My wife said something to me the other day that I had never really noticed. I don't read books written by women. I tend to read horror, sci-fi, and thrillers. I know women write in those genres, I just wonder why none of their books has caught my eye before. Is it because sci-fis, horrors, and thrillers are all in a way fantasies, and male authors know what fantasies male readers like? Could it be sexism on my part without realizing it, or even the publishing companies in some way? One big giant conincidence?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
For good science fiction written by women, check out Octavia Butler and Lois McMaster Bujold (who has also done some fantasy).
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I noticed a year or so ago that I didn't have any cd's performed by women. Still haven't figured out why (and now I have a few mix cd's that have female vocals on them).
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by breyerchic04: I noticed a year or so ago that I didn't have any cd's performed by women. Still haven't figured out why (and now I have a few mix cd's that have female vocals on them).
I'm the complete opposite when it comes to music. Though I buy cds with both male and female performers, I much prefer to listen to female vocalists if given a choice.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
I tend to prefer music with male vocalists. I think it's because I have an easier time singing along with a male voice.
EDIT - I enjoyed the Dragonlance books written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Granted, I was in the target age group at the time, but I still find it pleasant to go back and reread them every now and again. The Legends trilogy was my favorite.
[ August 14, 2006, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: Juxtapose ]
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
For Science Fiction by a woman author, try Kay Kenyon - I heartily recommend Tropic of Creation.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
I doubt that (at least at first) as many young boys would have read Harry Potter if the author's name had been Joanne. I think for most people there tends to be a bias towards assuming that female writers will include things like romance and male writers will have lots of gadgets and fast cars.
It's a stereotype, but with books people tend to assume you can tell content and characterisation from the sex of the author. This is why a male author writing historical romance might pick a female pen name, and why female authors writing spy thrillers might pick their initials, or a nickname like Chris, Ali or Pat.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
I rarely, if ever, listen to female voclists. I don't know why. I just don't find them as enjoyable. I think it may be because I like songs that have a lot of emotion I can identify with, and I can't usually identify with the feelings of women.
I tend to lean more towards male authors, but there are women authors I enjoy, most notably Madeline L'Engle.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I'll look into all of those authors, thanks for the recommendations.
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
How 'bout Anne McCaffrey and Marian Zimmer Bradley? There's also Ursula LeGuin and Andre Norton. I met Pamela F. Service, female science fiction author, in fifth grade, but I think her books are written towards younger readers (than you are, not younger than fifth grade, I mean). If I only had bookshelves to unpack my books onto I wouldn't have to rely on memory to find me good female science fiction authors. There are others that I can think of, but I don't think K.A. Applegate is what you're looking to be pointed toward.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I went up to look at my shelves and most of my adult sci fi/fantasy is by male authors, excluding one book by Octavia R. Butler. I have plenty of books I first read as a younger person which are by female authors: Anne McCaffrey, Isabelle Carmody, some Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, and others. Probably when I was 10-16ish I was mostly reading female authors and since then I've been reading mostly male authors. I suppose they were the authors I hadn't read yet. Now, I suppose I am reading more male simply because there are more male authors.
I wouldn't not read a book because of the author (unless- see below). I don't tend to look very closely at thee author anyway, at least until the end .
Outside of this genre, I don't really seem to have a bias. I don't read Very Female books often because they tend to annoy me a bit.
quote:and I can't usually identify with the feelings of women.
Oh, dear. Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: My wife said something to me the other day that I had never really noticed. I don't read books written by women.
How do you know?
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Try Ellen Kushner for good fantasy written by a woman.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by starLisa:
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: My wife said something to me the other day that I had never really noticed. I don't read books written by women.
How do you know?
I see your point, pen names and so forth. I usually do like to read up on the authors I read though, find their web sites and so forth. Unless they are using fake pictures, I'm pretty certain. Clive Cussler, Robert J Sawyer, SM Stirling, Stephen King, Stephen Baxter, Carl Hiaasen, Leon Uris, Robert Charles Wilson, Orson Scott Card, Dean Koontz, and Neil Gaiman are my regulars.
