In fact, we often find better representation in the fantasy realm than in any other genre. Female protagonists in science fiction and fantasy the. Here are 12 kickass women from scifi and fantasy who are the best kind of strong their own. The other major female character in the first book is an adult scientist this being a ya book, the. A mighty girls book section features over 3,000 girlempowering books starring stellar mighty girl characters. The answers you get here will be as varied as the people answering. Jul 07, 2010 surely one of the best characters in film full stop, ripley certainly broke the mould for smart, strong, authoritative and independent female roles. It needs to be saved from political correctness, which makes a demand that all stories be uniform, and all serve the glorious cause, and become propaganda told for the purpose of social engineering, not stories told to glorify the beauties and horrors of life. Here are ten other books with strong female characters who made me feel stronger and braver after reading them. Or, a young ladys illustrated primer by neal stephenson. So i went to my library to see what i could find, and i found and will share with you 10 science fiction books or series with female lead characters.
Books with strong female characters common sense media. Fantasyscifi books with strong female characters 1024 books. Carmilla by joseph sheridan le fanu is an 1871 vampire story centered. She is perhaps the fiercest female character in all of genre fiction, unapologetically vicious, shaped into a monster by a remorseless society and a heartless world. Ive got 15 fantastic books and series you can pick up today to read all about powerful women warriors and. Aug 14, 2018 there are a few things we want to see in 2018. It is an alternate history and although aimed at teenagers extremely readable, it was also nominated for the arthur c. Kickass female characters and fantasy books go hand in hand.
In the space opera subgenre of science fiction, they can fulfill the role an actual god would play in a fantasy story. Nyota was a strong willed cadet who rebuked the drunken advances of james kirk and then. Tagged 19th century, authors, books, feminism, fiction, literature, novels, strong female characters, strong females jun 03 116 thoughts on strong female characters in 19thcentury fiction. Zan is an allaround badass, a woman tasked with the impossible. Smith, and other influential works include future females. Sep 15, 2016 science fiction is a popular and lucrative genre but most authors are men and relatable female characters are sadly lacking. Books with strong girl characters berkeley parents network. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the alien corps. The characters ring true and there is a nice mystery that needs solving. A science fiction action adventure prosperine book 1. Female protagonists in science fiction and fantasy the illustrated. The 20 greatest female characters in scifi and fantasy. Im trying to get into the genre, so any suggestions are great, even if they dont have strong female characters, but that is my preference.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Strong female characters are usually considered a desirable thing in geek media such as science fiction, comic books, etc. If you think girl books are just about princesses, romance, gossipy schoolgirls, and vampires, think again. Weve selected a pile of books with universal appeal for kids of different ages and tastes, from bestselling picture books to young adult. One from 2002 that i bought for my library is called great books for girls. And even when we dont find queer women to swoon over, we find powerful women to root for. Shes also a shapeshifter who can transform into a coyote and her strong, independent nature deters her from shacking up with the alpha. Best books for boys with strong female characters brightly. Well be doing two 25 greatest lists per day all throughout september, looking back at the moments, people. If youre searching for scifi books with badass female protagonists, look no further. To celebrate the strong but also the notsostrong, the complex and vivid women in fiction, this week were talking about 7 great females characters and what they can teach you about better character writing. A science fiction action adventure prosperine book 1 kindle edition by mcdermott, pj, bentley, tom.
I will be checking out more of lance erlicks books. Its a phrase used mainly by guys, first of all, generally by guys who think referring to women as females is somehow a more scientific and precise nomenclature, as if the women in their lives are an alien species that must be studied. A mother and a fighter all in one, shes not man with feminine pronouns and shes not a winsome little girl with unbelievable fighting kung fu bolted on via word magic. Saga remains one of the best scifi stories bubbling under the pop culture radar, and alana is one of the best examples of a modern strong female character.
The fiercest female characters in scifi movie history. For all the hullabaloo about the dearth of strong female characters in modern culture. I love reading a good series of fantasy fiction books, more especially when the main character or one of them is a woman and shes strong and independent, but still funny well ok, before she. What young adult sciencefiction books have female main. The other major female character in the first book is an adult scientist this being a ya book, the teenagers dont interact or confide to closely with her. Strong female characters in 19thcentury fiction dave. Ive been thinking a lot lately about representation of women in genre fiction science fiction and fantasy in particular.
Women in science fiction 1975, edited by jeffrey d. Strong female characters busy writers guides book 1 kindle edition by kennedy, marcy. This list features the best books in science fiction featuring great female protagonists. Leviathan by scott westerfeld is a wonderful ya steampunk book, with a brave heroine as one of the two protagonists. Shifting the focus of a traditionally maledominated genre, the strongest female leads in scifi books are both resilient and clever. Ellen ripley is the greatest female character in scifi or fantasy, and also one of the greatest movie characters of all time.
These are just a few that come immediately to mind. Independent, strong, and feminist, jane eyre is an unforgettable character in a classic novel exploring social classes, love, sexuality, and morality. I have 12 female driven scifi and fantasy novels youll love to read, so be sure to add these new and newish adventures to your tbr, a. There are plenty of great books featuring strong female main characters in compelling stories that are sure to appeal to boys as well as girls.
