From the Independent Producer Project of KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson, and this is Unfictional.

Unfictional is a program of true stories and personal documentaries, and today on the program The Big Lie,

Three stories of deception, hoax, and self-preservation.

But this first story is about a lie that became so elaborate it took on a life of its own.

What's wrong with her? Well, what's wrong with any furtively unconventional middle-aged

woman with an empty bed.

That's an actor reading from a short story called The Women Men Don't See

by James Tiptree Jr.

He was a contemporary of science fiction authors like Philip K Dick and Ursula Leguin.

He was also full of secrets.

And they were secrets that would unravel his career.

The story comes from regular contributor Eric Malinsky.

From KCRW.com, it's unfictional and the mysterious James Tiptree.

Chelsea Quinn Yarbrough is a fantasy writer in the Bay Area.

She's best known for a series of historical vampire novels.

When she was starting out back in the late 60s,

it was hard for women to break into sci-fi and fantasy. the C-Q Yarbrough and I said, well if it's a deal breaker I suppose I'll have to go along with it.

But who you think you're going to fool with this?

I'm damned if I know.

I mean when I read science fiction from that period, I'm also shocked to come across this madmen mentality.

Like, take Arthur C. Clark.

I mean, I loved his 1973 novel, Rondeau with Rama, but I couldn't help but wonder,

...