Sigh. I have been on a hunt for lady sci-fi writers. There’s Lois McMaster Bujold, of course, but I’ve already read (and reread, and rerereread) all of hers. Mostly, the women are in the fantasy section, and I wanted space! So I had high hopes for this one, and they were dashed – dashed, I tell you!
There’s a decades-long war going on with some aliens, and an internal coup going on in the military between factions who think the head dude is doing it wrong, and a kidnapped scientist, and the scientist’s runaway teen daughter, and some priests (???), and a planet with some nice aliens, and some handy teleporty wormholes, and some artifact doohickey, and lots of pages of what reads like somebody’s physics dissertation thrown in randomly to describe the doohickey. NONE of it is appealing, or enticing, or even interesting. There are too many good guys who never get really explained, too many bad guys who get even less backstory (human and alien both), and I never cared about any of them, or the fate of the universe.
This is apparently part of a series, so maybe I missed some of the backstory and explanations, but I don’t think any of that would have helped. The characters were blah, the conflict was overcomplicated, the ending was rushed, and sigh. My library is too small to have real sections, so all the genre stuff is mixed in and you just have to hunt for the little stickers, and I fear my lady-sci-fi quest will not be very successful under such trying circumstances. If anybody has any recommendations, I’ll take ‘em!
I’m guessing you’re looking more for space opera type science fiction? That’s where I tend to classify Bujold’s books. Try The Imperial Radch books by Anne Leckie, which start with Ancillary Justice.
It’d be crazy to talk about lady science fiction authors without mentioning Octavia Butler. Her Xenogenisis series or the Earthseed books both have space ships, though space isn’t quite the main focus I suppose.
I’m assuming you’ve heard of Andre Norton and Ursula LeGuin, but I’ll mention them both just in case. Anne McCaffery is an author I classify as science ficion even if her most well-known series has dragons in it, she’s got a few space opera series too though.
Thanks! I am a fan of Norton and LeGuin, but I haven’t read Anne Leckie yet (though I’ve heard good things). I have tried to like Octavia Butler, but haven’t managed it yet. Maybe her space stuff would be more up my alley. More stuff for the list, yay!
Anne Leckie is so good! Second and third and fourth that recommendation.
I came here to recommended Octavia Butler — I’ve only read a little of her (Kindred) but loved it! But if you’re not a fan, may I suggest Margaret Atwood? She might not be your typical sci-fi author, but she writes some pretty out-there stuff, and she’s also a total bad-ass.
Definitely check out the Alien Species Intervention #6609 series by JK Accinni. It’s weird and wonderful and horrible and it really makes you think. Can’t say enough good things about those books.
I haven’t heard of this one! My list is getting overwhelming…
‘The Keeper of the Isis Light’ by Monica Hughes. Yes it is from 1980 (so ANCIENT by today’s standards) and yes it is YA so a quick read but it is so worth it. Olwen is a wonderful protagonist and the book stays with you.
My boss’s name is Monica Hughes. Imagining a whole new backstory for her now.
OH TELL YOUR BOSS I LOVED HER BOOK!! 😉
Try Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells. This is the first in a series (two completed so far). I thought it was pretty good. The second, not so much.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L3U9OCG/ref=series_dp_rw_ca_1
EDIT: There are two versions. One is PG, and the other is R rated.
Elizabeth Bear, Linda Nagata, Jo Walton, K.B. Wagers, Nnedi Okorafor, Anne Leckie, Connie Willis. Just off the top of my head.
Totally agree that Ann Leckie is wonderful, I’ve read her trilogy at least three times this year.
I also second Elizabeth Bear (Jacob’s Ladder trilogy, starts with Dust. VERY weird, but really good) and Nnedi Okorafor (I’ve only read Binti bit it was AMAZING and I fully intend to read ALL of Ms. Okorafor’s stuff).
I would also add, Tanya Huff’s Valor series, which starts with Valor’s Choice. Military sci-fi, lots of humor, will break you heart.
Jacqueline Carey has a sci-fi duo, Santa Oliva and Saints Astray that I really liked.
I just finished The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and it was amazeballs.
God’s War by Kameron Hurley was good. First of a series, haven’t gotten to the rest yet.
Oooooh, Tanith Lee? I love Tanith Lee, more people should read Tanith Lee. Silver Metal Lover and Biting the Sun are my favorites of hers.
I have not loved the books I’ve read by her, but Kate Wilhelm is a lady sci-fi author who started publishing in the 50s and who won a Hugo in the 70s so mad props to her and maybe you’ll like her more?
Sheri S. Tepper. I really loved Singer From The Sea and really hated Beauty but read them both in high school so who knows what I would think now.
Oh, A Paradigm of Earth by Candas Jane Dorsey! Delightful first contact story.
Slow River by Nicola Griffith, near future, dystopian, so good.
Solitaire by Kelley Eskridge (who is married to Nicola Griffith!).
Persona by Genevive Valentine, really interesting near future concept.
Bone Dance by Emma Bull.
Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach, had two sequels, totally solid military sci-fi.
Omg, you should read Daughters of a Coral Dawn by Katherine V. Forrest just for the lols. It’s terrible (TERRIBLE) but in a hilarious way.
Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy is fantastic (and highly recommend the audiobooks for the series, they’re great).
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest is technically more steampunk than sci-fi but it reads more like sci-fi set during the Civil War, if you see the distinction?
Aaaaaaand I think I’m finally out. Enjoy!
Oh, and for the record, I read Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress and was deeply “eh” about it.
This is a fantastic list! I think the only one I’ve read is Boneshaker (liked, didn’t love) and maaaaybe Tanith Lee, but I can’t remember which ones. Does it say weird things about me if the two I want to start with are the ones you say are either TERRIBLE or will break my heart?
I don’t think that’s weird at all, both have solid entertainment value. I’m about to start a book called Cyborg Heat (which, hey, I guess is also sci-fi by a lady!) because it looks TERRIBLE and I need the lols.
Echoing Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull. Love them both.