The Otherwise Award, formerly known as the James Tiptree Jr. Award, is an American annual literary prize for works of

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

that expand or explore one's understanding of

gender Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to femininity and masculinity and differentiating between them. Depending on the context, this may include sex-based social structures (i.e. gender roles) and gender identity. Most cultures ...

. It was initiated in February 1991 by science fiction authors Pat Murphy and

Karen Joy Fowler Karen Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the nineteenth century, the lives of women, and alienation. She is best known as the author of the best-selling novel ''The Jan ...

, subsequent to a discussion at

WisCon WisCon or Wiscon, a Wisconsin science fiction convention, is the oldest, and often called the world's leading, feminist science fiction convention and conference. It was first held in Madison, Wisconsin in February 1977, after a group of fans at ...

. In addition to the award itself, the judges publish what was originally known as the Tiptree Award Honor List, which they describe as "a strong part of the award's identity and ... used by many readers as a recommended reading list." The award was originally named for Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr. Due to controversy over the appropriateness of naming an award after Tiptree, the committee administering the award announced on October 13, 2019, that the award would be renamed the Otherwise Award.

Background

Choice of the Tiptree name

By choosing a masculine ''nom de plume'', having her stories accepted under that name and winning awards with them, Alice Sheldon helped demonstrate that the division between male and female science fiction writing was illusory. Years after "Tiptree" first published science fiction, Sheldon wrote some work under the female pen name "Raccoona Sheldon"; later, the science fiction world discovered that "Tiptree" had been female all along. This discovery led to widespread discussion over which aspects of writing, if any, have an intrinsic gender. To remind audiences of the role gender plays in both reading and writing, the award was named in Sheldon's honor at the suggestion of

Controversy and name change

In 2019, controversy arose over the appropriateness of naming an award after Tiptree. In 1987, Alice Sheldon shot and killed her ailing husband Huntington Sheldon before killing herself in the same manner. Although some have called the killing a " suicide pact" based on Sheldon's personal writings, others characterize the act as "caregiver murder"—i.e., the murder of a disabled person by the person responsible for caring for them. In light of these allegations, the Tiptree Motherboard received requests to change the name of the award. On September 2, 2019, in response to these requests, the Motherboard made a statement that "a change to the name of the Tiptree Award is otwarranted now"; but nine days later, on September 11, they announced that the award "can’t go on under its existing name". On October 13, 2019, the Tiptree Motherboard released an announcement stating that the Tiptree Award would become the Otherwise Award. The name refers to "the act of imagining gender otherwise" at the core of what the award has always honored, as well as being "wise to the experience of being the

other Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

". The title also draws from the Black queer scholarship of Ashon Crawley around what is termed "otherwise politics". According to the statement, "''Otherwise'' means finding different directions to move in—toward newly possible places, by means of emergent and multiple pathways and methods."

Administration

Fundraising efforts for the Tiptree include publications (two cookbooks), "feminist bake sales", and

auction An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition ex ...

s. The Tiptree cookbook ''The Bakery Men Don't See'', edited by WisCon co-founder

Jeanne Gomoll Jeanne Gomoll is an American artist, writer, editor, and science fiction fan, who was recognized as one of the guests of honor at the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention (Loncon 3, the 2014 WorldCon), having been a guest of honor at numerous prev ...

, was nominated for a 1992 Hugo Award. Tiptree Award

juries A jury is a sworn body of people (jurors) convened to hear evidence and render an impartial verdict (a finding of fact on a question) officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Juries developed in England dur ...

traditionally consist of four female jurors and one male juror (the "token man"). The funds are administered by the "Tiptree Motherboard" (currently consisting of Murphy, Alexis Lothian, Gretchen Treu, and Sumana Harihareswara, with Fowler remaining closely involved).

Award to the Tiptree Motherboard

In 2011, the

Science Fiction Research Association The Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA), founded in 1970, is the oldest, non-profit professional organization committed to encouraging, facilitating, and rewarding the study of science fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media. ...

gave its 2011 " Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service" to the Tiptree Motherboard. The Clareson Award was presented to the Tiptree Motherboard for "outstanding service activities – promotion of SF teaching and study, editing, reviewing, editorial writing, publishing, organizing meetings, mentoring, and leadership in SF/fantasy organizations".

Anthologies

Selections of the winners, various short-listed fiction, and essays have appeared in four Tiptree-related collections, ''Flying Cups and Saucers'' (1999) and a series of annual anthologies published by Tachyon Publications of San Francisco. These include: * ''Flying Cups and Saucers: Gender Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy'' edited by The Secret Feminist Cabal and Debbie Notkin (1999) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 1'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2005) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 2'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2006) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 3'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2007)

Winners

* Retrospective Award: '' Motherlines'' and '' Walk to the End of the World'' by

Suzy McKee Charnas Suzy McKee Charnas (October 22, 1939 – January 2, 2023) was an American novelist and short story writer, writing primarily in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. She won several awards for her fiction, including the Hugo Award, the Ne ...

