Alien Constructions: Science Fiction and Feminist Thought

Acknowledgments

acknowledgments writing a book on feminist science fiction can be an outer-worldly experience . Thankfully, I had a supportive intellectual community and a tight network of friends who kept me grounded during the process. For their support in the early stages of the project, I owe gratitude to my advisors at Clark University—Eric Gordy, Maria Acosta-Cruz, and Dianne Rocheleau—who consistently supported me in my rather unusual research. I could not have had a more supportive group to work with. A very special thank you also goes to Claudia Springer, who, in her gracious generosity with her time and her inspiring conversations , has enabled me to feel part of a debate and not isolated in my writing. I also want to thank those who provided the necessary support in the initial stages of my research at Clark University, in particular Vijaya Joshi, Insook Kwon, Joanne Ljungberg, and Claire Cummings. In the crucial time of re-envisioning my project as a book, I was surrounded by a group of senior faculty at Temple University who showed real interest in my progress and who encouraged me in my work: Rebecca Alpert, Laura Levitt, Rickie Sanders, and Miriam Solomon. They mentored and advised me during the various stages of the book project, and I learned how to navigate the many hoops of academic publishing with their encouragement and humor. These women kept me going with their insistence that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. Cynthia Enloe’s unwavering support of my feminist academic career from afar has been wonderful, and Eric Gordy’s consistent enthusiasm for my work has been inspirational. A warm thank you also to Carmella Watson, who has supported me with her generous spirit and unfailing competence. The students in my class ‘‘Gender and Technology in Popular Culture ’’ at Temple University in Spring 2004 creatively influenced this project. Their critical and insightful readings of the texts and our spirited class discussions kept reminding me of the relevance of my in- x ALIEN CONSTRUCTIONS quiries. In particular my conversations with Katie Bashore, ‘‘minion extraordinaire,’’ were inspirational. Thank you also to the editors at the University of Texas Press, Alex Barron and Jim Burr, who patiently answered my numerous questions and expressed confidence in my project. Thanks also to Liz Gold, who carefully copyedited this manuscript. Leslie Tingle greatly accommodated my work schedule by shipping the manuscript overseas when I was doing research in Germany and overall did a wonderful job ensuring the timely completion of the book. I received invaluable technical support from Pete Hanley at Temple University’s Instructional Support Center, who with endless patience and a stroke of genius helped me master the complicated world of digital imagery. This book truly would not exist in its present form without the friendship and intellectual support of a group of very special friends and colleagues. Michelle Renee Matisons from across the country kept reminding me ‘‘that there is no spoon’’ and unfailingly read those final versions, when it counted the most. Soraya Alamdari, in endless working days spent together, has been a proverbial rock. Thanks also to the F3ers in Philadelphia, the best writing group one can ask for: Shelley Wilcox, Lee Talley, and Soraya Alamdari. Their consistent friendship and intellectual feedback kick-started this project and kept me sane. As with everything else I have accomplished in my life, I could not have done this without my family, the Melzer Clan. Thanks to my sisters , Kathrin, Nanette, and Temesgen, and my parents, Annemie and Klaus, and the ‘‘extended’’ family, Marina Walter and Natali Schirm. A very special thank you goes to Natali, whose support and calm presence (as well as impeccable eye for just the right photo) in the last two weeks of the project ensured its completion. Finally, my endless gratitude and love (and a dozen sushi dinners) go to Karl, personal editor, sounding board, lover, and best friend: I would not have wanted to do this without you. Alien Constructions THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...