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
Robin Hobb is fantastic! Give her Assassin's Apprentice series a whirl. I am rereading it for like the 3rd time. I can't put it down!
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
An author's gender isn't particularly important to me, but a decent percentage of the authors I really like are female. Octavia Butler and Maureen McHugh are phenomenal, as is Nancy Kress. Ursual K. LeGuin's earlier work is fantastic, and Pat Murphy and Robin Hobb are quite solid. There are many more that I consider good, but for me these are the standouts.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Oh, and Louise Erdrich! How could I forget her? Powerful, powerful stuff.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Noemon -- have you ever read any Bujold?
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
quote:Originally posted by Teshi:
quote:and I can't usually identify with the feelings of women.
Oh, dear.
Sad thing is I have four sisters. You'd think growing up with them might teach me something, but yeah, it hasn't. I've been getting into ... debates with my best friend (who is a girl) lately about our different perspectives on songs ("Rest Stop" by Matchbox 20 is our primary argument). She see's the songs from a girls perspective and sympathizes with the girl, assuming the guy to be in the wrong. I sympathize with the guy, assuming the girl to be the irrational, crazy one. It provides some interesting discussion.
Back on the books topics, Lois Lowry is worth a look too. I guess her books are usually considered somewhat juvenile, but that doesn't change the fact that "The Giver" was a freaking awesome.
Thinking about it, the only autographed copies of books I have are by women: Lois Lowry and Madeline L'Engle. Odd.
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
I love Ursula LeGuin.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I forgot about "The Giver", that was a great book.
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
I guess when I was younger some of my favorite books were written by women. I can't even count how many times I read Indian in the Cupboard and People in Pineapple Place.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
A psych professor I had back in college had a male student who did an interesting experiment: for a year (or 6 months or somesuch) he only read books by women. Interesting idea, I've sometimes thought about whether I'd ever be able to do something like that. (I don't think I'd have the patience to have to wait until later if a new OSC or GRRM book came out...)
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: Noemon -- have you ever read any Bujold?
A bit. I wasn't terribly impressed by what I read, but I don't know that I gave her work enough of a chance. Would you say that she's of the same calibur as the other authors I just listed?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I would say she's not quite as good as the very best Ursula LeGuin, but much better than the not-her-best LeGuin.
Definitely on my "buy everything she writes" list. I even bought a crappy romance/sci-fi crossover short story collection because she had a story in it. (The only story in it worth the purchase price, IMO.)
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Really! I definitely had her more in the C. J. Cherryh league. What title of hers would you recommend that I start with?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Noemon --
The only ones I've read that you mentioned are Butler and LeGuin. LeGuin is somwhat hit-or-miss for me, but her good stuff is good. Buter, well, she's Octavia Butler. I'm not sure anybody's in her league.
There's a reason why Bujold has won so many Hugo awards but no Nebula awards. Her books are a little on the light side, but they are some of the funnest books I've ever read.
[ August 14, 2006, 03:07 PM: Message edited by: mr_porteiro_head ]
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
regarding Bujold:
Curse of Chalion and Paladin of souls are two fantasy books that are fabulous, and don't suffer from the space-opera ligntness that some of her other books do.
She's most well-known for her Vorkosigan series, which is great space opera spanning over a dozen stories. It's a great series of books. My favories were Barrayar (which might not stand alone without reading Shards of Honor first, her first book, and one of her weakest), Mirror Dance, and Mountains of Mourning.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I think that Shards of Honor was the one I started, way back when. I'll keep my eye out for Curse of Chalion and Paladin next time I'm at the library.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Curse of Chalion is the first book in the series, and Paladin the second. There's a third I don't recall the title of.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Thanks fugu. I suspected that that was the case, and would have confirmed it before checking just one of them out, but I appreciate your letting me know.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I read Paladin of Souls first before I read any of her books, and I loved it. It stands very well on its own.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Definitely on my "buy everything she writes" list. I even bought a crappy romance/sci-fi crossover short story collection because she had a story in it. (The only story in it worth the purchase price, IMO.)
