#transinsf

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One time I dreamed I had a son named Sheldon. I could never have any sons of my own, or daughters. But I did have Janet, and better, I had myself. I wasn't like June. I was like me. It was enough, and then some.

“Sarah’s Child” by Susan Jane Bigelow 

[transinsf]

“Sarah’s Child”

In honor of WisCon 40 finishing this week--which was an amazing experience--I’m posting a review of Susan Jane Bigelow’s short story “Sarah’s Child.” 

[Black background with white text that says “Strange Horizons.” In upper-left corner of image is a purple planet with darker and lighter shades of purple swirled on its surface.]

First published on Strange Horizons in May 2014, this story made it to the honor list for the 2015 Tiptree Award. The titular Sarah is a queer trans woman who has a dream about having a biological son. While she wakes from this dream and discovers she is happily married to her wife, Janet, she also realizes that despite the vividness of her dream they don’t have a son. Sarah tries to dismiss her dream as a side-effect of hormones, but the dreams continue and become more intertwined with her life as the story goes on. 

I'd had dreams about motherhood before. Pregnancy, babies, those dreams came with the hormones. Everybody had them, or said they did.

Soon Sarah begins receiving texts addressed to “June” and talking about Sheldon, the son she dreamed of having. She even begins exchanging mysterious handwritten notes with Sheldon. As the dreams and notes continue, Sarah discovers the link between her, Sheldon, and the mysterious June. 

While I won’t spoil the science fiction twist of the connection between Sarah and June here, I will reveal that the story unpacks something many trans people think about, “what would my life have been like if I had been born cisgender instead of trans? Would my life have been different?”

In terms of trans content in science fiction, Bigelow’s story not only features a queer transgender woman as the protagonist, but Bigelow herself is a trans woman. Susan Jane Bigelow has published three novels and numerous short stories, including a piece in the trans literature anthology, The Collection. If you want to find out more about her writing you can check out her blog, The Extrahuman Union, or follow her on Twitter @whateversusan. 

It’s always a pleasure to have the opportunity to review science fiction written by other trans folks, particularly such an amazing short story. This story has been one of my favorites this year and I found its examination of identity, longing for motherhood, and communication between spouses to be both touching and deeply poignant. I recommend people drop what they are doing and go read “Sarah’s Child.”

Bibliography: 

Bigelow, Susan Jane. “Sarah’s Child.” Strange Horizons, May 19, 2014. Accessed May 31, 2016.  http://www.strangehorizons.com/2014/20140519/Sheldon-f.shtml