Female-centric novels (SFF version)

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

So, thinking about halfamoon (and avoiding working on either housework or writing) I was running through a list of woman-heavy SFF novels, and of writers whom I could depend on to write the sorts of women and plots that I liked reading over and over.

By "sorts of women and plots that I liked reading over and over", I don't have many hard-and-fast rules. But I find that I *do* have things that turn me off. In short:

- I'm not into soulbonds and destiny-love anymore. Too old. (Soul bonds with critters get more slack, but not much.)
- I'm pretty much over my "young girl in a repressed parochial society grows up to be a kick-ass gal and leaves those losers behind" phase.
- I'm absolutely over the "rape and revenge" method of female characterization. Ditto most other types of victim-fetish.
- A lot of environmentalist utopias have me rolling my eyes at the impracticality of it. Relatedly, my bar for post-apoc stories keeps going up. (Although, honestly? Given the way that I used to read *anything* post-apoc? A higher standard would be a good thing.)
- In and of themselves, women in uniform are not enough to keep me reading a story. I find my tolerance for women in uniform *plus* soulbonds to be about half of what it is for soulbonds alone.

Leaving all that aside:

Ten novels which appealed to me because of the female characters.

- The Outskirter's Secret, by Rosemary Kirstein. SF. (Other planet.) Primary protagonist *and* main secondary character are both female. Minor romantic interest (het). An investigative map-maker goes out into the wilderness to look into mysterious rumors. Outstanding worldbuilding, fantastic cultures, disarming and unlooked-for mind-bending potential. All wrapt up in an intriguing and high-tension plot.

-The Ladies of Mandrigyn, by Barbara Hambly. F (sword & sorcery) POV split between two primary characters - one male, one female. Off-screen romance. When a captain of mercenaries is captured, it's up to his second-in-command to rescue him. While there are multiple intriguing secondary characters, the primary male character is the only male who gets significant screen time - most of the interaction is between gals. A "woman warrior" story that starts by assuming its strong women, and going on from there. Note: I had the hardest damn time picking just one Hambly novel. There are *many* others also worth the reading.

-Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler. SF (Near-future) First person narration of a coming-of-age story. Mostly gen with some het romance. In an economically depressed and declining California, a neighborhood struggles to survive. It's hard for me to say what appeals to me most in this story - the post-apoc feel, the journey, the issues of religion, the deep love of family (and all the heartaches that come with it) that runs through the story. The rationality of the narrator echoes Outskirter's Secret, and brings forth a problem-solving focus that this reader finds less often in female-centric stories. Another author with a life-work worth the reading.

-The Falling Woman, by Pat Murphy. F (Ghosts) First person, split between older and younger female narration. An archaeologist can visualize the lives of the people she unearths, but the conflict with her daughter is harder to see through. The mix of authoritative history/archeology and Mesoamerican legend gives a depth and texture to this award winning novel. I adored the older perspective, and found the generational conflicts realistic and intriguing.

-The Pride of Chanur, by CJ Cherryh. SF (Space opera) Non-human feline-based alien pov. A thinking-sf story dressed up like an adventure novel, and wearing it well. The Pride of Chanur is a merchant spacecraft manned by members of a matriarchal society. A human male is an un-expected stowaway. Long before FS launched John Crichton into the Unchartereds, CJC was telling the same story from the other side. This is the start of a five-volume series, and the tone shifts somewhat at the end of this one. I recommend the whole series.

-Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff - SF (military sf) Main female protagonist, other minor povs. A veteran NCO is saddled with a new officer and must cope with an alien attack. Sterling military perspective and excellent cultural world-building. Extra bonus points for earth-historical military history refs. The remaining books in this series (new one out in June, woot!) are also recommended.

-The Magic and the Healing, by Nick O'Donohoe. F (otherwords/magic) Female protagonist. A senior veterinary student learns to treat unicorns, griffins, and other strange beasts. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things in an ordinary manner. Many very cool secondary characters, and a steady failure of the protagonist (or any other of the 'good' characters) to always make the right choice - both through design and through ignorance. First of a series of three.

-The Conqueror's Child, by Suzy McKee Charnas. SF (post-apoc/feminist utopia) Female pov throughout, with many female secondary characters. The daughter of a world liberator finally catches up with the legend who bore her. Redeemed much of the 'separatist society utopia' genre for me. This is a book about the human cost of being the victors - something shown fairly frequently from the male pov, but this was the first I had seen any female utopia story go on and say "what next?" A book I read because of the horses - and go on re-reading because of the human characters.