Strong female characters geek feminism wiki fandom. An end to the idiotic meanderings of misogynistic star wars fanboys. Cvs top 100 science fiction and fantasy characters list. Given this entrenched sexism, its time for publishers to take. Saving science fiction from strong female characters. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading strong female characters busy. Strong female characters can get horny, kick ass, and wear tiny sexy outfits too. I notice my list is heavy on the science fiction partially thats personal. Yes, women are resurgent everywhere you lookas they should be. Jul 26, 2017 top 10 female detectives in fiction from a copenhagen scientist to a hardbitten single mother in new york, these are singular sleuths contending with problems that all women will recognise kristen. Katniss everdeen in the hunger games by suzanne collins. Top 6 sci fi books with strong female leads kay l moody.
Get timely parenting advice delivered straight to your inbox weekly. Today, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite strong girls in middle grade fiction, with both classic female characters, like ramona quimby and julie of the wolves, to newer voices like emma greystone in the greystone secrets series by. On to books with strong female leads if ya books are ok then the hbomb girl by stephen baxter qualifies. Strong female characters busy writers guides book 1. Its an incredibly good novel, one of my alltime favorites. Sure, there are a few on the big and small screen, but when it comes to toughasnails, complicated. Sep 05, 2018 and books with strong female characters over 50 are less than plentiful. Aug 18, 2016 the phrase strong female character is problematic. If you like action oriented science fiction fantasy adventure with strong female characters, then youll enjoy this epic story from pj mcdermott. I put the word strong in scare quotes because it is my contention, argued in the previous essay, that this word conflates two distinct ideas.
Strong female characters in genre and other fiction. Strongchinned blokes with muscled forearms all too often bear the role of savior to the cliched damsel in distress. Buffy is a very iconic character in comic books and pop culture in general. The 23 best science fiction books by female authors the.
Science fiction does not need to be saved from strong female characters. Fantasyscifi books with strong female characters when i was growing up, i was shocked by the lack of strong, female leads in the type of books i liked to read. Female athletes in romance novels, warrior girls, historical y. Books for smart, confident, and courageous girls a mighty girl. While thought of primarily as a juvenile writer during her lifetime inspiring the andre norton award, given annually by the science fiction and fantasy writers of. Best sci fi books with female main characters 856 books. Lance erlick, author actionpacked, science fiction. Why strong female characters are important in science. The notion of a strong female character is one that i see bandied about a lot, and two books. And for more strong women, check out these movies with strong female characters.
Best sci fi books with female main characters this list features the best books in science fiction featuring great female protagonists. Sci fi books with strong female leads used to be hard to find. What i hope to do is provide parents with boys who may like more traditionally masculine books spies, adventure, science fiction, knights and battles, etc. Jul 12, 2017 27 female authors who rule scifi and fantasy right now.
Saving science fiction from strong female characters part 2. Sep 27, 2017 a mainstay in the world of 90s genre tv and 90s tv in general, xena was, as the title suggests, a warrior princess. Apr 17, 2020 lance erlicks protagonist must face many tests as she deals with her drive to stay free while maintaining the concepts of moral behavior that she hopes to live by. These days, some of the smartest characters from kids movies, tv shows, and books are female. Weve selected a pile of books with universal appeal for kids of different ages and tastes, from bestselling picture books to young adult novels in just about every genre. What are some good science fiction or adventure novels. The main character, synthia is beautifully rendered and makes you root for her. Top 10 strong female characters in urban fantasy books. A mainstay in the world of 90s genre tv and 90s tv in general, xena was, as the title suggests, a warrior princess. Sci fi fantasy books with strong female characters image. These are stories about women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s who are finding freedom, power, and joy as they age with grace and courage in a variety of circumstances.
But i have been enjoying some wonderful books lately about older women having a great second act in life. Scifi and fantasy books featuring powerful women the portalist. When i was growing up, i was shocked by the lack of strong, female leads in the type of. Oh, and her most dangerous opponents tend to be her fellow bel dames, women enhanced with strange, bugbased tech that gives them powers akin to magic. Corey this second installment of the stellar space opera series the expanse is by far my favorite, and it has mostly to do with two strong female characters. All of these things will take time but luckily, theres one thing we dont have to wait for.
Thrown in to aid the portrayal of the male lead, or to offer light. Every few years a resource is published recommending books with strong female characters. Saving science fiction from strong female characters part 1. Even in the world of scifi, kameron hurley s novel about a young woman who wakes up on an organic world ship with no memory of her past is a bit, well, out there. Today, were celebrating nine books that highlight incredible girls and ladies in scifi. Fantasyscifi books with strong female characters 1029 books. This mindset often bleeds over into the depictions of strong women in books, film, and tv. Top 10 female detectives in fiction books the guardian. May 15, 20 in fact, we often find better representation in the fantasy realm than in any other genre. Fierce, strong physically, mentally, emotionally, and an excellent dresser, xena was a hero to countless women at a time when strong female characters were few and far between on television. Voyager captain janeway kate mulgrew remains one of the most confident, coolheaded, and courageous captains in the history of the show. With over 200 book categories to explore, the best way to discover what this section has to offer is by browsing our detailed book menu just mouse over the books button on the menu bar above. What young adult sciencefiction books have female main characters. Seeing a character pushed to the edge, and then seeing him or her come out the other side especially if its a character you identify with can be an important experience even, as in my case, a lifechanging one.
