- GRIFFITH, Nicola
- (1960-)UK writer resident in the US from 1989 who began publishing work of genre interest with "An Other Winter's Tale" for Network in 1987, and who attracted wide attention with her first novel, Ammonite (1993), a late and sophisticated traversal of the themes-and the venues through which those themes have typically been expressed-of FEMINISM in sf. Her female protagonist, who is both agent and victim of an interstellar, imperialist, capitalistic, male-dominated government, is charged to investigate a planet inhabited only by women, because a mysterious virus kills off any males who land there. The protagonist gradually comes to understand the lesbian culture of the planet Jeep-which at points resembles the culture of Whileaway used by Joanna RUSS in more than one work-and her own sexuality. While men do occupy the background (ie surrounding space) and threaten to sterilize Jeep for fear of the virus, the overall feel of Ammonite is that of lessons about human nature learned, and taught,without grievance.JC
Science Fiction and Fantasy Encyclopedia. Academic. 2011.