-The Sword of Winter by Marta Randall. F (psuedomedival world) Female protagonist throughout. Gen with adult romance. In a world of ice and snow, a professional messenger and explorer has to deal with palace intrigues and an un-welcome stray. Of the many reasons to love this book - adept worldbuilding, horses, cultural clashes and a fairly well-plotted out mystery - I keep coming back to the main protagonist. Her strong sense of self and stubbornness resonate strongly.

-Barrayar, by Lois McMaster Bujold. SF (space opera/sociological) Female protagonist throughout. Het romance. A former starship captain is caught up in the politics of her new homeworld - putting her new-found peace and the lives of her family at risk. Seriously, if you haven't read this one yet, give it a try. Cordelia Naismith is the arch-type Advanced Civilized Feminist, and yet her struggles to adapt and survive in her new home remain engaging and heart-warming.

There are many books that I did not included, for a variety of reasons (such as: "This is a book with a strong female character, but that's not why I read this book over and over.") Please feel free to add suggestions and comments! I am interested in new books to try out. Also - I'd love to see a similar list of mystery, graphic novel, romance or horror novels.

Comments

[gelliaclodiana]

There are other things I like about McKillip, but I reread Heir of Sea and Fire religiously, especially when I was younger, precisely because it has three female protagonists in a quest narrative. And they're all quite different, and don't agree on quite a few important matters. That made me happy.

[gelliaclodiana]

As an aside, one of the things I like about Barrayar is that although Cordelia sees herself as the only civilized person in a sea of crazy barbarians, the novel undercuts that quite a bit -- she's not right about everything, and she has to compromise.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

she's not right about everything, and she has to compromise.

I can still see this in Barrayar but reading the later novels have made me aware that Cordelia has been set up as the Great Galactic Preacher to the unwashed heathen barbarians, and the text supports this, to a large extent. When Cordelia fails, it is not because her pov or opinions are wrong, it is because she is overly idealistic and not pragmatic enough. (IMO).

This is not to say that I don't love the character and the novels with a great abiding love - just that I think I would love Cordelia more if she had more of the humanity of her husband or her son.

(I would be interested in counter-examples, if you had them...)

- hg

[gelliaclodiana]

I was thinking mostly of Barrayar to be honest -- I'm not sure I disagree with you entirely about the later books. But she comes to the planet with a set of expectations about what it will be like, and some of that is right and some of it very, very wrong (and some she thinks is right, because she can't see where she's wrong.)

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

Ha! My eyes skimmed straight past Riddle of Stars, because in my mind, it is so strongly Morgon's story. That's...interesting. (And thinking of Raederle reminds me of the request for more Leia in Star Wars...the characters and situations seem similar to me.)

You are, however, absolutely right about the variety of female motivation and the quest trope. Both excellent things - and when combined with McKillip's prose, are to be highly recommended, imo.

- hg

[geekturnedvamp.livejournal.com]

Let's see, just thinking of books you might like... suspect our reading tastes differ significantly, but I share your love for post-apocalyptic stories, and was just recommending Sheri Tepper's The Gate To Women's Country to someone recently as my favorite of the separatist society utopia genre. (Mainly because I think it's a little less hardcore than the Suzy McKee Charnas series, and it doesn't have that thing with the horses, which not all readers can appreciate). I also feel like it does show the human cost of the separatism despite the idealized elements, and have been meaning to reread it soon.

I also frequently reread Jaran by Kate Elliott, because I like the way the heroine comes into her own when she's stranded on an interdicted planet and forced to adapt to a less technologically advanced matriarchal culture (while still having to deal with the politics of the world she came from). The main character, Tess, sort of reminded me of a female John Crichton in some ways, and the idea of destined relationships is presented as sufficiently problematic for me to appreciate the romance which develops.

I also like Mary Gentle's books, which tend to feature strong female protagonists (Golden Witchbreed, Rats and Gargoyles, the Ash quartet).

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

and it doesn't have that thing with the horses, which not all readers can appreciate

*spits coffee at the screen* Yeah, that thing with the horses. Which...yeah, not everyone's going to be able to get past. (The one thing that I get from the Homelands novels is a sense that the author is aware of the sketchiness of some attitudes of her characters, and isn't so much advocating them as using them as bad examples. In this context 'that thing with the horses' is, imo, not the most problematic element in the books.)

Tepper I've read a few of - Grass, for one - but not Gate.

I liked Jaran quite a lot - I still remember the needlework on the sleeves, and the different hunting 'domains'.