As more and more readers and fans of science fiction become female identified, the portrayal of female characters changes just as speculative fiction changes. There are plenty of strong female characters in this one, but the main heroine is clarke griffin, a young woman forced into a position of leadership when shes sent to the ground to see if earth is habitable 100 years after a nuclear. The grande dame of science fiction and fantasy, andre alice norton wrote tales of young resourceful individuals, respectful portrayals of tribal and feudal communities, and of the bond between humans and animals, as in catseye. This list introduces some of the best female asskickers in the fantasy universe. Young, brave alanna dreams of becoming a female knight and warrior, but isnt allowed to train because she is a woman. In this, the third episode of the science fiction action adventure series, prosperine, hickory faces her greatest fear, discovers the secret to the planets past, and unravels the mystery of the teacher. Aug 20, 2019 35 brilliant books with strong female protagonists updated 2019 by iris last updated august 20, 2019 as we celebrate national womens history month, here are 35 great books featuring some of the most awesome and inspiring female characters ever created. Nov 15, 2014 while hundreds of women published science fiction stories in the 1950s and earlier, it wasnt until the 1960swith its secondwave feminism the first wave focused on suffrage and legal gender equality and the sense that science fiction was a literature of ideasthat a large influx of female authors appeared on the scene. Strongest female leads in scifi books by matt cates 4 years ago in literature list science fiction shifting the focus of a traditionally maledominated genre, the strongest female leads in scifi books are both resilient and clever. From the wide realm of comics to the imax screen, strong female leads are storming the stage. Often, these warriors can be found defending their familys honor, saving their town, and proving time and time again that men aren. List of stock characters in science fiction gordian plot.
September 2017 is syfys 25th anniversary, so were using it as an excuse to look back and celebrate the last 25 years of all science fiction, fantasy and horror, a time that has seen the genres we love conquer the world of pop culture. Jemisins broken earth trilogy centers on essun, one of the marginalized people known as orogenes. Move over, sherlock holmes the girl geniuses have arrived. There are plenty of strong female characters in this one, but the main heroine is clarke griffin, a young woman forced into a position of. Ive got 15 fantastic books and series you can pick up today to read all about powerful women warriors and girl supergeniuses, so get those. Bobbie draper, an elite martian marine, and chrisjen avasarala, a bigwig in the future earths united nations. While her escapes are hairraising, it is the constant battleto justify her freedom when others are suffering for itthat is the heart of this story. Female leads in science fiction novels tina hunter. Books for smart, confident, and courageous girls a. So, in honor of star trek, weve made a list of the top 40 kickass female scifi characters from some of our favorite tv shows and movies. Nov 26, 2015 gone are the days where female characters in novels tended to be simpering, dependent and virtual cardboard cutouts. Looking for a strong female lead in your fantasy book.
Most of the books ive found have male main characters. Usually, godlike aliens are operating on a level so far above the other characters that their technology can not be comprehended, and they are far too powerful for the other characters to kill, threaten, or even communicate. In so many books and tv shows i consumed later, the it girl assumed her position because she was manipulative, or a flirt, or a. Now, to be completely honest only books 1 8 are actually in my library, but since i was so close to. Aug 02, 2017 the answers you get here will be as varied as the people answering.
Aug 17, 2018 if youre searching for scifi books with badass female protagonists, look no further. Where female roles exist at all in science fiction they are all too often fobbed off as token characters in need of saving. These brainy characters from movies, books, and tv prove that its cool to be a smart girl. Im writing a science fiction book with a female main character, and would like to see whats on the market already. Fantasyscifi books with strong female characters 1029. While hundreds of women published science fiction stories in the 1950s and earlier, it wasnt until the 1960swith its secondwave feminism the first wave focused on suffrage and legal gender equality and the sense that science fiction was a literature of ideasthat a large influx of female authors appeared on the scene. Actionpacked, science fiction thrillers with strong female characters. A fantastic space adventure series with strong female.
The top 40 kickass female scifi characters afterellen. So heres a list of books with strong heroines who fight against stereotypes of women in the fantasy and science fiction genres. Sigourney weaver even earned a best actress nomination for aliens 1986, which was groundbreaking as, prior to that point, the academy had given little recognition to science fiction. And books with strong female characters over 50 are less than plentiful. Andromeda ascendant andromeda television series beka valentine andromeda television series buffy summers buffy the. Kass morgan took an unlikely group of heroes, a band of juvenile delinquents, and made them responsible for saving the fate of mankind in her the 100 series.
527 1071 730 825 329 1372 657 379 1393 644 117 1486 238 16 576 46 1400 1372 1198 810 1276 1575 417 1190 720 555 1497 1230 418 823 110 323 229