Would you mind lending it to me? I've been looking everywhere, and I can't find it.
(I have a Thing about shopping online)
I'd be happy to pay for postage, or cross lend something to you.
I'm still updating, but about half of the books I own can be found at LibraryThing..
quote: I met Pamela F. Service, female science fiction author, in fifth grade,
I adore Pamela Service. It seems like there's a lot of fantasy written for YA, but not nearly enough science fiction, and she does YA science fiction very well. It's too bad she's not very well known.
She's also from my hometown.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Definitely on my "buy everything she writes" list. I even bought a crappy romance/sci-fi crossover short story collection because she had a story in it. (The only story in it worth the purchase price, IMO.) [/QB]
Which short story is that, dkw?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
The third (edit: in the Chalion series) is The Hallowed Hunt.
Shards of Honor and Barrayar are now published together as Cordelia's Honor. You can also skip them and start the series with The Warrior's Apprentice but I think it's worth reading the first one. It hangs together as one book better than Shards would seperately -- it was one story that got stopped too soon because it was getting too long.
I agree that the Chalion books are "deeper," but the Vorkosigan books are just plain fun.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
blacwolve, sure.
mph, "Winterfair Gifts." It takes place between between A Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
And for the triple -- the thing to watch out for in the Vorkosigan series is that they're all being re-released as omnibus editions with two novels and the short stories (if any) between them. So it can get confusing, and you could end up with duplicates easily.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Yup, I've read "Winterfair Gifts." It would be extremely frustrating to read A Civil Affair and Diplomatic Immunity without being able to read what comes between them.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Eh, it wasn't so bad. It's not like it was a spoiler or anything. You kind of knew by the end of A Civil Campaign about the major change.
I bought Diplomatic Immunity as an e-book so I could get the first chapters early, so I read it before "Winterfair Gifts" was even out, I think.
One nice thing is that most of the books are stand alone -- it's a series, but not a serial. It's nice to read them in order, and there would be some major plot spoilers for later books if you don't, but the story arc is pretty much complete in each one. I wait anxiously for the next one because I love the characters, not because she leaves things hanging.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
That is one thing I've really liked about her books as well -- she writes novels which are in a series, instead of writing one big novel with thousands of pages and multiple volumes.
When I read the end of Diplomatic Immunity I said to myself "Well, that's it -- she's not writing any more in this series." Do you know if my impression was accurate?
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
She's said she has no current plans to write another book in it, but she hasn't ruled it out if she gets an idea that would fit well.
She's started another series too -- the first book is due out Oct. 1, so I'd guess she's focusing on other worlds for awhile.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Not finding any shortage of female SF authors on my shelves. From memory (so forgive me if I miss any):
Diane Duane - Love her Trek books, and the Wizard series. Nancy Kress - several excellent works, and some wonderful short stories. Mercedes Lackey - Not as much of a fan of her staright fantasy -- they're OK, but I don't reread them -- but I really like her urban fantasies and fairy tale retellings. Holly Lisle - great urban fantasies. A good series ("A Diplomancy of Wolves", etc). lately she's been writing mysteries, which I haven't enjoyed as much. Margaret Ball, Esther Freisner - both members of an even shorter list, funny fantasy/science fiction writers. Sheri S. Tepper - hit or miss with me, but I like the "True Game" books. Judith Tarr - haven't read much of her own stuff, but her book "Household Gods" with Harry Turtledove remains one of my favorites. Marion Zimmer Bradley Bujold Brenda Clough - only read "How Like a God" but I liked it. Julian May - Her Pliocene Saga is one of the series I reread every year or so, just for the wonder of it. Vonda McIntyre - started reading her Trek books, kept reading when she wrote her own. Elizabeth Moon - I'm not a military book fan and I can't speak for a lot of her work, but Remnant Population is excellent and The Speed of Dark is waiting patiently for me on my shelf. Kate Wilhelm - She's written mostly mysteries these years back, but Wilhelm wrote some of the best character-based SF books and "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" is one of those books you have to have read to consider yourself an SF fan. Connie Willis - Another funny writer! Woo hoo!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Kate Wilhelm - She's written mostly mysteries these years back, but Wilhelm wrote some of the best character-based SF books and "Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang" is one of those books you have to have read to consider yourself an SF fan.
