The Blazing World

Written by a 17th-century duchess, this remarkable utopian fantasy represents a forerunner of the science-fiction genre. Its romantic adventures center on the Lady, who is kidnapped, shipwrecked, and transported to the Blazing World, where she marries the emperor and is granted unlimited power. The Lady takes an active interest in science and philosophy, and her benevolent reign outlaws war, religious conflict, and gender discrimination.