Even the Queen
Encyclopedia
"Even the Queen" is a short story by Connie Willis
. A humor story involving the future of gynecological science, it won the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Short Story
. It was originally published in 1992 in Asimov's Science Fiction
.
During nomination the editor of Asimov's allegedly gave it the punning description of being "a period piece." The story involves the future of menstruation
.
The story details a conversation between three generations of women as they discuss the decision of one of their daughters to join the Cyclists—not bicycle enthusiasts, but women who menstruate despite the existence of medical procedures (there are mentions of both a pill called "ammenerol" and something called a shunt) that would allow them to not do so. The various trials and misconceptions of menstruation are brought forward for examination, including an explanation of the title: one of the characters apparently told her mother that she wasn't going to have her period if a certain celebrity didn't, and the mother replied that "even the Queen" of England had a period.
In Willis' usual comic style, the main character is a sensible person trying to maneuver around the oddities of the others.
Connie Willis
Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis is an American science fiction writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for Blackout/All Clear...
. A humor story involving the future of gynecological science, it won the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Short Story
Hugo Award for Best Short Story
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. It was originally published in 1992 in Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
.
During nomination the editor of Asimov's allegedly gave it the punning description of being "a period piece." The story involves the future of menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
.
The story details a conversation between three generations of women as they discuss the decision of one of their daughters to join the Cyclists—not bicycle enthusiasts, but women who menstruate despite the existence of medical procedures (there are mentions of both a pill called "ammenerol" and something called a shunt) that would allow them to not do so. The various trials and misconceptions of menstruation are brought forward for examination, including an explanation of the title: one of the characters apparently told her mother that she wasn't going to have her period if a certain celebrity didn't, and the mother replied that "even the Queen" of England had a period.
In Willis' usual comic style, the main character is a sensible person trying to maneuver around the oddities of the others.