Doris Piserchia’s journey into science fiction writing began as a child in the woods around her native Fairmont and was inspired in part by her Navy service during the Korean War. In a time when science fiction was largely dominated by male writers, Piserchia was fascinated with the concepts of time travel and societal structures. Her novels, such as A Billion Days of Earth and Star Rider, along with her feminist themes, made her a unique voice in science fiction. She explored ideas about gender equality and women’s rights in ways that were progressive for her time.

In her 1982 novel Blood County (published under the pseudonym Curt Selby), she notably created an entire subgenre blending Appalachian folklore and science fiction. Despite a strong start and a prolific output, Piserchia essentially retired from writing in her mid-50s, tired of being overlooked by publishers because her work didn’t fit neatly into a single mainstream category. In that sense, she was far ahead of her time, something her characters would have understood quite well.