An Anglo-American Alliance: A Serio-Comic Romance and Forecast of the Future


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