Bards of Thalia Muse On: Fantastic Female Authors

All links current as of January 17, 2002

The following list was compiled from posts on the alt.fan.pratchett [What?] newsgroup in answer to a challenge by David Chapman to name great women authors of fantasy and science fiction. I have tried to include attribution when I have used a detailed review, but I haven't tried to keep track of who made what recommendation in all cases. I have imposed the purely arbitrary organizational method of Alphabetical Order, by author's last name.

I haven't separated Fantasy recommendations from SF recommendations; the lines get blurry and one author often writes both, plus things in the middle and off along the sides. I do try to list enough detail about each book and author that, whether you like High Fantasy or High Technology, you can make an informed choice. Whenever an author page exists, I've linked to it; if not, I've linked to the best available fan page. I've provided a link to the author's bibliography, a list of the most highly recommended books by that author (and negatively recommended books, if there were any), and detailed comments when available.

In spite of the fact that this thread got over 200 posts, I am sure we've left out some good books. If you want to add recommendations, do write me! Please try to write at least 30 words about *why* you liked a particular book, or author, and any links you have compiled.

Some of the books recommended here link to Amazon.com for reviews and information. If you do happen to buy the book at Amazon.com at the time of your visit from here, a few cents of your purchase will go to the Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project.

All links will open in a separate window, so you won't get lost, and can check out the whole list.

Bring chocolate and camping supplies.

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Joan Aiken
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Her work is primarily classified as "young-adult fantasy novels."

Hugh Sider: A good start for young readers is Wolves of Willoughby Chase. This is the first YA novel I read that had a female protagonist; I often give this as a gift to young acquaintances. These books are hard to find in the US.

Leigh Brackett
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
One of the few female authors who held her own place in the pages of the 1930's SF pulps. She won a posthumous Hugo for the script of "The Empire Strikes Back".
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Bibliography / List at Amazon.com (with reviews)
Books most recommended:
  • The Mists of Avalon
  • Some Darkover novels
Negative recommendations:
  • the prequels to Avalon
  • Black Trillium
  • Some Darkover novels
  • The Ruins of Isis
  • Glennraven
Has created one of the most organized bodies of fan fiction in existence.
Lois McMaster Bujold
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
The most awarded author since Robert Heinlein.
Octavia Butler: Zale Fellowship Page also Pathfinder page
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
  • Xenogenesis Series
Philosophy, characterization, storytelling and fine writing *can* all meet together.
Poppy Z. Brite
Bibliography
Horror writer, very Goth; described as "the queen of bisexual splatterpunk."
Emma Bull
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Pat Cadigan
Bibliography
SF writer; has been called "the Queen of Cyberpunk."
Angela Carter
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Reworkings of traditional fairy tales.
Suzy McKee Charnas
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
C.J. Cherryh
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
A generous woman who has her own page of reviews and recommendations.

Hugh Sider: Most of the work I'm familiar with is SF, but "Paladin" is fantasy, and something of a favorite of mine. Good characterization; and the swordplay is well written. The setting is Japanese, rather than European, which is refreshing. I've done enough work with the sword to be kind of picky on this topic.

Jo Clayton
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Jo Clayton was an artist as well as a writer. She died of multiple myeloma in Feb.98. In the last years of her life she mobilized the sf-f community to raise funds for writers in medical need. She was a mentor to other writers, and loved to teach. She may or may not be a good writer; there are several people I love whose books I won't read, and people whose books I love whom I do not care to keep company with at all at all. But she sounds like a generous woman who led a generous life. And I wouldn't be at all unhappy about leaving that kind of heritage.
Louise Cooper
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Susan Cooper
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
J.M. Dillard
Bibliography
Mostly known for novelizations of Star Trek.
Deborah Doyle (with James MacDonald)
Bibliography
Hugh Sider: "The Price of the Stars" and sequels: This is set in a far-future universe, and normally would qualify as SF. I consider it unabashed heroic fantasy; despite the technological setting. Call it Space Opera if you like; it's still a quite fun read.
Diane Duane
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Stephen Booth: Also amongst my favourites. I came to her through Star Trek, 'Spocks World' is definitely the best Star Trek book (closely followed by 'Final Frontier' by Diane Carey). She used to post here [alt.fan.pratchett], and is in the Rogues Gallery...
Leigh Eddings
Bibliography (with David Eddings)
Teresa Edgerton
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Esther Friesner: Home Page / Fan Page (capsule reviews)
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
  • The Chronicles of the Twelve Kingdoms (oriental style fantasy)
    (Mustapha and His Wise Dog (1985)
    Spells of Mortal Weaving (1986)
    The Witchwood Cradle (1987)
    The Water King's Laughter (1989))
  • New York by Knight series (contemporary fantasy)
    (New York by Knight (1986)
    Elf Defense (1988)
    Sphynxes Wild (1989))
  • recent serious fantasy:
    Psalms of Herod; Sword of Mary (futuristic fantasy, repressive patriarchal religion and courageous heroine)
    Child of the Eagle (historical fantasy, alternate Rome)
Her older novels are primarily comic fantasy. She has also co-edited some delightful collections like "Chicks in Chainmail" and "Alien Pregnant by Elvis!" Not noted for political correctness.
Mary Gentle
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Karen: Fascinating constructions of both characters and societies. She is a Mediaeval and Renaissance history specialist and uses many of the influences in her fantasy novels.
Bernard M. Earp: ... for a complete and funny change of pace try "Grunts" for a fantasy that it told from the Orcs point of view. I think that any fantasy reading Pterry [Terry Pratchett] fan will love this book.
Barbara Hambly
Bibliography
Books most recommended:
Hugh Sider: Barbara Hambly could well be my favorite author; she is also very entertaining as a lecturer; I highly recommend attending her talks for any would-be author. Hambly, like Cherryh, knows which end of a sword is sharp; she also writes settings that hang together well. As a slight variance from straight fantasy, she has written two mystery novels set in early 19th century New Orleans. "A Free Man of Color" presented the most alien culture I've yet seen; made even more disturbing by being almost completely historical.
Morgan Lewis: I'll agree Hambly should've stayed away from Star Wars and stuck to her own stuff.
Gillian: I thought her vampire books were the best vampire books I'd read. They managed to make you both like the vampire and still remember he's a killer.

Other Related Links

Feminist Science Fiction, Fantasy & Utopia with listservs

Lilith

Hinde Sight (Just a beautiful site, with LOTS of stuff)

Related Books

Lost in Space : Probing Feminist Science Fiction and Beyond by Marlene S. Barr & Marge Piercy

Future Females: A Critical Anthology by Marlene S. Barr

A New Species : Gender and Science in Science Fiction by Robin Roberts

My Related Links

Introduction | A-H | I-O | P-Z | Related Books & Links
Updated Friday, 01-Feb-2002 13:19:38 EST