This is a dazzling glimpse into a feminist utopia, penned way back in 1905 by one of South Asia’s pioneering women writers! If you love genre-bending classics, smart satire, and speculative sci-fi with a strong social message, Sultana’s Dream will intrigue you. You'll find a role-reversal world filled with clever commentary on gender, surprising humor, and creative tech that was wildly ahead of its time - think solar energy and beyond. It’s also an important read for anyone interested in feminist history, South Asian literature, or early science fiction.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Some readers found the story a little too brief - it's closer to a pamphlet than a novel. The ideas, while ahead of their time, don't always get explored in depth, and a few folks noticed that the wish-fulfillment format makes the utopia feel a bit oversimplified. If you’re looking for a complex plot, detailed world-building, or a full-length narrative, you might feel this falls short. And if you’re unfamiliar with concepts like purdah, you might want a bit of background first to fully appreciate the satire.

A whip-smart, fast read that’s strikingly progressive and playfully imaginative - a must-try if you want a bite-sized taste of feminist sci-fi history.

About:

Sultana's Dream is a short story by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, written in 1905. It imagines a utopian society called Ladyland, where women thrive and men are confined to the home in a reversal of traditional gender roles. The story showcases themes of female empowerment, education, and technological advancements such as solar power. Hossain's writing is creative yet satirical, cleverly highlighting the absurdities of oppression faced by women in her time. Despite its brevity, the story is packed with thought-provoking ideas, making it a fascinating early example of feminist utopian literature.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Sultana, illustrate contrasting gender roles and challenge societal norms.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is succinct and witty, employing hyperbole to effectively convey social commentary.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on a dream of a feminist utopia where gender roles are reversed, leading to a matriarchal society.

Setting:

The setting comprises a utopian society within a dream, contrasted with historical South Asian norms.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, making it a quick yet thought-provoking read.

IN THIS BOOK, we look at purdah—the seclusion and segregation of women—through three pairs of eyes: those of an early twentieth-century Muslim writer who saw purdah from the inside and campaigned agai...

Notes:

Sultana's Dream was written in 1905 by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, a Bengali feminist and activist.

The story depicts a utopia called Ladyland, where women are free and men are confined, reversing traditional gender roles.

It explores themes of feminism, education, and societal change, which were progressive for its time.

Rokeya's vision includes elements of science fiction, mentioning technologies like solar power and cloud water.

The narrative critiques the practice of purdah, presenting a humorous take on gender inversion.

The book is quite short, often described as a pamphlet rather than a full novel, making it a quick read.

It highlights the idea that if women had control, society would benefit and improve significantly.

Despite being written over a century ago, the story remains relevant and modern in its themes and ideas about gender and technology.

From The Publisher:

Sultana's Dream is a classic work of Bengali science fiction and one of the first examples of feminist science fiction. This short story was written in 1905 by Rokeya Sakhawat Hussain, a Muslim feminist, writer and social reformer who lived in British India, in what is now Bangladesh. The word sultana here means a female sultan, a Muslim ruler.

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About the Author:

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880-1932) was a Bengali Muslim writer and feminist activist who founded the first Muslim girls' school in Calcutta in 1911.

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Sultana's Dream

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain

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