Natural Consequences

The Xhroll, an alien humanoid race whose infertility is bringing them near extinction, come into contact with a crew of very fertile human astronauts. Their encounter on a remote space station will have significant consequences for both species when a human male winds up impregnated. Elia Barcel's setup is funny and feminist, and raises questions of what it means to be "male" or "female"-prescient, considering this novel was published in Spanish twenty-five years ago. The anniversary is being celebrated now with the first English-language edition, translated by veteran sci-fi translators Yolanda Molina-Gaviln and Andrea Bell, who also provide a critical introduction.