# Fantasy/ sci fi with strong female characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2005, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727 "2005-02-12T09:38:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Snag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Snag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snag)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/101 "2005-02-17T04:09:13Z")
No one mentioned the Bene Gesserit from Frank Herbert’s Dune series? Especially as they were featured in “Heretics of Dune” and “Chapterhouse, Dune” which was centered on the sisterhood. Granted, they stiffled their emotions, but I felt nonetheless they made for well rounded, complex characters. Paul Maud’dib’s mother Jessica was a rebellious Bene Gesserit acolyte who dared to love, a very strong character to defy her sisterhood and who saved Paul after the House Atreides was attacked. Also there was Sheeana from God Emperor of Dune was Leto II’s way onto the Golden Path for humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/102 "2005-02-17T14:28:58Z")
> [@Anduin](#): > > No, unfortunately, it’s not. But it was the name of a friend of mine in high school. Was your friend an Air Force brat, by any chance? Mmm, pretty sure she was a college professors’ kid–lived in Chapel Hill. Ah well, so much for that hijack! I need to pick up some more Robin McKinley: _The Hero and the Crown_ is one of those books that stands up to multiple rereadings, and is at the top of my list of books to give to children, male or female. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/103 "2005-02-17T16:31:10Z")
Secondings and thirding: China Mieville’s _The Scar_. Any book written by Emma Bull. She just writes the coolest female characters. And then I think no one has mentioned Kate Elliott’s _Jaran_ novels yet. Genghis Khan in space with a feminist twist. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/104 "2005-02-17T16:40:10Z")
Oh yes, Elizabeth Haydon’s **Rhapsody** series is fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/105 "2005-02-17T20:58:33Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Mmm, pretty sure she was a college professors’ kid–lived in Chapel Hill. Ah well, so much for that hijack! > > I need to pick up some more Robin McKinley: _The Hero and the Crown_ is one of those books that stands up to multiple rereadings, and is at the top of my list of books to give to children, male or female. > > Daniel I have or have read most of the McKinleys. I second your statement vigorously, although I obviously prefer _The Blue Sword_. I almost Doper-named myself **Gonturan**. The Bene Gesserit definitely qualify as butt-kicking women. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/106 "2005-02-20T07:34:59Z")
I didn’t see the following mentioned, but I skimmed through the thread kind of fast: _Till We Have Faces_ by **C.S. Lewis.** This is his best novel, by far. If you’re thinking _Chronicles of Narnia_, think again: TWHF is on a totally different level. Strongly recommended! ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/107 "2005-02-20T20:06:52Z")
I’d have to agree with most of what I’ve seen listed (and I’m going to keep a list for books to track down & read!) For Mercedes Lackey I’d definately agree with the **Elemental Masters** books, but out of her Velgarth (Valdemar, etc.) stuff I’d have to recommend the _Tarma & Kethry_ books - **Oathblood** , **Oathbound** and **Oathbreakers** , along with **By The Sword** which ties _Tarma & Kethry_ with the main Valdemarian characters. Also, the later Valdemar books with Elspeth as the main character are, IMO even better than the earlier books with Talia - Elspeth is definately stronger (and somewhat more interesting.) Also for Lackey, they’re somewhat corny (ok, maybe A LOT corny) but the _Diana Tregarde_ books ( **Jinx High** , **Children of the Night** , and **Burning Water** ) are fun. And I can’t believe that no one has mentioned _Laurell K. Hamilton_ yet and her **Anita Blake** series. I’ve only read the first few - I’m given to understand that some of the later ones are more sex & less plot, but I’ve enjoyed what I read. I think her other main books have a strong female protagonist, also. That’s all “new” I can think of for now. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727/108 "2005-02-20T20:53:40Z")
> [@Elysian](#): > > Hambly has many, many books, but I have to disagree with **phouka** and say NOT to start with the _Silent Tower_. Start with Sparkhawk in _The Witches of Wenshar_, if you can find it. I liked Sparhawk a lot more than I liked Jenna. But really any of her books will do. [nitpick] Their names are Star Hawk (or Starhawk) and Joanna.[/nitpick] Star Hawk and Sun Wolf begin their adventures in _The Ladies of Mandrygin_, which has a lot of very strong female characters. You can occasionally find this book bundled with the sequel, _The Witches of Wenshar_, under the title of _The Unchooled (or Untaught, I forget) Mage_. There’s a third book in the series, _The Dark Hand of Magic_, which is also good. If you want to start reading Hambly, I suggest _Dragonsbane_. It spawned some sequels, but it was originally written as a stand alone book, and it’s excellent. The [official](http://www.barbarahambly.com/) Barbara Hambly webpage lists her books and short stories. Ummmm, yes, I like her writing a bit, can you tell? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fantasy-sci-fi-with-strong-female-characters/289727.md?page=5)