; ''

The Left Hand of Darkness ''The Left Hand of Darkness'' is a science fiction novel by U.S. writer Ursula K. Le Guin. Published in 1969, it became immensely popular, and established Le Guin's status as a major author of science fiction. The novel is set in the fiction ...

'' by

Ursula K. Le Guin Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...

; ''

The Female Man ''The Female Man'' is a feminist science fiction novel by American writer Joanna Russ. It was originally written in 1970 and first published in 1975 by Bantam Books. Russ was an ardent feminist and challenged sexist views during the 1970s with ...

'' and ''

When It Changed "When It Changed" is a science fiction short story by American writer Joanna Russ. It was first published in the anthology ''Again, Dangerous Visions''. Synopsis Janet Evason lives on Whileaway, an all-female human colony planet whose inhabitants ...

'' by

Joanna Russ Joanna Russ (February 22, 1937 – April 29, 2011) was an American writer, academic and feminist. She is the author of a number of works of science fiction, fantasy and feminist literary criticism such as ''How to Suppress Women's Writing'', as w ...

* 1991: '' A Woman of the Iron People'' by

Eleanor Arnason Eleanor Atwood Arnason (born December 28, 1942) is an American author American literature is literature written or produced in the United States of America and in the colonies that preceded it. The American literary tradition thus is pa ...

, and ''White Queen'' by Gwyneth Jones * 1992: '' China Mountain Zhang'' by Maureen F. McHugh * 1993: '' Ammonite'' by

Nicola Griffith Nicola Griffith (; born 30 September 1960) is a British-American novelist, essayist, and teacher. She has won the Washington State Book Award, Nebula Award, James Tiptree, Jr. Award, World Fantasy Award and six Lambda Literary Awards. Person ...

* 1994: '' The Matter of Seggri'' by

, and ''Larque on the Wing'' by

Nancy Springer Nancy Springer (born July 5, 1948) is an American author of fantasy, young adult literature, mystery, and science fiction. Her novel ''Larque on the Wing'' won the Tiptree Award in 1994. She also received the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers ...

* 1995: '' Waking the Moon'' by Elizabeth Hand, and '' The Memoirs of Elizabeth Frankenstein'' by Theodore Roszak * 1996: ''Mountain Ways'' by Ursula K. Le Guin, and '' The Sparrow'' by

Mary Doria Russell Mary Doria Russell (born August 19, 1950) is an American novelist. Early life and education Russell was born in Elmhurst, Illinois She graduated from Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois, which has registered its chapter of the Nati ...

* 1997: ''Black Wine'' by

Candas Jane Dorsey Candas Jane Dorsey (born November 16, 1952) is a Canadian poet and science fiction novelist who resides in her hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. Dorsey became a writer from an early age and works across genre boundaries, writing poetry, fiction, mai ...

, and ''Travels with the Snow Queen'' by

Kelly Link Kelly Link (born July 19, 1969) is an American editor and author of short stories. While some of her fiction falls more clearly within genre categories, many of her stories might be described as slipstream or magic realism: a combination of sci ...

* 1998: ''Congenital Agenesis of Gender Ideation'' by

Raphael Carter Raphael Carter is an American science fiction author who moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1995. Work Carter's first novel is the postcyberpunk '' The Fortunate Fall'' (1996). Acclaimed as "a superb example of speculative ...

* 1999: ''The Conqueror's Child'' by

* 2000: ''Wild Life'' by

Molly Gloss Molly Gloss (born November 20, 1944) is an American writer of historical fiction and science fiction. Life Gloss grew up in rural Oregon and began writing seriously when she became a mother. She now lives in Portland, Oregon, and was close friend ...

* 2001: '' The Kappa Child'' by

Hiromi Goto Hiromi Goto (born December 31, 1966 Chiba-ken, Japan) is a Japanese-Canadian writer, editor, and instructor of creative writing. Life Goto was born in Chiba'ken, Japan in 1966 and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1969. They lived on the ...

* 2002: ''

Light Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (nm), corresponding to frequencies of 750–420 te ...

'' by

M. John Harrison Michael John Harrison (born 26 July 1945), known for publication purposes primarily as M. John Harrison, is an English author and literary critic.Kelley, George. "Harrison, M(ichael) John" in Jay P. Pederson (.ed) ''St. James guide to sci ...

, and ''Stories for Men'' by

John Kessel John Joseph Vincent Kessel (born September 24, 1950) is an American author of science fiction and fantasy. He is a prolific short story writer, and the author of four solo novels, '' Good News From Outer Space'' (1989), ''Corrupting Dr. Nice'' ...

