981). 691:: CS1 maint: unfit URL ( 583:Pederson, Jay P. (1996). 434: 121: 113: 99: 82: 68: 46: 30: 23: 1424:American women novelists 1409:Former Latter Day Saints 1404:American fantasy writers 1335:Brigham Young University 1127:"The People (1972) (TV)" 822:Brigham Young University 283: 226:Japanese internment camp 134:Zenna Chlarson Henderson 117:Science fiction, fantasy 1247:"Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf" 1055:Aldiss & Wingrove, 428:Tales from the Darkside 1439:Novelists from Arizona 1251:Galaxy Science Fiction 824:. 2003. Archived from 667:"Zenna and Her People" 1157:San Jose Mercury News 929:Dear, Pamela (2000). 526:(2020), NESFA Press, 491:The People Collection 457:for Best Collection. 340:The People Collection 222:Arizona State College 994:. pp. 934–935. 847:. Wallflower Press. 828:on February 4, 2012. 563:The Future Is Female 408:Francis Ford Coppola 266:Contemporary Authors 153:Lois McMaster Bujold 1253:. pp. 144–147. 1224:"Locus Awards 1996" 1107:. Fantastic Fiction 1058:Trillion Year Spree 1021:rec.arts.sf.written 412:Prism Entertainment 195:, and fantasy from 78:Tucson, Arizona, US 1198:"1959 Hugo Awards" 1046:, January 29, 1956 729:on April 23, 2008. 651:. October 4, 2018. 414:and DVD format by 291:American Southwest 186:Astounding Stories 92:short story author 1105:"Zenna Henderson" 1015:Patterson, Bill. 671:www.adherents.com 665:Hunter, Preston. 559:"Zenna Henderson" 416:American Zoetrope 357:sympathetic magic 131: 130: 114:Literary movement 1451: 1366: 1365: 1354: 1353: 1352: 1345: 1302: 1255: 1254: 1242: 1236: 1235: 1233: 1231: 1220: 1214: 1213: 1211: 1209: 1194: 1188: 1187: 1185: 1183: 1168: 1162: 1161: 1151: 1145: 1144: 1142: 1140: 1123: 1117: 1116: 1114: 1112: 1100: 1094: 1093: 1075: 1066: 1053: 1047: 1038: 1032: 1031: 1029: 1027: 1012: 1006: 1005: 981: 975: 974: 968: 964: 962: 954: 935:. Vol. 84. 926: 920: 919: 891: 885: 884: 868: 859: 858: 836: 830: 829: 814: 803: 802: 796: 786: 767: 766: 750: 740: 731: 730: 716: 697: 696: 690: 682: 680: 678: 662: 653: 652: 641: 635: 634: 610: 601: 600: 580: 574: 573: 571: 569: 555: 473:The Anything Box 423:George A. Romero 230:Sacaton, Arizona 157:Orson Scott Card 75: 59:November 1, 1917 58: 56: 40: 37:Zenna Henderson 35: 21: 20: 1459: 1458: 1454: 1453: 1452: 1450: 1449: 1448: 1374: 1373: 1372: 1368:Science Fiction 1360: 1350: 1348: 1340: 1292:Zenna Henderson 1283:Zenna Henderson 1274:Zenna Henderson 1264: 1259: 1258: 1243: 1239: 1229: 1227: 1222: 1221: 1217: 1207: 1205: 1202:The Hugo Awards 1196: 1195: 1191: 1181: 1179: 1170: 1169: 1165: 1152: 1148: 1138: 1136: 1125: 1124: 1120: 1110: 1108: 1101: 1097: 1090: 1076: 1069: 1063:Victor Gollancz 1054: 1050: 1039: 1035: 1025: 1023: 1013: 1009: 1002: 982: 978: 966: 965: 956: 955: 943: 927: 923: 892: 888: 869: 862: 855: 837: 833: 816: 815: 806: 787: 770: 763: 741: 734: 717: 700: 684: 683: 676: 674: 663: 656: 643: 642: 638: 631: 611: 604: 597: 581: 577: 567: 565: 557: 556: 545: 540: 463: 437: 392:William Shatner 378: 317:Brian W. Aldiss 313:Basil Davenport 286: 241:science fiction 192:Amazing Stories 181:Tucson, Arizona 177: 104:Science fiction 