You really do.
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
quote:I adore Pamela Service. It seems like there's a lot of fantasy written for YA, but not nearly enough science fiction, and she does YA science fiction very well. It's too bad she's not very well known.
She's also from my hometown.
You live in the Eureka/McKinleyville/Arcata area? (I think the museum she worked at was in Arcata but I don't remember...)
I happen to live a half an hour away from Alan Dean Foster, too. And I've met him and talked with him and it wasn't about how I love his books! Now all I need to do is get our family out to Greensboro and my collection will be complete...
I'm kidding. Coincidences, not creepy stalking-ness. ;^)
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
I've met her several times, though not recently (so she might have moved). The museum she works (worked?) at is the Monroe County Historical Museum (not the Mathers Museum as Everything2 says).
She was active in local politics (City Council member) until the late 90s, though she may have moved since then. I've found references to a Pam Service working in a museum in the area you mention, Gwen, so that very well might be her, though I can't find any specifics.
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
Ah, O.K. Though it would have been cool to have a fellow Hatracker live in an area I visit every so often.
I met her in 1999/2000 (probably 2000 as the class read one of her books before meeting her). She was nice. I have one of her books, autographed (but to someone else, I think someone in my class), that I got from a book trade at the school.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
She may very well live out in California now, I haven't run into her in a bit.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
We drove past the exit for Greensboro once a few years ago and my son tried, half-seriously, to get me to stop so we could hunt out the Card family. I finally convinced him it would be a bit impolite, and just a tad creepy Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Ooh, forgot Audrey Neffenegger. Dunno if she considers herself an SF writer, but The Time Traveller's Wife remains one of my favorite SF books.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Cordelia's Honor is my favorite Bujold book. I've only read the Vorkosigan series by her, though. I love the Miles books (the later ones in the series -- Cordelia's Honor is the first), but they are funny and entertaining, and just lighter reading. Good but not great. Cordelia's Honor is great!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Cordelia's Honor is actually the omnibus edition of two of the books I mentioned earlier, Shards of Honor and Barrayar.
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
Oh, and I love Ursula K. Leguin too. To me, she is a great writer, up there with any of the best of the best. My favorites by her are "The Left Hand of Darkness" and "The Lathe of Heaven". I also love the Earthsea series, of course, particularly "The Tombs of Atuan".
Octavia Butler is also fantastic, as everyone here has said. She's a very good writer, a level below great but well worth reading. One thing I really love about her is that her stories don't have happy, or even reasonably survivable endings, quite often. But the people take whatever horrible new life they are given, and set about making something good out of it. It feels to me as though that comes from her African-American heritage, and her understanding of how it is that a people can survive slavery. It's a radically different outlook on life than most other SF writers I have read. Her stuff is quite powerful and compelling.
It's funny but I rarely listen to female artists. Of all the favorite bands I've had in my life, only a few have had female musicians prominent in them. Exceptions would be Joni Mitchell, maybe Natalie Merchant at one time, and Chrissy Hynde (The Pretenders). I can't think of any others.
I also exhibit sexism in my literary fiction choices. Jane Austen is about the only female lit-fic writer I care much for. I never got into the others. I don't really know why.
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
Just here to vouch for Octavia E. Butler...
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I don't actually read much, but a female author who is good that I have read is Diana Wynne Jones, who writes fantasy.
