An Anglo-American Alliance: A Serio-Comic Romance and Forecast of the Future
Gregory Casparian
Read by Chuck Williamson
Described by io9 as “the first lesbian science fiction novel,” An Anglo-American Alliance is a quasi-farcical tale of love, transformation, and geopolitics set in the far-flung futuristic year of 1960. In it, the titular Anglo-American Alliance has established itself as the world government, ushering in new age of technological and social revolution. However, even in this halcyon period, the “love that dare not speak its name” remains an anathema. The novel’s central narrative follows the long-burgeoning but secret romance between two women at a ladies’ seminary school in Cornwall: Margaret MacDonald and Aurora Cunningham. Throughout this tale, we follow their trials and tribulations as they grapple with secret longings and learn how to harness the powers of science and technology to make their dreams come true.
Note: Despite its fairly progressive views on sexuality and gender identity, this novel is nevertheless a byproduct of the period in which it was written. It contains unfortunate moments of ethnocentrism, antisemitism, and casual racism that might offend certain listeners. - Summary by ChuckW (3 hr 18 min)
Chapters
Foreword | 5:53 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
I. The Young Ladies’ Seminary | 14:05 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
II. The Initiation | 11:13 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
III. The Moonlight Soirée | 14:14 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
IV. Historical Events of the 20th Century | 35:25 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
V. The Fistic Duel | 11:57 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
VI. Historical Events of the 20th Century (Concluded) | 24:17 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
VII. The Regatta | 9:40 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
VIII. Dr. Hyder Ben Raaba | 11:23 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
IX. A Ray of Hope | 10:02 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
X. The Transformation | 8:38 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
XI. Lord Cunningham, Viceroy of India | 5:37 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
XII. Adventures of Abou Shimshek, the Astronomer of Ispahan | 23:19 | Read by Chuck Williamson |
XIII. Spencer Hamilton + Postscript | 12:23 | Read by Chuck Williamson |