Mary E. Bradley Lane (1844–1930) was an American educator and writer recognized as one of the first women to publish a science fiction novel in the United States. Born in St. Mary's, Ohio, Lane spent much of her life in her home state, where she worked as a teacher. Her literary contributions, though limited in quantity, left a significant mark on early feminist utopian literature and speculative fiction.\n\nLane is best known for her novel Mizora: A Prophecy, which was first serialized in a Cincinnati newspaper in 1880. The work presents a radical feminist utopia that challenged the rigid societal norms of the late nineteenth century. In the novel, Lane depicts an all-female society that has eliminated men, disease, and poverty, utilizing advanced technology and scientific advancements to sustain itself. The text is celebrated for its early exploration of feminist themes, female self-sufficiency, and technological speculation.\n\nBeyond her landmark utopian novel, Lane wrote a second book titled Escanaba, which was published in 1895. Unlike Mizora, no copies of Escanaba are known to have survived, and the work remains lost to modern readers. Lane passed away in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1930, leaving behind a pioneering legacy in the history of American science fiction and feminist literature.