* 2003: ''Set This House in Order: A Romance Of Souls'' by

Matt Ruff Matt may refer to: *Matt (name), people with the given name ''Matt'' or Matthew, meaning "gift from God", or the surname Matt *In British English, of a surface: having a non-glossy finish, see gloss (material appearance) *Matt, Switzerland, a mu ...

* 2004: ''

Camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...

'' by

Joe Haldeman Joe William Haldeman (born June 9, 1943) is an American science fiction author. He is best known for his novel '' The Forever War'' (1974). That novel and other works, including '' The Hemingway Hoax'' (1991) and '' Forever Peace'' (1997), hav ...

, and '' Not Before Sundown'' by

Johanna Sinisalo Aila Johanna Sinisalo is a Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer. She studied comparative literature and drama, amongst other subjects, at the University of Tampere. Professionally she worked in the advertising business, rising to the leve ...

* 2005: ''

Air The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing f ...

'' by

Geoff Ryman Geoffrey Charles Ryman (born 1951) is a Canadian writer of science fiction, fantasy, slipstream and historical fiction. Biography Ryman was born in Canada and moved to the United States at age 11. He earned degrees in History and English at UCLA ...

* 2006: '' The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden'' by Catherynne M. Valente, and '' Half Life'' by

Shelley Jackson Shelley Jackson (born 1963) is an American writer and artist known for her cross-genre experimental works. These include her hyperfiction ''Patchwork Girl'' (1995) and her first novel, ''Half Life'' (2006). Biography In her own words: "Shelley ...

; special recognition for

Julie Phillips Julie Phillips (born Seattle, Washington) is an American writer who writes about books, film, and culture. In early adulthood she became interested in feminism. Her articles have appeared in ''Newsday'', '' Mademoiselle'', ''The Village Voice'', an ...

' biography of James Tiptree Jr.: ''James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon'' * 2007: '' The Carhullan Army'' by Sarah Hall * 2008: ''

The Knife of Never Letting Go ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' is a young-adult science fiction novel written by British-American author Patrick Ness. It was published by Walker Books on 5 May 2008. It is the first book in the '' Chaos Walking'' series, followed by '' T ...

'' by

Patrick Ness Patrick Ness (born 17 October 1971) is an American-British author, journalist, lecturer, and screenwriter. Born in the United States, Ness moved to London and holds dual citizenship. He is best known for his books for young adults, including t ...

, and '' Filter House'' by Nisi Shawl * 2009: '' Cloud and Ashes: Three Winter’s Tales'' by

Greer Gilman Greer Ilene Gilman is an American author of fantasy stories. Biography She was educated at Wellesley College and the University of Cambridge, where she studied on a Vida Dutton Scudder Fellowship. Her stories are noted for their dense prose s ...

, and '' Ōoku: The Inner Chambers'' by

Fumi Yoshinaga is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and boys' love works. Life Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She discovered amateur manga, doujinshi, in junior high school, when a friend showed her a doujinshi depicting a romant ...

* 2010: ''Baba Yaga Laid an Egg'' by Dubravka Ugresic * 2011: '' Redwood and Wildfire'' by Andrea Hairston * 2012: '' The Drowning Girl'' by Caitlin R. Kiernan, and ''Ancient, Ancient'' by Kiini Ibura Salaam * 2013: '' Rupetta'' by N. A. Sulway * 2014: '' The Girl in the Road'' by Monica Byrne, and '' My Real Children'' by

Jo Walton Jo Walton (born 1964) is a Welsh and Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer and poet. She is best known for the fantasy novel ''Among Others'', which won the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 2012, and '' Tooth and Claw'', a Victorian era novel ...

* 2015: ''The New Mother'' by Eugene Fischer, and '' Lizard Radio'' by Pat Schmatz * 2016: '' When the Moon Was Ours'' by Anna-Marie McLemore * 2017: ''Who Runs The World?'' by Virginia Bergin * 2018: '' They Will Dream in the Garden'' by Gabriela Damián Miravete * 2019: '' Freshwater'' by Akwaeke Emezi * 2020: '' Ife-Iyoku, the Tale of Imadeyunuagbon'' by

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki or Ekpeki Oghenechovwe Donald is a Nigerian speculative fiction writer and editor residing in New York. His fiction and non-fiction have appeared in ''Omenana Magazine'', Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores', ''Tor.com'', ' ...

References

External links

* {{Science fiction Awards established in 1991 Fantasy awards LGBT literary awards Lists of speculative fiction-related award winners and nominees Science fiction awards Gender in speculative fiction

Background

Choice of the Tiptree name

Controversy and name change

Administration

Award to the Tiptree Motherboard

Anthologies

Winners

See also

References

Further reading

External links