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Zenna Chlarson Henderson

Image of Zenna Chlarson Henderson
Zenna Henderson is known almost entirely for short stories about “The People.“ The People are a race of sensitive, human-looking aliens with psychic abilities who are separated after crash-landing on Earth but come to find each other over a period of many years.      Publishing her “People” stories in the leading science fiction magazines of the 50s, 60s and 70s, Henderson became a pioneer in many areas of science fiction literature. She was one of the first female science fiction writers, and was one of an even smaller number who wrote openly as a woman, without using male-sounding pseudonyms or initials (James Tiptree Jr., C. L. Moore, etc.).      In a time during which science fiction was often marked by unquestioned rationalism and pragmatism in which spiritual elements were often a taboo, unprintable subject, Henderson was also a pioneer in spiritual/religious science fiction. The People were a deeply spiritual and openly religious culture. In the twenty years since Henderson last wrote, even with the emergence of religion and spirituality as acceptable, even common themes in science fiction, few authors have matched the depth of spirituality of her work. Some of today’s top science fiction writers who are know for the realistic positive portrayals of religious people in their literature, such as Kathy Tyers and Orson Scott Card, specifically cite Zenna Henderson as an important early influence on their careers.      Finally, Henderson was one of the first in science fiction to truly take young people seriously and write expressive, mature stories from their point of view. She drew on her experience as a teacher of young people, and was able to bring a rare level of insight to her use of young characters. Henderson's youthful protagonists are neither adults forced into young bodies, nor are they frivolous caricatures. They are very human, complete souls, yet marked by authentic signs of youth and innocence. Interestingly enough, Bujold and Card, both of whom mention Henderson as an important early influence, have also been among the most successful chroniclers of young people, with such Hugo- and Nebula-award winning novels as Falling Free and Ender’s Game. [from Preston Hunter’s tribute page]

Many of Zenna Henderson’s stories were republished extensively. Listed here are the first publication of each story and reprintings in collections of her works. For a more extensive bibliography, see the Mormon Speculative Fiction Bibliography.

Henderson, Zenna
  • tribute page
Louis Rudolph Chlarson and Emily Vernell Rowley
Richard Harry Henderson; married 1943
November 1, 1917
Tuscon, Arizona
May 11, 1983
Bachelor's degree in education from Arizona State, 1940
Schoolteacher
Author

59 Works by Zenna Chlarson Henderson

Title Role Year Genre
The Anything Box Author 1965 Fiction
Ingathering Author 1995 Short Story
The People Author 1961 Short Story
Pilgrimage Author 1952 Short Story
Holding Wonder Author 1971 Short Story
And a Little Child . . . Author Short Story
Angels Unawares Author Short Story
Anything Box Author Short Story
Ararat Author Short Story
As Simple as That Author Short Story
The Believing Child Author Short Story
Captivity Author Short Story
The Closest School Author Short Story
Come on, Wagon! Author Short Story
The Dark Came Out to Play . . . Author Short Story
Deluge Author Short Story
The Effectives Author Short Story
The First Stroke Author Short Story
Food to All Flesh Author Short Story
Gilead Author Short Story
The Grunder Author Short Story
Ad Astra Author Short Story
Boona on Scancia Author Short Story
Crowning Glory Author Short Story
Incident After Author Short Story
Love Every Third Stir Author Short Story
One of Them Author Short Story
Sharing Time Author Short Story
Swept and Garnished Author Short Story
The Taste of Aunt Sophronia Author Short Story
Three-Cornered and Secure Author Short Story
The Walls Author Short Story
Hush! Author Short Story
The Indelible Kind Author Short Story
Michael Without Author Short Story
J-Line to Nowhere Author Short Story
Jordan Author Short Story
Katie-Mary’s Trip Author Short Story
The Last Step Author Short Story
Loo Ree Author Short Story
No Different Flesh Author Short Story
. . . Old . . . As a Garment Author Short Story
Pottage Author Short Story
Return Author Short Story
Shadow on the Moon Author Short Story
Something Bright Author Short Story
Subcommittee Author Short Story
The Substitute Author Short Story
Tell Us a Story Author Short Story
That Boy Author Short Story
There Was a Garden Author Short Story
Things Author Short Story
Through a Glass—Darkly Author Short Story
Thrumthing and Out Author Short Story
Troubling of the Water Author Short Story
Turn the Page Author Short Story
Walking Aunt Daid Author Short Story
Wilderness Author Short Story
You Know What, Teacher? Author Short Story
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