Join us as we close out 2022 and welcome new guest host Amy Kalmbach with a discussion of Xiran Jay Zhao’s debut novel, Iron Widow; a feminist sci-fi story inspired by the rise of Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history. Listen in as we question why the two top shelves on Goodreads for this book are ‘fantasy’ and ‘young adult’, we discuss whether or not the book’s commentary on gender roles within a patriarchal society was successful, and in true geek fashion, Jason compares elements of this story to both Power Rangers and DC Comics’ Green Lantern Corps. We hope you enjoy the episode and see you in 2023!

Goodreads Synopsis

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.


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