ANOTHER STAR (THE FORERUNNER) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: In this short story, first published in 1914, Gilman explores the theme of isolation and the effects of societal pressure on an individual's mental health. The narrator, who is unnamed, is a woman who has been confined to a room by her husband, who believes that she is suffering from a nervous disorder. The narrator spends her days in solitude, with only a small window to look out upon the world outside. As she gazes out the window, she becomes increasingly obsessed with a new star that has appeared in the sky, which she believes represents a new and better life. Despite her husband's efforts to keep her isolated, the narrator's mind continues to wander towards this new star, representing her desire for freedom and escape from her confined existence.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1892 · Genre: Science Fiction, Feminist Literature, Speculative Fiction