Synopsis

The men participating in a tractor pull in a future US have objections to a woman participating in the contest.

History

First publication: Orbit 18, edited by Damon Knight, Harper & Row, June 1976

1976 Nebula finalist for best short story.

Review

This is a very different story. A future set in the United States after the “Highway Wars” involves an Amer-Indian tribe the has tractor pull contests. Women are not allowed to compete. That part isn’t all that remarkable for 1976. Waldrop does get the woman in the competition and she does win a lot. So the story ultimately makes a statement against sexism. The characters are well-written. The world might do with a little more background, but it is only a short story. The world is compelling enough for the form, but I want to know more. The writing is from the point of view of one of the judges of the contest, so the style of the story is casual and appropriate for its rural setting. Very strong if not great enough for a Top Tale.