95: 77: 73: 62:Tucson, Arizona 60: 54: 52: 51: 42: 26: 25:Zenna Henderson 17: 12: 11: 5: 1457: 1447: 1446: 1441: 1436: 1431: 1426: 1421: 1416: 1411: 1406: 1401: 1396: 1391: 1386: 1371: 1370: 1358: 1338: 1337: 1324: 1319: 1309: 1303: 1289: 1280: 1271: 1263: 1262:External links 1260: 1257: 1256: 1237: 1215: 1189: 1163: 1146: 1118: 1095: 1089:978-0839824985 1088: 1067: 1048: 1033: 1007: 1001:978-0941028776 1000: 976: 967:|journal= 942:978-0787630942 941: 921: 902:(2): 120–129. 886: 860: 854:978-1903364871 853: 831: 804: 768: 762:978-0060133832 761: 732: 698: 654: 636: 630:978-0853238447 629: 602: 596:978-1558621794 595: 575: 542: 541: 539: 536: 535: 534: 532:978-1610373388 521: 502: 488: 485:Holding Wonder 482: 476: 470: 462: 459: 436: 433: 377: 374: 353:Martian colony 321:David Wingrove 308:New York Times 285: 282: 176: 173: 129: 128: 123: 119: 118: 115: 111: 110: 101: 97: 96: 94: 93: 90: 86: 84: 80: 79: 76:(aged 65) 70: 66: 65: 48: 44: 43: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1456: 1445: 1442: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1422: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1407: 1405: 1402: 1400: 1397: 1395: 1392: 1390: 1387: 1385: 1382: 1381: 1379: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1357: 1347: 1346: 1343: 1336: 1332: 1328: 1325: 1323: 1320: 1318: 1317:L. Neil Smith 1314: 1310: 1307: 1304: 1301: 1297: 1293: 1290: 1288: 1284: 1281: 1279: 1278:MLCA Database 1275: 1272: 1269: 1266: 1265: 1252: 1248: 1241: 1230:September 17, 1225: 1219: 1203: 1199: 1193: 1177: 1173: 1167: 1159: 1158: 1150: 1134: 1133: 1128: 1122: 1106: 1099: 1091: 1085: 1081: 1074: 1072: 1065:, 1986, p.407 1064: 1060: 1059: 1052: 1045: 1044: 1037: 1022: 1018: 1011: 1003: 997: 993: 989: 988: 980: 972: 960: 952: 948: 944: 938: 934: 933: 925: 917: 913: 909: 905: 901: 897: 896:Extrapolation 890: 882: 878: 874: 867: 865: 856: 850: 846: 842: 835: 827: 823: 819: 813: 811: 809: 800: 795: 794: 785: 783: 781: 779: 777: 775: 773: 764: 758: 754: 753:HarperCollins 749: 748: 739: 737: 728: 724: 723: 715: 713: 711: 709: 707: 705: 703: 694: 688: 672: 668: 661: 659: 650: 646: 640: 632: 626: 622: 618: 617: 609: 607: 598: 592: 588: 587: 579: 564: 560: 554: 552: 550: 548: 543: 533: 529: 525: 522: 520: 516: 512: 508: 507: 503: 500: 496: 492: 489: 486: 483: 480: 477: 474: 471: 468: 465: 464: 458: 456: 452: 448: 447: 442: 432: 430: 429: 424: 419: 417: 413: 409: 405: 401: 397: 393: 389: 388: 383: 373: 370: 366: 361: 358: 354: 349: 347: 346: 341: 337: 333: 328: 326: 322: 318: 314: 310: 309: 304: 300: 296: 292: 281: 278: 275: 271: 267: 263: 258: 256: 252: 251: 246: 242: 237: 235: 231: 227: 223: 218: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 199: 194: 193: 188: 187: 182: 172: 170: 166: 162: 161:Connie Willis 158: 154: 150: 145: 144: 139: 135: 127: 124: 122:Notable works 120: 116: 112: 109: 105: 102: 98: 91: 88: 87: 85: 81: 71: 67: 63: 50:Zena Chlarson 49: 45: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1296:Find a Grave 1250: 1240: 1228:. Retrieved 1218: 1206:. Retrieved 1201: 1192: 1180:. Retrieved 1175: 1166: 1155: 1149: 1137:. Retrieved 1130: 