The Ash stories were fantastic. I didn't like Golden Witchbreed as much, and never tried Rats. Tell me, if you would, why I should try Rats.

- hg

[cofax7]

Grass is the only Tepper I wholeheartedly recommend anymore. A LOT of her later work (post-Grass: Gate was written earlier) spends most of its energy showing the evils of patriarchy and organized religion: if there's anything else in there, I can't find it for the anvils dropping.

Also, oh, that think with the horses. Did you have to remind me? I was scarred for life!

Rats is... well, I couldn't finish it. It's not much (anything) like Ash, I thought.

[jamethiel]

... erm, hi! I got to this post by googling female-centric sf/f, but... can you please spoil me for whatever the thing with the horses is? Cause I might like to read McKee Charnas but not if she goes the Mercedes Lackey route.

(Goodreads is unhelpful on this)

[wendelah1]

Have you read Kristine Smith's Jani Killian series? I loved them. The first book is Code of Conduct. Besides the main character, who is really smart, funny and very tough there is a conflict with an interesting alien species and a far future Earth whose culture seems to center around Chicago (!)The medicine is amazing, the military is fascinating, and even the document control is interesting. That last is a feat. She came out with another book in the series late last year, which I just ordered. It is the fifth and probably the last, as it called End Game. Maybe I will reread the first four while I wait for it to arrive.

I love the Chanur books. Sentient Female Cats in Space!

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I have not read those - they sound interesting! *scribbles notes* Thanks for the suggestions!

- hg

[50mm.livejournal.com]

I'm always on the lookout for recommendations of good sf books, so I'm bookmarking for future reference. Thanks! Great post.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Do let me/us know if you end up reading any of these.

- hg

[muccamukk]

I really enjoyed The Cassini Division by Ken MacLeod. It's vaguely utopic (or distopic, depending on who you ask) sci fi that gets off on a number of philisophical tracks, but it really worked for me largely because of the hero. I understand it's part of a series, but without reading anything else by the author, it stood very well.

Ellen May Ngwenthu is smart, determined,strong, enjoys sex, commands respect, and what's more does all this in a clearly demonstrated fashion. We aren't just told she's awesome and expected to like her; we're shown her awesomeness in relation to the plot and it makes sense. She can also snark (mainly to herself, as it's first person from her POV), and doesn't seem bitchy -- well she does sometimes, but it's with good cause.The best part is, she has flaws, big ones that get her into trouble and have consequences for the story. She's stubborn, arrogant, prejudiced and has a couple of fracking huge blind spots. All of this is with good reason, but still not entirely excusable. My only real problem is that she's written straight, which fan fic can take care of -g-

[muccamukk]

Oh, also I really love all the P. C. Hodgell books because they are plotty and wonderful and star Jame, who is made of awesome, but I could never quite tell if I loved them because I grew up with them or not. Other have told me they find her Sueish and implausible.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I am in the process of re-reading the Jame books, because I finally got Seeker's Mask and found it pretty much non-followable without re-reading the other two.

God-Stalk was the first book I conciously doled out to myself in chapters and pages - I loved the book that much, and I knew it wasn't going to last.

- hg

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I might have seen this one around - I'll pick it up next time I see it.

Thanks for the rec!

- hg

[dharma-slut.livejournal.com]

Hmm... I am bookmarking this convo, guys!

It's rather disgusting how few books I have to add to the list, but Jo Clayton seems to be less well-known than her talent warranted. There's a trilogy that I love-- Skeen's Leap, Skeen's Return, Skeen's search.

Skeen is a space pilot, a 'rooner", and a dealer in greey-market goods. She's got plenty of flaws, plenty of virtues, and the groups that gather around her tend to have plenty of women, usually in the primary roles. There's no feminist propagandising, it's just the way it goes. Skeen is straight, and her men are quite well written also, very much individuals.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I read Skeen's Leap, oh, years back, and yes, I can see where she could go on the list. Thanks for the suggestion!

- hg

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

To my eternal shame, I must admit that I only the Bujold novel on your rec list. But the books by Barbara Hambly, Octavia Butler and Tanya Huff sound as if they could be right up my alley, so thanks a lot for these recommendations!

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

It's not a shameful thing - it's just that now you have more books to check out! Hambly in particular is one of those that I can depend on to tell a good story with strong gal characters. (However, if you are just starting out, I would suggest against picking up her Dragonsbane series straight off - its her darkest and least happy set of books.)

so thanks a lot for these recommendations!

