A book list!
2 May 2016 06:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
"100 MUST-READ SCI-FI FANTASY NOVELS BY FEMALE AUTHORS" by Nikki Steele, who writes, "Do note that I’ve only listed the first book in any given series."
I think this is a very good list. I have bolded the ones I've read, check-marked the ones I own but haven't read yet, and starred the ones I especially liked. I'm feeling especially hard to please when it comes to fiction these days, and I want to reflect that, so I didn't give out very many stars. I don't mean to suggest the ones I didn't give a star to are bad, just that they didn't get me super-excited.
If you've read any of these authors, I want to hear what you liked by them!
1. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
2. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
*3. Among Others by Jo Walton
*4. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
√5. Ancient, Ancient by Kiini Ibura Salaam
√6. The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich
7. Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
8. Ash by Malinda Lo
9. Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
10. The Pyramid Waltz by Barbara Wright
11. Biting the Sun by Tanith Lee
12. The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
*13. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
√14. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
15. Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
16. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara
√17. China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
18. Chorus of Mushrooms by Hiromi Goto
19. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
20. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
21. The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce
22. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
23. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
24. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
25. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Didn't finish the series.)
√26. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
27. The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
28. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Probably her most "important" book but not the one I would have picked as her best or my favorite.)
29. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
30. Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara
31. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
32. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
33. The Etched City by K.J. Bishop
34. The Female Man by Joanna Russ
35. Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg
36. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (Tried, bounced)
37. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
38. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
39. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
40. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
*41. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
42. The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
*43. Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr.
*44. Hild by Nicola Griffith
45. His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
46. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
47. The House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferré
48. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
49. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
50. Ink by Sabrina Vourvoulias
51. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
52. The Island of Eternal Love by Daína Chaviano
53. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
54. Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
*55. The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin (This duology is excellent but I liked the Inheritance series better.)
56. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
57. Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
√58. Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
59. The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
*60. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
61. Moving the Mountain by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
62. Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
63. My Christina & Other Stories by Mercè Rodoreda
64. My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due (Haven't read this one. I liked Joplin's Ghost though.)
65. Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin
66. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
67. Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
68. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
69. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
*70. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Really like this series.)
71. The Red by Linda Nagata
√72. Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
*73. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (Really like this series.)
74. Salt Fish Girl by Larissa Lai
75. The Second Mango by Shira Glassman
76. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (Have read the whole series.)
77. Shikasta by Doris Lessing
78. The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge
79. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (Started, bounced)
80. So Far from God by Ana Castillo
√81. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
*82. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Really like this series.)
83. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
84. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
85. Spirits of the Ordinary by Kathleen Alcala
86. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
87. A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar (Reading now)
88. Sunshine by Robin McKinley (Have read other good stuff by her.)
89. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
*90. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
91. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
92. Valor’s Choice by Tanya Huff
93. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
94. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
√95. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
96. Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson
97. Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy
98. The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet and Other Stories by Vandana Singh (I've probably read some of the stories in here.)
99. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
100. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I think this is a very good list. I have bolded the ones I've read, check-marked the ones I own but haven't read yet, and starred the ones I especially liked. I'm feeling especially hard to please when it comes to fiction these days, and I want to reflect that, so I didn't give out very many stars. I don't mean to suggest the ones I didn't give a star to are bad, just that they didn't get me super-excited.
If you've read any of these authors, I want to hear what you liked by them!
1. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
2. The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
*3. Among Others by Jo Walton
*4. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
√5. Ancient, Ancient by Kiini Ibura Salaam
√6. The Antelope Wife by Louise Erdrich
7. Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
8. Ash by Malinda Lo
9. Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
10. The Pyramid Waltz by Barbara Wright
11. Biting the Sun by Tanith Lee
12. The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
*13. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
√14. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
15. Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
16. Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara
√17. China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
18. Chorus of Mushrooms by Hiromi Goto
19. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
20. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart
21. The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce
22. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
23. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
24. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
25. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris (Didn't finish the series.)
√26. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
27. The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
28. The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Probably her most "important" book but not the one I would have picked as her best or my favorite.)
29. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
30. Dragon Sword and Wind Child by Noriko Ogiwara
31. Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
32. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
33. The Etched City by K.J. Bishop
34. The Female Man by Joanna Russ
35. Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg
36. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip (Tried, bounced)
37. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
38. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
39. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
40. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
*41. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
42. The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
*43. Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree Jr.
*44. Hild by Nicola Griffith
45. His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
46. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
47. The House on the Lagoon by Rosario Ferré
48. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
49. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
50. Ink by Sabrina Vourvoulias
51. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
52. The Island of Eternal Love by Daína Chaviano
53. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
54. Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
*55. The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin (This duology is excellent but I liked the Inheritance series better.)
56. Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
57. Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling
√58. Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
59. The Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley
*60. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
61. Moving the Mountain by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
62. Mr. Fox by Helen Oyeyemi
63. My Christina & Other Stories by Mercè Rodoreda
64. My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due (Haven't read this one. I liked Joplin's Ghost though.)
65. Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin
66. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
67. Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
68. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
69. The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
*70. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (Really like this series.)
71. The Red by Linda Nagata
√72. Redemption in Indigo by Karen Lord
*73. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (Really like this series.)
74. Salt Fish Girl by Larissa Lai
75. The Second Mango by Shira Glassman
76. Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold (Have read the whole series.)
77. Shikasta by Doris Lessing
78. The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge
79. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh (Started, bounced)
80. So Far from God by Ana Castillo
√81. Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho
*82. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Really like this series.)
83. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
84. The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
85. Spirits of the Ordinary by Kathleen Alcala
86. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
87. A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar (Reading now)
88. Sunshine by Robin McKinley (Have read other good stuff by her.)
89. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
*90. Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
91. The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
92. Valor’s Choice by Tanya Huff
93. War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
94. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
√95. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
96. Wicked As They Come by Delilah S. Dawson
97. Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy
98. The Woman Who Thought She Was a Planet and Other Stories by Vandana Singh (I've probably read some of the stories in here.)
99. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
100. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 02:53 am (UTC)Nyet, includes none of C.S. Friedman, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Rosemary
Kirstein, Barbara Hambly, Pamela Dean. That's just off the top of my
head. And if you're going to include Anne McCaffrey for importance
rather than good writing, you ought to include Laurell Hamilton.
That's not even including authors I'd rather exclude (Robin Hobb, I'm
looking at you, plus I'm not at all convinced that Naomi Novik belongs on
that list).
Also annoying that they only link to Amazon.
<grump><grump><grump> ;-)
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 04:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 05:19 am (UTC)Uprooted is a horse of an entirely different color. No military overlay at all; it's a trope-busting reworking of elements from fairy tales (mostly Eastern European, and the culture in the story is very Russian-influenced). It's up for a Hugo this year, and I'll be voting it either #1 or #2.
no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 06:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 03:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 10:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 06:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 04:09 am (UTC)The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner is quite enjoyable; maybe a bit slow in the beginning but has a great twist ending; smartly written and with some good sequels.
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 May 2016 12:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8 May 2016 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 Aug 2016 01:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 Aug 2016 08:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 11:19 am (UTC)Frankenstein, though, I adore that book. It is so good!
I haven't read 'The Dispossessed', but I've read a bunch of her other work. I particularly like her short stories. 'Solitude' is one of my favourites.
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 04:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 04:26 pm (UTC)Megan Whalen Turner: The Thief is a middle-grade adventure story that's better than it ought to be. The first sequel, The Queen Of Attolia, is very very good and would be YA except for a) it's a sequel to a middle-grade and b) no sex. It's got that whole realistic-depiction-of-several-kinds-of-trauma-with-a-good-ending thing going for it. The sequels aren't quite as good but are still very much worth reading.
Robin Hobb: if you like big sprawling fantasy serieses with resolutions every three books, she writes those! I felt like something in her narrative voice shifted for the worse after her second book and I haven't been able to describe what it is.
Kameron Hurley: I haven't read Mirror Empire but I've read God's War and Infidel. God's War is brilliant! Infidel is rambly. Both have really good skiffy worldbuilding and excellent characters.
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:42 pm (UTC)Thanks for the recs!
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 06:04 pm (UTC)Cherie Priest: of course I don't like steampunk but her first trilogy, about a young woman named Eden Moore who can see ghosts, I liked a lot. The first book is Four and Twenty Blackbirds.
Charlaine Harris: I liked her Shakespeare novels (which are mysteries rather than SF/F but have a woman protag who doesn't need rescuing) quite a bit. I liked her four-book series about Harper Connolly best of all her work, and her new series is basically crossover fanfic with minor characters from ALL HER OTHER BOOKS, and I have liked the first 2 books in that series very much.
Patricia McKillip: I bounced off of Eld but like some of her other work a lot.\
Nicola Griffith: I haven't read Hild but have the distinct impression it's not SF/F, correct me if I'm wrong? I adore everything else she has written with a white hot passion, so will probably pick up Hild at some point.
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:49 pm (UTC)Harris: YES THE HARPER CONNOLLY BOOKS ARE GREAT and I haven't liked any of her other series I tried (Sookie Stackhouse, Shakespeare, and Aurora Teagarden). I loved that the protagonist in Shakespeare was a housekeeper and I wanted to like it, but I just didn't.
McKillip: It was Eld that I tried.
You're right, Hild is not SF/F. But it scratches the same itch as SF/F for me because she has created a very detailed world. I love it.
no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 05:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 06:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 05:35 am (UTC)The Shakespeare books are a little on the grimdark side -- what was done to the protagonist was horrific torture, and Harris doesn't shy away from referring to it -- so I can see why some people might have trouble with those. By the same token, I would suggest you avoid A Secret Rage, which is about the mental and emotional journey of a rape survivor and is VERY explicit in some ways.
Aurora Teagarden I liked for the first 4 or 5 books, but then lost interest. I agree that the Harper Connolly books are excellent; it's a shame that the series seems to have stopped at 4, and I can't help but wonder if her exploration of the seriously non-traditional relationship between the two protagonists might be the reason -- too controversial for either the publisher or the audience, perhaps?
You might look at Sweet and Deadly, which is a stand-alone mystery with a very unusual twist. I was quite pleased with myself because I don't usually guess any of the major components before the denouement, but this one I did.
no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6 May 2016 03:24 pm (UTC)C. Harris: More love for Harper Connolly and also Midnight Texas!
no subject
Date: 8 May 2016 04:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7 May 2016 01:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8 May 2016 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 06:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 10:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 10:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 May 2016 07:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 12:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 May 2016 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 8 May 2016 04:04 pm (UTC)I read "The Darkangel" when I was a young teen and images from it have stuck with me. I keep meaning to re-read it.
My husband raves about "Station Eleven" and it's on my "to read" list.
"Who Fears Death" is an intense read because of the subject matter (rape, female genital mutilation, war & murder, etc.) but a good one.
no subject
Date: 8 May 2016 08:51 pm (UTC)