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estaraIn honour of Sharon Lee's idea of making June 23rd Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer's Day, I'd like to give tribute to the amazing female sf&f writers I have increasingly discovered since the 90s and especially the ones I've discovered and had contact with in the last two years (Aside: all hail the internet!).
Don't get me wrong, I occasionally still read male written fiction, but the older I get (- if the song quoted in the title doesn't date me, most of my readers already know I'm in my 40s anyway ;-)) the more I have found that female writers speak to my personal tastes more than male writers.
Case in point: This year - specifically because of my eye problems - I gifted myself with a dedicated e-reader on my birthday (sort of as a good luck charm or last gasp at reading). I have bought 19 novels and novellas so far, in the genres of non-fiction, romance and sf&f. None of them were written by men.
And I think one aspect that keeps me buying the ladies' work is that while they have clever ideas and action and heroism in their work as the male authors do, these are paired with consistent characters, plot and world-building. The main characters are often part of a team, where everyone has strengths and weaknesses and themes of community and working together are necessary to solve the problems. They're not afraid to show emotion, the heroes and the heroines. The villains are less likely to be evil for the sake of evil, the problems are often caused by prior misunderstandings, not looking or listening close enough.
I know there are exceptions, just as there are male exceptions in the direction I prefer, but overall this is my impression. I grew up with fantasy fiction (first in German, then in English) in the 80s and there just weren't many female authors to read (Andre Norton, MZB, Susan Cooper come to mind right away), so I started with male authors.
Some even had interesting females (David Eddings and Raymond Feist - mostly in his trilogy with Janny Wurts), but only in the 90s - with the Sword& Sorceress Anthologies and the careers of Jennifer Roberson , Mercedes Lackey et al., starting because of that - did I discover the books that are on my keeper shelf these days. The internet has opened my eyes to even more of the ladies as I frequent authors' websites and read what they enjoy reading and which support group they belong to and discover reviewers that share my tastes and tip me off to new names.
With my various moves to different places I have continually pared down my stack of books and not many male authors are left on the shelves (none in the romance section, heh:wink:). I do still try them if their book sounds interesting and they have a female protagonist, like Joshua Palmatier in his Throne of Armenkor trilogy. He's the person who invented and leads the DAWbooks community, kudos for that as well (- which plays to my theory that I simply like people who are aware of the strengths of emotion and community and willing to use it in real life and in fiction).
So this post will celebrate the ladies and try and give my impression of squee! about their work (WITH SPOILERS - because I can't do without them and personally I love them).
You know, I can see I won't be able to cover all the ladies today, so I'll be turning this into a series as time permits.
~ originally posted at bookish.net
Don't get me wrong, I occasionally still read male written fiction, but the older I get (- if the song quoted in the title doesn't date me, most of my readers already know I'm in my 40s anyway ;-)) the more I have found that female writers speak to my personal tastes more than male writers.
Case in point: This year - specifically because of my eye problems - I gifted myself with a dedicated e-reader on my birthday (sort of as a good luck charm or last gasp at reading). I have bought 19 novels and novellas so far, in the genres of non-fiction, romance and sf&f. None of them were written by men.
And I think one aspect that keeps me buying the ladies' work is that while they have clever ideas and action and heroism in their work as the male authors do, these are paired with consistent characters, plot and world-building. The main characters are often part of a team, where everyone has strengths and weaknesses and themes of community and working together are necessary to solve the problems. They're not afraid to show emotion, the heroes and the heroines. The villains are less likely to be evil for the sake of evil, the problems are often caused by prior misunderstandings, not looking or listening close enough.
I know there are exceptions, just as there are male exceptions in the direction I prefer, but overall this is my impression. I grew up with fantasy fiction (first in German, then in English) in the 80s and there just weren't many female authors to read (Andre Norton, MZB, Susan Cooper come to mind right away), so I started with male authors.
Some even had interesting females (David Eddings and Raymond Feist - mostly in his trilogy with Janny Wurts), but only in the 90s - with the Sword& Sorceress Anthologies and the careers of Jennifer Roberson , Mercedes Lackey et al., starting because of that - did I discover the books that are on my keeper shelf these days. The internet has opened my eyes to even more of the ladies as I frequent authors' websites and read what they enjoy reading and which support group they belong to and discover reviewers that share my tastes and tip me off to new names.
With my various moves to different places I have continually pared down my stack of books and not many male authors are left on the shelves (none in the romance section, heh:wink:). I do still try them if their book sounds interesting and they have a female protagonist, like Joshua Palmatier in his Throne of Armenkor trilogy. He's the person who invented and leads the DAWbooks community, kudos for that as well (- which plays to my theory that I simply like people who are aware of the strengths of emotion and community and willing to use it in real life and in fiction).
So this post will celebrate the ladies and try and give my impression of squee! about their work (WITH SPOILERS - because I can't do without them and personally I love them).
Elizabeth Wein
She takes first place, because not only is her work amazing and her style lyrical - if more alternate history than fantasy fiction - but she also sent me a hardcover copy of Firebirds Soaring with a personal inscription in the book at the beginning of her short story (and an apology for the Nazi bad guys, but the story is set during the Battle of Britain, heh) and a lovely card with her own artwork of Arthur putting the heir's crown on Lleu's head.
And all because I had some possible pr ideas for her books. Thank you!
Website: Elizabeth Wein (LJ)
Squee!: Arthurian alternate history (no magic)continuing at the court of the Emperor of Ethiopia!
The Winter Prince: Mordred/Medraut as a tortured hero (truly tortured - emotionally and physically abused by his mother, insecure and envious of his brother Lleu, feeling guilty about not completely appreciating his family), Guinevra as a capable mother and map maker, Arthur as a wise leader (no Merlin and no Lancelot), twins Goewin (bright, talented and secretly wanting to lead) and Lleu (beautiful, adoring his older half-brother, of fragile health, not really interested in inheriting the crown). All of them living in an old Roman villa and trying to restore it to its original beauty.
A Coalition of Lions: The survivors of the end of Arthur's fall take refuge at the court of the Ethiopian emperor (the author has been to Ethiopia and it shows); lions, clever youngsters (Telemakos reminds me of Megan Whelan Turner's Eugenides in younger years); a long-time mute survivor of the last battle for Arthur, Goewin as British ambassador trying to manoeuvre politics to do what's best for her country; finding love in unexpected places; political sacrifices and honour upheld;
Things to be aware of: The Winter Prince really drags you through Medraut's emotional wringer and if you don't feel emotionally secure when you read it (and you're the type to feel with protagonists), you will be crying for quite a while and feel as if you were hammered. The Winter Prince is written in first person p-o-v.
Quote from The Sunbird:
Telemakos was hiding in the New Palace. He lay among the palms at the edge of the big fountain in the Golden Court. The marble lip of the fountain’s rim just cleared the top of his head, and the imported soil beneath his chest was warm and moist. He was comfortable. He could move about easily behind the plants, for the sound of the fountains hid any noise he might make. Telemakos was watching his aunt.
Further reading: A great interview that covers all her books so far - with excerpts of the books in the cycle she's currently working on.
You know, I can see I won't be able to cover all the ladies today, so I'll be turning this into a series as time permits.
~ originally posted at bookish.net
