We Owe Ellen Ripley

Growing up the only science fiction women I saw were the stereotypical damsels in distress. Princess Leia started to break the mold by being smarter than the guys saving her but she still ended up in a metal bikini chained to a slug.

Go women?!? Not yet.

Then Alien came out. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley was smoking hot, smart, and deadly. She gave us a woman you *know* would never wear F-me pumps to run in when chased by the monster of the week. I was a teenager when this came out and I was so scared I think I was under the seat in the theatre. But I was also proud. I now had someone on screen with a smart mouth, a hot bod, and brains. I had my heroine and I'll never forget the pride I felt.

Thank you to Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett for writing her. We owe you.

Graylin Fox