Nequa or The Problem of the Ages


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Nequa or The Problem of the Ages is one of the first feminist science fiction books published in the United States. It was first serialized in the newspaper Equity, and two editions were published in Topeka, Kansas in 1900. The voyage described in Nequa is to the Arctic. The captain of the ship is amazed to find that when they reach a certain spot, which should be close to the North Pole, the compass shows that the ship is suddenly traveling south. Actually they have sailed into the interior of the earth, where they meet the Altrurians, a people who have developed into a more cooperative society than those of the outer earth. Individual Altrurians describe how the evolution of their society took place. These explanations reflect the Populist thought of the time, with definite feminist proclivities, thereby providing the tone of a political novel.
While the book was published with the pseudonym of Jack Adams, it was copyrighted under the names Alcanoan A. Grigsby and Mary P. Lowe, who are presumed to be the true authors. - Summary by Jeff Burke (11 hr 23 min)

Chapters

Explanatory 2:00 Read by Jeff Burke
Chapter 1 - Beneath the Midnight Sun 24:34 Read by Jeff Burke
Chapter 2 - In San Francisco 41:48 Read by Jeff Burke
Chapter 3 - In the dark 42:16 Read by Jeff Burke
Chapter 4. Part 1 - A Singular Discovery 25:23 Read by Colleen McMahon
Chapter 4. Part 2 - A Singular Discovery 25:43 Read by Colleen McMahon
Chapter 5 - The Break 27:05 Read by Aimee van den Berg
Chapter 6 - Sailing South 42:15 Read by Cheryl
Chapter 7 - Caring for the Sick 26:16 Read by M. D. Jakubowski
Chapter 8 - A Colossal Communal Home 33:22 Read by M. D. Jakubowski
Chapter 9 - A Happy Scene 30:28 Read by Cheryl
Chapter 10 - Oqua's Visit 55:59 Read by Lee
Chapter 11 - An Air Voyage 47:18 Read by Rapunzelina
Chapter 12. Part 1 - The Institute of School Superintendents 39:02 Read by Lee
Chapter 12. Part 2 - The Institute of School Superintendents 47:12 Read by Lee
Chapter 13. Part 1 - Bona Dea 29:28 Read by Christina Fu
Chapter 13. Part 2 - Bona Dea 31:36 Read by Christina Fu
Chapter 14. Part 1 - Through the Air to Lake Byblis 25:12 Read by Jim Locke
Chapter 14. Part 2 - Through the Air to Lake Byblis 27:23 Read by Jim Locke
Chapter 15. Part 1 - Home Again 35:11 Read by Jim Locke
Chapter 15. Part 2 - Home Again 23:43 Read by Jim Locke