Joan Slonczewski

Joan Slonczewski is an American microbiologist and science fiction author. She is known for her works that explore themes of biology, gender, and social justice. Slonczewski has won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel twice, for her books 'A Door into Ocean' and 'The Highest Frontier'. In addition to her writing career, she is a professor of biology at Kenyon College, where she focuses on microbiology and the study of extremophiles.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. A Door Into Ocean

    This novel unfolds on the ocean-covered planet of Shora, inhabited by the Sharers, an all-female, pacifist society that lives in harmony with their aquatic environment. Their way of life is threatened when they come into contact with the militaristic, male-dominated world of Valan, which seeks to colonize and exploit Shora. Through the lens of bioengineering, nonviolent resistance, and ecological sustainability, the story explores themes of gender, power, and the clash of cultures. The Sharers, with their profound understanding of life sciences, offer a stark contrast to the Valans' approach to technology and control, setting the stage for a compelling narrative about the possibilities of coexistence and the value of understanding and respecting differences.

    The 9748th Greatest Book of All Time