Joanna Russ: When It Changed
“When It Changed” is a science fiction short story by Joanna Russ, published in 1972 in the anthology Again, Dangerous Visions and awarded the Nebula Prize in 1973. Set on the planet Whileaway, where women have lived without men for centuries, the story follows Janet and her wife, Katy, as they confront the unexpected arrival of a group of men from Earth. Through Janet’s perspective, the narrative explores everyday life in an all-female society and the unease caused by the newcomers, whose attitudes reflect a profoundly different worldview.