I listen to far more female singers than male: Dido, Hayley Westenra, Imogen Heap, Tori Amos, Shakira (her older stuff), Sarah Mclachlan, Ella Fitzgerald, Jewel, Sade, Selena. After buying an album and listening to it to death, periodically after a few months or so I still go back to their stuff and re-listen it to death, but with male singers I never re-listen. I don't know why.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
quote: When I read the end of Diplomatic Immunity I said to myself "Well, that's it -- she's not writing any more in this series." Do you know if my impression was accurate?
I thought the same thing. Or, more accurately, I think the story should have ended with A Civil Campaign, and Diplomatic Immunity is proof of that.
By Diplomatic Immunity Miles is no longer in conflict, and what made the other books wonderful wasn't the plot, although it was good, it was the conflict Miles was going through. By Diplomatic Immunity he's found a place for himself in Barrayaran society and he's found a Barrayaran woman who loves him despite all of the things that make him unattractive to Barrayaran women.
I've heard a lot of people say that she's not writing the next book because she knows she'll have to kill Aral in it. Honestly though, I don't even think Aral's death could destroy Miles now. Though I can definately see a book from Cordelia's point of view dealing with Aral's death. Or more books from Mark's point of view.
Posted by sarfa (Member # 579) on :
C.J. Cherryh is one of my favorite authors, male or female. someone may have mentioned her already, but I skimmed through the topic and didn't notice her name.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Good female authors:
Mary Gentle, Golden Witchbreed (and many other interesting things) Katherine Kurtz, Camber and Deryni works (among others) Sheri S. Tepper, my favorite was The Gate to Women's Country -- the others were indeed hit and miss . . . Jennifer Roberson, check out the Sword Dancer series for fun, fast reads and her historical/fiction for more serious reads Patricia Kenneally Morrison for her alternative Celtic stories --
There's many more . . .
I have a decent mix of male and female vocalists -- no preferences really, unless by mood . . .
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chris Bridges: Ooh, forgot Audrey Neffenegger. Dunno if she considers herself an SF writer, but The Time Traveller's Wife remains one of my favorite SF books.
Your right, I forgot about her! One of my favorite books to. I didn't really mean just sci-fi regardless of what she is considered.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I read a really good horror story by Poppy Z. Brite that has me curious about her novels (one of which I just picked up, but have yet to read.) It may turn out to be gothic vampire angst nonsense, but what I've seen suggests she has a really compelling narrative voice.
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
I just picked up Clay Arc by Octavia E. Butler, and so far it's quite good. I've never read any of her books before, so I'm glad for the recommendation.
I read one of Sheri S. Tepper's books, and I found it, well, lame is the best word I can think of.
I do have to say that I'm a bit miffed at Butler. I thought I had a cool idea for a book, and then she goes and writes a very similar one 20 years ago :/
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Clay's Arc is probably my least favorite Butler book.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
I own a few books by female authors. They are really good. However, I'm fairly picky even then. But then I am for male authors too.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: Clay's Arc is probably my least favorite Butler book.
Agreed. Although it's not bad.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Also Emma Bull's War for the Oaks is one of my favorite books ever. It's a modern urban fantasy.
I may be prejudiced though, because it's set in Minneapolis/St. Paul, which is where I grew up, and I love the idea of fey folk running around Hennepin Avenue.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*odd look* It wasn't you who told me about that book at RaspberryCon, was it? I thought it was ElJay, but my memory is too vague. (I can picture the street we were driving down, but not the driver!)
In any case, it sounded good then, and it does now as well. Hooray for Amazon Marketplace -- I wonder if it will come in time for my trip this weekend.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
It was me, although she has a copy too.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I'm fairly certain Marion Zimmer Bradley is a guy.
I didn't read that short story that comes between A Civil Campaign and Diplomatic Immunity.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: I'm fairly certain Marion Zimmer Bradley is a guy.
lol! I wonder where I got that idea? I have thought that for about a decade now. Obviously, I've never read her. Thanks for the correction! Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
War for the Oaks is a perfect example of a fantasy book that just seemed too girly for me. It was verging on a romance novel at some points, and that's the opposite of what I want in a Sf/Fantasy book. I don't mind characters having romantic relationships, but I don't want that to be such a focus of the book.
