Skip to content

James Tiptree, JR.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, JR.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon Paperback - 2007

by Julie Phillips

Tiptree burst onto the science fiction scene in the 1970s with hard-edged, provocative short stories. Then the cover was blown: the author was actually a 61-year-old woman named Alice Sheldon--world traveler, debutante, chicken farmer, CIA agent, and experimental psychologist.


From the publisher

James Tiptree, Jr., burst onto the science fiction scene in the late 1960s with a series of hard-edged, provocative stories. He redefined the genre with such classics as Houston, Houston, Do You Read? and The Women Men Don't See. For nearly ten years he wrote and carried on intimate correspondences with other writers--Philip K. Dick, Harlan Ellison, and Ursula K. Le Guin, though none of them knew his true identity. Then the cover was blown on his alter ego: he was actually a sixty-one-year-old woman named Alice Bradley Sheldon. A feminist, she took a male name as a joke--and found the voice to write her stories. Based on extensive research, exclusive interviews, and full access to Alice Sheldon's papers, Julie Phillips has penned a biography of a profoundly original writer and a woman far ahead of her time.

From the jacket flap

James Tiptree, Jr. burst onto the science fiction scene in the 1970s with a series of hardedged, provocative short stories. Hailed as a brilliant masculine writer with a deep sympathy for his famale character, he penned such classics as "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?"and "The Women Men Don't See. "For years he corresponded with Philip K. Dick, Harlan Ellison, Ursula Le Guin. No one knew his true identity. Then the cover was blown on his alter ego: A sixty-one-year old woman named Alice Sheldon. As a child, she explored Africa with her mother. Later, made into a debutante, she eloped with one of the guests at the party. She was an artist, a chicken farmer, aWorld War II intelligence officer, a CIA agent, an experimental psychologist. Devoted to her second husband, she struggled with her feelings for women. In 1987, her suicide shocked friends and fans. The James Tiptree, Jr.Award was created to honor science fiction or fantasy that explores our understanding of gender. This fascinating biography, ten years in the making, is based on extensive research, exclusive interviews, and full access to Alice Sheldon's papers

Details

  • Title James Tiptree, JR.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon
  • Author Julie Phillips
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition [ Edition: Repri
  • Pages 560
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher St. Martins Press-3PL, New York, New York, U.S.A
  • Date 2007-06-12
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780312426941 / 0312426941
  • Weight 1.62 lbs (0.73 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.41 x 5.57 x 1.44 in (21.36 x 14.15 x 3.66 cm)
  • Themes
    • Sex & Gender: Feminine
  • Library of Congress subjects Authors, American - 20th century, Tiptree, James
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

Media reviews

Citations

  • Books & Culture, 01/01/2012, Page 30
  • New York Times, 07/29/2007, Page 20

About the author

Julie Phillips is a journalist who has written on film, books, feminism, and cultural politics. James Tiptree, Jr. is her first book. She lives in Amsterdam, Holland.

Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Phillips, Julie

  • Used
Condition
UsedVeryGood
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Skokie, Illinois, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£3.24
£3.25 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
UsedVeryGood. Pages are clean! Fast Shipping - Each order powers our free bookstore in Chicago and sending books to Africa!
Item Price
£3.24
£3.25 shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • very good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.93
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, 2007. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£4.93
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.93
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, 2007. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£4.93
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

James Tiptree, Jr : The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
3
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£4.98
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, 2007. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
£4.98
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr

by Phillips, Julie

  • Used
Condition
Used - Very Good
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£6.02
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
£6.02
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr

by Phillips, Julie

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Reno, Nevada, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£6.27
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£6.27
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr

by Phillips, Julie

  • Used
Condition
Used - Good
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
2
Seller
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£6.27
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
£6.27
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • good
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£6.87
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, 2007-06-12. Paperback. Good.
Item Price
£6.87
FREE shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr.
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr.

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used - VG
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£8.15
£3.66 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, June 2007. Trade Paperback. VG. used trade paperback edition. lightly shelfworn, corners perhaps slightly bumped. pages and binding are clean, straight and tight. there are no marks to the text or other serious flaws.
Item Price
£8.15
£3.66 shipping to USA
James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

James Tiptree, Jr.: The Double Life of Alice B. Sheldon

by Julie Phillips

  • Used
  • Paperback
Condition
Used:Good
Edition
Reprint
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 13
9780312426941
ISBN 10
0312426941
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
£23.01
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Picador, 2007-06-12. Reprint. Paperback. Used:Good.
Item Price
£23.01
FREE shipping to USA