1121: 1109:. Retrieved 1098: 1079: 1056: 1051: 1041: 1036: 1026:December 13, 1024:. Retrieved 1020: 1010: 986: 979: 931: 924: 899: 895: 889: 880: 876: 844: 834: 826:the original 792: 751:. New York: 746: 727:the original 721: 675:. Retrieved 670: 648: 639: 615: 585: 578: 566:. Retrieved 562: 523: 504: 490: 484: 478: 472: 466: 461:Bibliography 450: 444: 438: 426: 420: 390:, featuring 385: 379: 362: 350: 343: 339: 335: 331: 329: 306: 287: 279: 269: 265: 259: 248: 238: 234:World War II 219: 201:. She cited 196: 190: 184: 178: 148: 141: 133: 132: 125: 74:(1983-05-11) 72:May 11, 1983 18: 1389:1983 deaths 1384:1917 births 992:Borgo Press 649:Recursor.TV 511:NESFA Press 455:Locus Award 451:Ingathering 400:Diane Varsi 384:-TV Movie, 369:agoraphobia 342:(1991) and 334:(1961) and 299:telekinesis 274:charismatic 198:Weird Tales 169:Kathy Tyers 165:Dale Bailey 1378:Categories 1178:. IMDB.com 879:(review). 538:References 519:0915368587 499:055213659X 441:Hugo Award 425:TV series 404:John Korty 387:The People 245:Sam Merwin 147:novelette 83:Occupation 55:1917-11-01 1356:Biography 969:ignored ( 959:cite book 951:0275-7176 916:0014-5483 877:Irreantum 396:Kim Darby 311:reviewer 295:telepathy 232:, during 175:Biography 149:Captivity 1208:June 22, 1182:June 22, 687:cite web 677:June 22, 509:(1995), 493:(1991), 348:(1995). 303:prophecy 255:feminist 207:Bradbury 203:Heinlein 1342:Portals 1285:at the 1276:at the 1139:May 28, 1111:May 28, 568:May 22, 211:Clement 138:fantasy 108:fantasy 89:Teacher 1135:. 2007 1086:  998:  949:  939:  914:  851:  759:  627:  593:  530:  517:  497:  487:(1971) 481:(1967) 475:(1965) 469:(1961) 435:Awards 398:, and 215:Asimov 213:, and 167:, and 1315:" by 1313:Zenna 325:Simak 284:Works 100:Genre 1232:2018 1210:2017 1184:2017 1176:IMDB 1141:2007 1132:IMDb 1113:2007 1084:ISBN 1028:2014 996:ISBN 971:help 947:ISSN 937:ISBN 912:ISSN 849:ISBN 757:ISBN 693:link 679:2017 625:ISBN 591:ISBN 570:2020 528:ISBN 515:ISBN 495:ISBN 319:and 69:Died 64:, US 47:Born 41:1953 1329:at 1294:at 904:doi 382:ABC 228:in 1380:: 1333:, 1249:. 1200:. 1174:. 1129:. 1070:^ 1061:, 1019:. 990:. 963:: 961:}} 957:{{ 945:. 910:. 900:35 898:. 875:. 863:^ 820:. 807:^ 799:76 771:^ 755:. 735:^ 701:^ 689:}} 685:{{ 669:. 657:^ 647:. 623:. 619:. 605:^ 561:. 546:^ 513:, 418:. 394:, 301:, 297:, 209:, 205:, 189:, 163:, 159:, 155:, 106:, 39:c. 1344:: 1311:" 1234:. 1212:. 1186:. 1160:. 1143:. 1115:. 1092:. 1030:. 1004:. 973:) 953:. 918:. 906:: 881:2 857:. 801:. 765:. 695:) 681:. 633:. 599:. 572:. 57:) 53:(

Index

Zenna Henderson c. 1953
Tucson, Arizona
Science fiction
fantasy
fantasy
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
Lois McMaster Bujold
Orson Scott Card
Connie Willis
Dale Bailey
Kathy Tyers
Tucson, Arizona
Astounding Stories
Amazing Stories
Weird Tales
Heinlein
Bradbury
Clement
Asimov
Arizona State College
Japanese internment camp
Sacaton, Arizona
World War II
science fiction
Sam Merwin
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
feminist
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
charismatic
American Southwest

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