Joanna Russ stands out even among the New Wave as a writer of considerable technical sophistication. Although the contemporary reception of her works is occasionally marred by reviews of critics who may be unduly influenced by her feminist subject matter, she has earned the respect of her colleagues in both the world of science fiction and the world of literary scholarship. As a Nebula Award winner for her short story "When It Changed" (1972), Russ takes her place among her fellow craftsmen by their own evaluation.

Born in New York of parents who were both teachers, Russ has been involved in education for many years. In addition to earning a B.A. from Cornell University (1957) and an M.F.A. from the Yale School of Drama (1960), she has taught at many colleges and universities including the State University of New York at Binghamton, University of Colorado, and University of...