To be honest, the music in that particular book became way too much for me too, but overall I found it so-so at best.
I guess of the female authors who I don't like, that's my main beef. If they start out with a Sci-Fi/Fantasy book, and then try to turn it into a romance novel, I'm not down. Laurell K. Hamilton used to write some good, pulpy books, but lately they've turned into sex-fests, and I don't want to read them any more.
Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
quote:Laurell K. Hamilton used to write some good, pulpy books, but lately they've turned into sex-fests, and I don't want to read them any more.
Ugh. I went to Barnes and Noble recently and was excited at first to see all these books by the author of Nightseer...then I took a closer look at them. Darn.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Add me to the "thoroughly disgusted with Laurell K. Hamilton" camp. I enjoyed the first few books she wrote, but lately they're nothing but porn.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Quite. But implying that War for the Oaks is in that same category is nuts.
Although I can see where you wouldn't like it if you weren't into rock bands and motorcycles.
Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
Oh, you're right. War for the Oaks isn't in the same category as the latest of Hamilton's junk. War for the Oaks was pretty good, just a little on the romance side, and too much description of music and how awesome it is.
I love listening to music, but I don't think you can really convey a song by describing it. When books focus a lot on describing music, they usually lose me. War for the Oaks had that against it, as well as the romance novel angle, which made me finish it thinking, meh. Still, it was O.K.
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: I'm fairly certain Marion Zimmer Bradley is a guy.
Good God, why? I mean, have you ever read Mists of Avalon or any of her other Avalon books? Granted, the most blatantly separatist lesbian-feminist story I've ever read in my life was written by John Varley, but in general, guys don't write like MZB did.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by starLisa:
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: I'm fairly certain Marion Zimmer Bradley is a guy.
Good God, why? I mean, have you ever read Mists of Avalon or any of her other Avalon books? Granted, the most blatantly separatist lesbian-feminist story I've ever read in my life was written by John Varley, but in general, guys don't write like MZB did.
quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: lol! I wonder where I got that idea? I have thought that for about a decade now. Obviously, I've never read her. Thanks for the correction!
(emphasis mine)
Posted by Samuel Bush (Member # 460) on :
Stephan, I haven’t had a chance to read through this whole thread, but I intend to because it interests me. Meanwhile I can tell you this: There have been times when I’ve deliberately skipped women writers. I used to read a lot of Star Trek novels and after a while I just refused to read any Star Trek novel written by a woman. (That is, except for Vonda McIntyre and Diane Duane.) It was not because I didn’t think the other ladies were not good writers. They were probably good enough writers. It was just that I got sick and tired of hearing about the oozingly sweet relationship between Kirk, Spock, and Bones. (Or is it “among Kirk, Spock, and Bones.“) Whatever. Anyway, I wanted lots of phazer gun fights, explosions, and star ship chases. Just forget all that relationship stuff.
I guess I just figured that ladies are into that relationship stuff or maybe they had secret fantasies about . . . . ahem . . . helping Spock solve his emotional impairment. I don’t know. At any rate, I stopped reading their Star Trek novels.
In all fairness, I’m probably unfairly pre-judging all of the women Star Trek writers by the few I did read. What can I say?
But as for all the other categories of literature I have no preference between the guys and ladies. I love the writings of Nancy Kress, Octavia Butler, Jane Austin, Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie, . . . well I could list a bunch of them.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
dkw, I bet you have a hard time finding that book to loan blacwolve. 'Cause I'm pretty sure I noticed it in my sunroom last weekend and was surprised I had never given it back to you.
Also, you may have told rivka about War For The Oaks, but I'm pretty sure I did, too, as we were driving along Minnehaha Blvd towards the falls. Not on my motorcycle, though. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I was part of that conversation too, wasn't I ElJay? I could be fabricating the memory, but I don't think so.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Hmmm. I thought it was before anyone but rivka was in, but I guess I could be mistaken. Or maybe we're all just imagining different conversations. Posted by Gwen (Member # 9551) on :
quote:That is, except for Vonda McIntyre and Diane Duane.
