FROM THE STACKS : THE GATE TO WOMEN'S COUNTRY

Written in 1988 by Sheri S. Tepper, The Gate to Women's Country describes a future 300 years after a nuclear apocalypse.  America is pock marked with dead zones and the remaining people have reverted to an agrarian lifestyle.  Women and children live within town walls while men live in garrisons stationed to "protect" the towns from other garrisons and bandits.  A matriarchal system, the men allow the women to run the show as they receive unlimited food and supplies and all male children at age 5.  At 15, these boys can choose to go back through the gate to Women's country and act as servers instead of warriors.  Tepper has managed to weave into her elegant narration ideas about alternative ways of ordering society, some frightening and offensive, others appealing. She slips in clues along the way to the final secret and directive of Women's country that leaves you both disgusted and thoughtful that perhaps it just might work.