The Screwfly Solution
Encyclopedia
"The Screwfly Solution" is a 1977 science fiction
short story by Raccoona Sheldon, a pen name
for psychologist Alice Sheldon, who was better known by her other nom de plume, James Tiptree, Jr. It received the Nebula Award
for Best Novelette
, and has been adapted into a television film.
The title refers to the technique of eradicating the population of screwflies by the release of large amounts of sterilized males that would compete with fertile males, thus reducing the native population more with each generation this is done. This story concerns a similar distortion of human sexuality with disastrous results.
of organized murder of women by men. Some scientists suspect a biological cause for this sexually selective insanity (selected observations of lab animals indicate that the normal male sexual urges are spiraling out of control, resulting in death). But the murderers feel it is a natural instinct and have constructed elaborate misogynistic
rationalizations for it. For example, a new religious movement
is spreading along with the murders: the Sons of Adam, who believe that women are evil, that the garden was a paradise before women were introduced, and God is telling them to get rid of all of the women. When the religion initially arises, prior to the organized murders, little is done to stop the ideology's spread, nor are their actions of evicting women from the areas the men control prevented. Alan realizes that the disease is resulting in men's sexual impulses being turned to violent impulses. Alan, a sensitive, kindly man, realizes that he himself is succumbing, and tries to resist the impulses, as well as isolate himself from women. His wife and teenaged daughter have a number of mother-daughter conflicts at this time, and the daughter does not believe her mother, and has complete faith in her father. She sneaks off to visit her father, and he murders her, then kills himself as he realizes with horror what he has done. Anne flees north, to Canada, as the disease began in the tropical zones and then spread out from there. After most of the women are dead, adult men start murdering boys. In the end, Anne, pursued by an entire society bent on femicide
, discovers the source and motivation behind the plague: an alien species is intentionally causing the human race to destroy itself, so that the aliens can have Earth for themselves.
by screenwriter Sam Hamm
and director Joe Dante
for the Showtime network's Masters of Horror
series, premiering December 8, 2006.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
short story by Raccoona Sheldon, a pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
for psychologist Alice Sheldon, who was better known by her other nom de plume, James Tiptree, Jr. It received the Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
for Best Novelette
Novelette
A novelette is a piece of short prose fiction. The distinction between a novelette and other literary forms is usually based upon word count, with a novelette being longer than a short story, but shorter than a novella...
, and has been adapted into a television film.
The title refers to the technique of eradicating the population of screwflies by the release of large amounts of sterilized males that would compete with fertile males, thus reducing the native population more with each generation this is done. This story concerns a similar distortion of human sexuality with disastrous results.
Plot
The story begins with an exchange of letters and news clippings between Alan, a scientist working on parasite eradication in Colombia, and his wife Anne at home in the U.S., concerning an epidemicEpidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
of organized murder of women by men. Some scientists suspect a biological cause for this sexually selective insanity (selected observations of lab animals indicate that the normal male sexual urges are spiraling out of control, resulting in death). But the murderers feel it is a natural instinct and have constructed elaborate misogynistic
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
rationalizations for it. For example, a new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
is spreading along with the murders: the Sons of Adam, who believe that women are evil, that the garden was a paradise before women were introduced, and God is telling them to get rid of all of the women. When the religion initially arises, prior to the organized murders, little is done to stop the ideology's spread, nor are their actions of evicting women from the areas the men control prevented. Alan realizes that the disease is resulting in men's sexual impulses being turned to violent impulses. Alan, a sensitive, kindly man, realizes that he himself is succumbing, and tries to resist the impulses, as well as isolate himself from women. His wife and teenaged daughter have a number of mother-daughter conflicts at this time, and the daughter does not believe her mother, and has complete faith in her father. She sneaks off to visit her father, and he murders her, then kills himself as he realizes with horror what he has done. Anne flees north, to Canada, as the disease began in the tropical zones and then spread out from there. After most of the women are dead, adult men start murdering boys. In the end, Anne, pursued by an entire society bent on femicide
Gendercide
Gendercide is a neologism that refers to the systematic killing of members of a specific sex.-Gendercide:Gendercide is gender-selective mass killing. The term was first used by Mary Anne Warren in her 1985 book, Gendercide: The Implications of Sex Selection...
, discovers the source and motivation behind the plague: an alien species is intentionally causing the human race to destroy itself, so that the aliens can have Earth for themselves.
Other media
"The Screwfly Solution" was adapted into a television filmThe Screwfly Solution (Masters of Horror episode)
The Screwfly Solution is the seventh episode in the second season of Masters of Horror. It is based upon the 1977 science fiction short story of the same name by Alice Sheldon under the alias Raccoona Sheldon, credited in the film as James Tiptree, Jr. Many of the scenes in Sam Hamm's script are...
by screenwriter Sam Hamm
Sam Hamm
Sam Hamm is an American screenwriter, perhaps best known for writing the screenplay for Tim Burton's Batman and an unused screenplay for the sequel. As a result of his work, he was invited to write for the Batman comic. The result was Batman: Blind Justice, which introduced Bruce Wayne's mentor,...
and director Joe Dante
Joe Dante
Joseph "Joe" Dante, Jr. is an American film director and producer of films generally with humorous and science fiction content....
for the Showtime network's Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror
Masters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
series, premiering December 8, 2006.
External links
- The Screwfly Solution on Sci FictionSci FictionSci Fiction was an online magazine which ran from 2000 to 2005. At one time, it was the leading online science fiction magazine. Published by Syfy and edited by Ellen Datlow, the work won multiple awards before it was discontinued.- History :...
- Interview with Sam Hamm by Avedon CarolAvedon CarolAvedon Carol is an American-born feminist, anti-censorship, and civil liberties campaigner and a researcher in the field of sex crime, residing in England...
about the Masters of Horror adaptation