I second the vote for Death.
I also like Juliet from, um, that book, by that Bill guy.
Diana Tregarde from various Mercedes Lackey books,
Anita Blake from Laurell K. Hamilton’s stuff,
another vote for Sonya Blue while we’re on vampires,
Jody from Blood Sucking Fiends: A Love Story,
Tika, from Dragonlance,
Elisa Maza from Gargoyles,
Kamiya Kaoru from Rurouni Kenshin,
Miaka from Fushigi Yuugi,
Akane from Ranma 1/2,
Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Does it have to be fictional? Cuz I have a strong affinity for the history of Joan of Arc…
Anyone mentioned Honor Harrington, from David Weber’s Honor series? The most down-to-Earth, consistently believable characters and technology in a sci-fi/space opera setting.
I think J. Michael should tackle it for his next series.
I also like Angie Harmon’s “Abbie Carmichael”, from NBC’s “Law and Order”. Smart, tough, and just occasionally vulnerable enough to make you kinda like her.
Sometimes.
ExTank
“Mostly Harmless :wally”
The Dolores Haze? Yep, guess we could use a definition of heroine. (Or do I need to re-read this book?)
Smeghead and FairyPrincessKitty – I shouldn’t have mentioned Dany without giving Arya some credit too. Arya definitely has spunk (can’t read that word without thinking of Lou Grant) but Dany’s strength is increasing along with that of her dragons. She’s single-minded to a fault, and she makes some hard choices in the third book.(The UK edition has been out since August. You are SO gonna love it.)
I have a soft spot for the heroines of Stephen R. Donaldson: Linden Avery, Teresa Morgan and Morn Hyland. They’re hard to love from the get-go, and they’re sometimes unbelieveable screwed up, but they’re complex, three-dimensional, and when push comes to shove, incredibly heroic. They’re anything but your average cookie-cutter sci-fi/fantasy heroines.
Eilonwy - Lloyd Alexander’s Pyrdain chronicles.
Elizabeth Bennet - Jane Austin’s Pride and Predjudice
Beatrice - William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Viola - William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Helena - William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
I’ve always had a parciality(sp?) to Jill from The Silver Chair and The Last Battle of The Chronicles of Narnia
How about Jane Eyre, a very modern woman for the mid 19th century.
I’ll second Cordelia Naismith, Honor Harrington, and Mara Jade. Also Ivanova, Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor (Terminator).
I’d like to add Angelina of the Steel Rat series - nothing like a reformed psychopath coming to save her husband’s butt. And then there’s Domino and Storm of the X-men (not from the movie - blech).
Nest Freemark!