What The Hell???

So I just read in an article that apparently science fiction was invented on May first 1871. Cool I think as I read, though for some reason that date does not quite feel right to me. Seems a little late, but I shrug off my concerns and dive into the article beacuse as G. I. Joe has taught me, knowing is half the battle...


So I keep with the reading and am puzzled. See, I always thought that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein was the first science fiction novel ever written, at least in english. Mad scientist creates something horrible with work that pushes the boundaries of science as we know it and then pays the price for playing God. I mean seriously, it's the classic sci fi premise. Right? But no this article is all about some book called The Coming Race that was published that date and something else called the Battle of Dorking also saw the light of day.


Hmmmm.... I say to myself as I pause to digest this along with a Snickers before pushing forward with my reading. Then it all makes sense once I get to the second paragraph.


Cause apparently there is some debate as to if WHAT MARY SHELLEY WROTE IN 1818, FIFTY THREE FUCKING YEARS BEFORE THESE WORKS, ACTUALLY COUNTS!!!! What the hell? Frankenstein is sci fi, it was published, it became a HUGE FUCKING DEAL. How is that not the definitive birth of science fiction? Yeah two sci fi books were published on the same day way back in 1871 and I am not arguing that that is not a big deal, but how does that invalidate Mary Shelly's accomplishment of creating an entirely new genre of fiction?

I mean seriously, is it because if she's a girl it doesn't count? Cause that's what it's smelling like to me.
And of course let us not forget any of the sci fi books that were published in between, including the works of Jules Verne (Journey to the Center of the Earth, pub 1863) for fucks sake, that don't count either. Because apparently it's not officially the creation of anything unless the creator is white, male and creates it in english.

And now that I have vented the spleen I am going to go re read Frankenstein and also the Vor series by Lois McMasters Bujold and the books by Celia S. Friedman, because ya know what? Women write some damn good sci fi, fuck a woman created the freaking genre, and even if a huge hunk of the fandom won't acknowledge it still doesn't make it not true.