The Girl Who Was Plugged In

James Tiptree Jr.

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The Girl Who Was Plugged In by James Tiptree Jr. is a classic sci-fi novella that delves into a dystopian future where society values superficial beauty and influencer culture. The story revolves around a physically deformed girl who gets a chance at a new life by controlling another lab-made body, becoming a celebrity used for product placements. Despite the technology not being entirely plausible, the novella accurately predicts influencer culture and corporate media control. It explores themes of performing femininity, societal pressures on women, and the difference between offline and online personas.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by fluid, metaphoric prose with a blend of humor and depth, effectively capturing complex emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative features a physically deformed girl who experiences life through an artificial body and examines societal beauty norms alongside fame and identity.

Setting:

The story is set in a futuristic society that highlights consumerist ideals and the impact of media on personal identity.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, ensuring a captivating reading experience without lengthy delays.

Genres:

science fiction

cyberpunk

Topics:

gender performativity

societal beauty standards

consumerism

mental health

media influence

identity transformation

celebrity culture

dystopian society

Notes:

The Girl Who Was Plugged In is a sci-fi novella by James Tiptree Jr., which is the pen name of Alice Sheldon.

It was published in 1973 and is considered one of the earliest pieces of cyberpunk fiction.

The story features a physically deformed girl who gets a second chance by controlling a lab-made celebrity body.

The novella critiques societal pressures on women to conform to beauty standards and explores themes of marketing and consumerism.

It captures the emotional reality of its characters with manic prose and diverse metaphors.

The narrative style is noted for its fast pacing and a sassy third-person narrator.

James Tiptree Jr. faced speculation about her gender, as many assumed her masculine writing style meant she was male.

The work is compared to Neuromancer and is noted for predicting influencer culture and media control.

Alice Sheldon was a feminist writer, often addressing issues of sexism in science fiction.

The novella has been published in various collections and is recommended for its powerful themes and relevance today.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of body image issues, societal pressures, and exploration of mental health which may be triggering for some readers.

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