Natural Consequences

The Xhroll an alien humanoid race whose infertility is bringing them near extinction come into contact with a crew of fertile human astronauts. Their encounter on a remote space station will have significant consequences for both species when a human male winds up impregnated.<br> <br> Author Elia Barceló's setup is funny and feminist and it raises questions of what it means to be male or female-prescient considering this novel was first published twenty-five years ago. The anniversary is being celebrated now with the first English-language edition translated by veteran sci-fi translators Yolanda Molina-Gavilán and Andrea Bell who also provide a critical introduction.