Ooh, good authors. I've read the whole So You Want To Be A Wizard series, and I have a short story by Vonda McIntyre set in Theives' World in a collection of MZB Theives' World short stories.
Posted by AvidReader (Member # 6007) on :
Most of my books are Dragonlance, so I've got plenty of Weis and Jean Rabe on the shelves. (I just picked up Dragons of the Dwarven Depths at GenCon and got it autographed by Weis and Hickman. It's so cool!)
The only new author I can recommend is Kristen Britain. She wrote Green Rider and First Rider's Call. The idea is that a young woman runs away from school and finds one of the King's messengers half dead on the road. He begs her to carry a vital message to the king. Of course, people promptly try to kill her for it.
There is some romance, but it's what I remember from middle school. "Gee, I think I like him. I hope he doesn't find out, I'd be so embarressed." Mostly I like that Karigan's a teenager with some brains and a lot of spunk. She makes some childish decisions, but she learns from her mistakes, and she does the best she can. Not a lot of authors remember being young. It's refreshing to see a fictional teen who isn't moody and self-absorbed.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by ElJay: Hmmm. I thought it was before anyone but rivka was in, but I guess I could be mistaken. Or maybe we're all just imagining different conversations.
Last night I dreamed about having this supposed conversation with Dana, and thought it was a memory. Now I think I recall having it with you . . . and I think we were alone in the car.
O_o
Clearly, the entire Con did not actually happen, and the aliens who abducted us and planted false memories did a really lousy job.
So where did the rhubarb in my freezer come from?
Posted by Will B (Member # 7931) on :
There are certainly many great female authors of soft SF. But suppose you want to stay in hard SF? My favorites for this are Connie Willis (my favorite living author) and Octavia Butler. Willis's work doesn't feel like hard SF, yet it is sometimes about how science is done (Passage, Bellwether). Butler's got the best aliens I've ever read (Dawn and its sequels).
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Jake was definitely in the car when I was talking about War for the Oaks. Rivka might have got the recommendation twice.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
Nancy Kress is another good hard sci fi author.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Was that you, Dana? I think that I actually am starting to recall that that was the case, but at this point I'm not trusting my memory of the conversation at all, beyond believing that someone recommended the book to me, and thinking that it was probably in a car. Oh, and being certain that we were passing some trees that I found interesting as we talked about it.
Butler as a hard SF author? I'm not seeing it. You're absolutely right, Will, that her aliens in the Xenogenesis trilogy are brilliantly drawn--probably the most successfully alien aliens I've seen in fiction, period--but that doesn't make her work hard SF.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
An aside - I finally grabbed Elizabeth Moon's "The Speed of Dark" off my shelf this morning to read it. I suspect I'm going to be sorry I waited this long.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Jake was definitely in the car when I was talking about War for the Oaks. Rivka might have got the recommendation twice.
Aha! Ok, I'm not going crazy after all. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: There's a reason why Bujold has won so many Hugo awards but no Nebula awards.
This is incorrect. She has won two nebula awards. On was for Falling Free which I thought was OK, and the other was for Mountains of Mourning also won the Hugo and completely deserved both.
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: My wife said something to me the other day that I had never really noticed. I don't read books written by women. I tend to read horror, sci-fi, and thrillers. I know women write in those genres, I just wonder why none of their books has caught my eye before. Is it because sci-fis, horrors, and thrillers are all in a way fantasies, and male authors know what fantasies male readers like? Could it be sexism on my part without realizing it, or even the publishing companies in some way? One big giant conincidence?
You know, I hardly ever read women-written spec-fic, either. How weird. I just realized this now. Especially bad, since I plan to become a spec-fic writer in the near future.... I wonder why that is.
