Woman on the Edge of TimeWoman on the Edge of Time

Connie Ramos is a receiver; she can communicate psychically with Luciente, who is from the future, where men and women have achieved complete equality. After defending her niece from her abusive pimp boyfriend, Connie ends up in a mental institute. She escapes the pain of her life by psychically travelling to Luciente's utopia, but also mistakenly visits another possible future, a much darker, threatening one where women are traded like commodities. Connie realises that she must act to ensure that this future does not become inevitable. An amazing book with a brilliant ending, Piercy evokes the truth of life for poor women in the present day (it was written in the 1970s), as well as suggesting how we could evolve, or even devolve. It can be very sad, but is also inspirational and uplifting.