You're welcome, and I hope you find a few you really like!

- hg

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Argh, I had a huge comment here and somehow LJ ate it. Again!

* Doris Egan's "Ivory" trilogy, although I almost recommend people start with the second book, "Two-Bit Heroes" as opposed to the official first book "The Gate of Ivory." Main character: Theodora, a bookish anthropologist and scholar who gets stranded on a baroque and (she thinks) uncivilized world where (it's claimed) magic works. Meets a noble/sorceror called Ran, is used in his elaborate shenanigans, they fall in love. The second book involves their getting abducted by bandits and (among other things) struggling to perform the various steps in the elaborate Ivoran month-long marriage ceremony while pretending they don't like each other very much (so as not to be used as hostages for each other.) Theodora also tells the leader of the bandits the story of Robin Hood, and things progress from there about as you'd expect, except not. *G*

"Gate of Ivory" is particularly notable for having the only scene I can think of where a mighty quest is briefly interrupted by the heroine getting her period at an inconvenient time and having to send one of her companions into town to get supplies. The main appeal of these books is the culture-clash; both Theodora and Ran think they're only doing/saying the obvious right thing in whatever situation they're in, and can't imagine where the other person is coming from.

There's not so many other female characters besides Ran in "Gate of Ivory," but there's a couple of female bandits and so on in "Two-Bit Heroes," which is probably another reason I like it better.

* Connie Willis' "Doomsday Book"-- a time-travelling Oxford historian on her first history mission is sent back too far and ends up in Europe during the Black Death. In the future, her colleagues struggle to rescue her, but Kivrin has to get through it all alone, at first not even able to speak to the people she meets. Plenty of interesting female characters, both in the future-time and in the past. (Bonus points if you find a copy with the hilariously wrong cover (http://i19.ebayimg.com/01/i/05/03/ed/e9_1.JPG) that depicts Kivrin's journey as some kind of fairytale princess adventure, complete with handsome knight. WHAT.)

* Kage Baker's "In The Garden of Iden"-- first book in her "Company" series but can be read alone. Mendoza is a child plucked out of history by a mysterious far future organization simply known as the Company, turned into an immortal, unkillable cyborg with inhuman senses and abilities, and sent into various time periods to rescue lost knowledge, works of art, and so on, before they're destroyed in historical cataclysms. Mendoza is a botanist, collecting lost plant samples. The Company operatives are taught to disdain ordinary humans and their disgusting, barbaric habits. But of course Mendoza falls in love with one her first time out. What I like about this book is that despite the fact that she'll probably live for tens of thousands of years, and despite the fact that she's very smart and very capable, *right now* Mendoza is as stupid and naive as any sheltered young woman who's never been in love. She makes some terrible decisions and some terrible things happen, but it's all very believable. Can be read alone without other "Company" novels.

* Martha Wells' The Element of Fire (http://marthawells.com/element.htm), now out of print and available online, so people should just go read it, 'cause I gotta run. *G*

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, in later books in the "Company" series there is sort of a twist on the usual "destiny/soulbond" thing with Mendoza and Nicholas, but not really in just the first book.

[hossgal.livejournal.com]

I love the Ivory triology - it's one of those that *feels* like low-impact fluff, but then it sneaks up on you and tries to skew your worldview all around. They are (for me) great comfort reads. I second your rec to start with 'Two-Bit Heroes'.

Of Willis's books, the one I have liked the best was To Say Nothing Of The Dog, but I find myself appreciating her short fiction even more. *thinks* "And Come From All Around" has what I think of her trademark style - a bit of humor and a bit of irony and a bit of social commentary, wrapt up in so.damn.kewl. Passage was a bit darker, but also interesting from an investigative science perspective. On a personal note, the advertising for Doomsday Book turned me off in its discussion of "good and evil" - which I didn't see in the novel. Now, "Jack" or "Firewatch"...those wrestled with dragons, I thought. *shrugs*

I found the Company series through The Graveyard Game, and never really warmed to Mendoza. As you say, Garden of Iden treats her better, and gives more depth to the character.

*Goes off to read the Wells book*

The cool thing about this discussion is all the various things that people focus on in different books!

- hg

[cofax7]

I suspect you'd like Martha Wells' Fall of Ile-Rien novels, which starts with The Wizard Hunters. They're just fun adventures, with a highly snarky and competent (but not uber-competent) female protagonist, and sundry other female characters as well.

[liviapenn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was going to rec those too. I love Tremaine.