The Two of Them by Joanna Russ

A time-traveling heroine vows to rescue a subjugated girl from a fundamentalist society by any means necessary in this "extraordinary novel" (Marge Piercy).

Rebelling against her repressive 1950s upbringing in a sexist America, Irene Waskiewicz flees in search of liberation and adventure as a time-and-space-traveling agent of the Trans-Temporal Authority. Her partner is Ernst Neumann-a mentor, father figure, friend, and lover.

When the two are assigned to a repressive fundamentalist colony, they meet a twelve-year-old poet whose spirit is being crushed by the harsh restrictions of the society in which she lives. But Irene's attempt to rescue Zubeydeh doesn't go as planned-especially when Ernst proves unexpectedly resistant. To follow through on her commitment to the girl, Irene must undertake a drastic course of action-no matter the cost . . .

In this fierce and moving speculative science fiction novel of female solidarity, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Joanna Russ "digs deep into her anger and comes up with a rich and lively tale" ( Ms. Magazine).