Depending on how you define SF, the origins go back to the ancient Greeks (at least). Most world-origin stories/myths could be considered SF ... for a given value of 'high tech'.
]]>... I'm still hoping for more one day.
]]>Is a real slog to get through, at least for me. I much prefer "Frankenstein" and some of Shelley's shorter work. And I also like Stoker's work.
]]>As it stands the post makes its point about the number of women who write SFF - but with so many names, it'd be great to have some more focus. This thread seems a good place for sharing/eliciting reading tips, so maybe (if I'm not breaking the comment rules) I can pick the community brains...?
Can anyone comment on which of the many named authors are writing hard SF, cyberpunkish stuff, grimdarkesque fantasy, or some intersection of these? (Kameron Hurley would be a good example of what I mean by 'some intersection.') An LGBT angle is welcome but not essential...
I have a feeling (just a feeling: nothing substantiated) that on the whole these types of SFF are particularly male-dominated in terms of market share and reader awareness. I'm sure that doesn't mean that women are not writing this stuff too, but I know less of it than I'd like. I can't google 50+ names though, so... tips, anyone?
]]>Nancy Kress is one of my very favorite authors—one whose works I'll buy sight unseen—and she generally falls into the hard SF category, with an emphasis on biotech and genetic engineering. I think she may be one of the most underrated women in SF today.
(I was a little disappointed with the first book of her "Probability" trilogy, Probability Moon, but the second was much stronger, and the third blew me away!)
One of my very favorite cyperpunkish-with-an-LGBT-angle works is Melissa Scott's Trouble and Her Friends. Its a fun romp that I re-read regularly. And since LGBTishness is not something I really factor into my reading preferences either way, you can take it that this one succeeds on pure storytelling.
]]>My knowledge of fandom for that era is pretty much limited to recognising the names of men who were, or became, authors, or show up in 'first fandom' awards. I know that some of them met their partners through fandom. The letter columns of the pulps of the time show that there were female fans. And of course there were women writing for the pulps and the comics (and illustrating them).
So, a question: Is there a handy reference somewhere of women who were actively involved in SF fandom in that era?
]]>Options for me (that I know about) include: Google Nook/B&N Kindle/Amazon Apple dead trees
And is the answer much different for new versus established authors?
]]>It's SF with a bunch of different elements (older female protagonist, ecology, MilSF, genetic engineering, an Earth colony that actually has diverse colonists and not just white Christian heterosexuals) that come together well and gets the thumbs up from me.
]]>