Suzette Haden Elgin was an American author, linguist, and influential figure in science fiction literature. Best known for her "Native Tongue" series exploring feminist themes through constructed languages, she created Láadan, an engineered language designed to express women's experiences. Her groundbreaking work extended to founding the Science Fiction Poetry Association and publishing notable nonfiction like the "Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense" series, which examined linguistic conflict resolution.
As a trained linguist with a PhD from UC San Diego, Elgin brought academic rigor to her fiction, weaving themes of feminism, language's societal impact, and environmental harmony throughout her works. Her Ozark heritage informed many stories, adding cultural depth to her exploration of speculative concepts. Beyond writing, she taught at San Diego State University until retiring in 1980, leaving behind a legacy that bridged academic linguistics and visionary storytelling.
Coyote Jones Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Communipaths
1970
2
Furthest
1971
3
At the Seventh Level
1972
4
Star-Anchored, Star-Angered
1979
5
Yonder Comes The Other End of Time
1986
Native Tongue Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
Native Tongue
1984
2
The Judas Rose
1987
3
Earthsong
1994
Ozark Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
Twelve Fair Kingdoms
1981
2
The Grand Jubilee
1981
3
And Then There'll Be Fireworks
1981
4
Yonder Comes The Other End of Time
1986
Standalone Novels
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
The Grandmother Principles
1998
Short Stories/Novellas
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
Peacetalk 101
2003
Non-Fiction Books
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Title
Year
Goodreads
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1
What Is Linguistics?
1973
2
Guide to Transformational Grammar
1973
3
Pouring Down Words
1975
4
A Primer Of Transformational Grammar For Rank Beginners
1975
5
The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
1980
6
More on The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
1983
7
The Last Word on the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
1987
8
A First Dictionary and Grammar of Láadan
1988
9
The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense for Business Success
1989
10
Success with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
1989
11
Staying Well with the Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense
1990
12
The Gentle Art Of Verbal Self Defense For Parents & Kids
1991
13
The Gentle Art of Written Self-Defense Letter Book
1993
14
Genderspeak
1993
15
You Can't Say That to Me
1995
16
Businessspeak
1995
17
The Gentle Art of Communicating with Kids
1995
18
Try to Feel It My Way
1996
19
How to Turn the Other Cheek and Still Survive in Today's World