Posted by IndigoKnight1 (Member # 9526) on :
Wow, I'm surprised that no one has yet mentioned Barbara Hambly, Mercedes Lackey, Ann Rice ... Nevermind, not my place to rant about the lack of authors any one has or hasn't read, sorry.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I've read Anne Rice. I've just never recommended her.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Barbara Hambly, yes! Well, not everything of hers -- I still haven't managed to get through Icefalcon's Quest. But her ST novel Ishmael was marvelous. As were The Silent Tower and The Silicon Mage (which has probably one of the best opening lines of all time).
I should get some of her more recent books from the library.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Looks like amazon doesn't have a scan of the first page of The Silicon Mage, and my copy is in a box somewhere. What is the first line, rivka?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
In all honesty, I had forgotten, but one of the reviews at Amazon reminded me: "The worst thing about knowing Gary was dead was seeing him every day at work."
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
That is a good opening line. I've been lugging that book from apartment to apartment for years; maybe it's time I dug it out of its box and read it.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote:I thought the same thing. Or, more accurately, I think the story should have ended with A Civil Campaign, and Diplomatic Immunity is proof of that.
Are you saying here that "Diplomatic Immunity" is no good? I got it out the library because of this thread, but if it's not a good one of Bujold's to read first I suppose I should probably not.
Thoughts?
Suggestions as to which Bujold I should read?
Posted by Theaca (Member # 8325) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: She's said she has no current plans to write another book in it, but she hasn't ruled it out if she gets an idea that would fit well.
She's started another series too -- the first book is due out Oct. 1, so I'd guess she's focusing on other worlds for awhile.
I was at baen.com just yesterday and checked out Bujold's forum. She has recently announced that she has signed with Jim Baen's successor for another Miles universe novel, which she hopes to start in mid 2007 or 2008. But she admitted she didn't know what it would be about yet.
She also said she'll be the guest of honor for Worldcon 2008. I think it'll be in Denver in August 2008. I'm already considering going.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
quote:Originally posted by Teshi:
quote:I thought the same thing. Or, more accurately, I think the story should have ended with A Civil Campaign, and Diplomatic Immunity is proof of that.
Are you saying here that "Diplomatic Immunity" is no good? I got it out the library because of this thread, but if it's not a good one of Bujold's to read first I suppose I should probably not.
Diplomatic Immunity is a good book compared to most books out there. Compared to Bujold's other books it's subpar (in my opinion). Regardless, it's the last in the series chronologically, so I wouldn't recommend reading it first.
I would start with either "Cordelia's Honor" or "The Warrior's Apprentice." Personally, I think "Cordelia's Honor" is the better book, but obviously other people posting disagree with me.
I disagree that Bujold's books are merely "fun." I think they can be read just for enjoyment. However, if you look at all closely you'll find there's a lot more there then just an adventure story.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Do not read Diplomatic Immunity first if you are at all concerned about spoilers for the other books. It takes place later and would give many, many things away. It's a wonderful book, but you will enjoy it and its predecessors much more if you read them in order.
Theaca: Denver? That is easy driving distance from here. Hmmmm . . .
Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: That is a good opening line. I've been lugging that book from apartment to apartment for years; maybe it's time I dug it out of its box and read it.
Silent Tower first. I need to find mine (or replace 'em if I don't have 'em anymore, which is quite possible), and reread. Then get my hands on book 3, which I don't believe I read.
And Denver is a place I would like to visit. I have lots of friends there. And I didn't make it to WorldCon when it was just a few miles away!
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Rivka, have you read the third in the Hambly series? The Silicon Mage is followed by Dog Wizard. I really enjoyed that one too.
Edit: Ha. That'll teach me to read the entire thread.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*giggle*
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
::makes note to look for Silent Tower at the library::
You know, I might be able to make the Denver thing too. My brother and sister in law live in Colorado Springs, so I could incorporate a visit to them into the trip.
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Sad thing is I have four sisters. You'd think growing up with them might teach me something, but yeah, it hasn't. ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
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