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Original poster

Light fantasy (feminist friendly)

30 replies

Takver · 20/01/2013 20:54

Looking for some more light fantasy reads - I guess along the lines of Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, that sort of thing.

I've recently read some Robin Hobb (quite liked the dragon ones, not that taken with the Assassin series) and Trudi Canavan's Black Magician trilogy (OK, but I found them over-long and didn't find the story really engaging in the way fantasy can be)

I'd really appreciate any suggestions. When I say 'feminist friendly' I'm not thinking of anything that serious (looking for light reading), but just something where I'm not thinking 'whoa, hang on there' every minute. (Eg with the Canavan ones, her central female character was great, but the rest of it was incredibly stereotypical in set-up, pretty much zero other significant female characters.)

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Original poster
Takver · 30/01/2013 14:13

notcitrus - note my username . . . I am in fact solely a construct of Ms le Guin's imagination Grin

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notcitrus · 27/01/2013 17:18

Ursula le Guin hasn't been mentioned - some of her stuff is a bit heavier than you might want but generally manages.to look critically at her societies without making them total dystopias - Left Hand of.Darkness, Changing Planes, the Dispossessed...

CoteDAzur · 27/01/2013 17:02

I haven't read many of the books mentioned here, but Hunger Games isn't fantasy but dystopian sci-fi ("speculative fiction", if you don't like the term sci-fi).

If it is feminist-friendly light sci-fi you are looking for, check out Friday by Robert Heinlein.

JumpingJackSprat · 27/01/2013 09:12

robin hobb also writes as megan lindholm which are slightly different but still good ... havent read them for a few years though.

BaresarkBunny · 27/01/2013 08:44

Peahen - I really enjoyed the Captal Tower books but doesn't it annoy you that the trilogy wasn't finished and probably never will be?

Her Dragon Prince books are good also.

whatkungfuthat · 24/01/2013 08:29

Another vote for Pratchett's witches books. Lords and Ladies is my favourite but all of them are a great read.

TabbyM · 22/01/2013 11:34

Try Robin McKinley's Sunshine or The Blue Sword (would avoid Deerskin) and Patricia McKillip or Patricia Wredde & Caroline Stevermer are also very good.

Original poster
Takver · 22/01/2013 09:13

Now funnily though I read a lot of TP's Discworld books years ago I find now that I just can't get on with his writing style. It's a shame as I used to really enjoy them, but something just grates.

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pointythings · 21/01/2013 22:35

In addition to TP's Witches books I'd also read his Tiffany Aching series - written for young adults, but a very good development of a strong female lead. The last one (I Shall Wear Midnight) is very disturbing, opens with a scene of serious DV, but it's handled sensitively and well.

I'd second Sheri Tepper - start with Grass, Raising the Stones and Sideshow - these form a trilogy, they are amazing. Then you should also read the Marianne Trilogy (three novellas, a bit lighter) and then get into her standalone novels. Singer from the Sea is one of my favourites, though also dark in places.

wintersnight · 21/01/2013 11:22

Elizabeth Moon has done a prequel to Paksennarion and is in the process of a five book sequel. However they aren't as light as Tamora Pierce (who's great) or Anne McCaffrey. Also agree that Terry Pratchett is worth reading although I avoided him for years out of some kind of snobbishness.

Original poster
Takver · 21/01/2013 10:13

Should keep me busy for a while :)

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pluCaChange · 21/01/2013 10:09

I'm bookmarking this thread for ideas. Smile

PeahenTailFeathers · 21/01/2013 09:46

Try Terry Pratchett's wonderful Witches books. The Fox Wife by Kij Johnson is wonderful and Melanie Rawn's Captal's Tower books are entertaining and mildly political. Robin McKinley, Louise Cooper, Patricia McKillip, Jane Yolen and Sheri Tepper have all written great books. If you like sci-fi, Elizabeth Moon (mentioned upthread) wrote Remnant Population, which I thought was superb.

dinkystinky · 21/01/2013 09:33

Also recently enjoyed A Discovery of Witches and its sequel Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness.

dinkystinky · 21/01/2013 09:15

Tanya Huff books are good - Summon the Keeper is a favourite of mine.

Original poster
Takver · 21/01/2013 09:14

Many thanks for all of these, they look great. I definitely liked Temeraire, though not the sequels so much. Like steampunk & sci-fi too :)

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pluCaChange · 20/01/2013 22:47

Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate (series of 4) is steampunk, but probably ticks all those boxes. There are also several major and v sympathetic homosexual characters (male and female). Oh, the fantastical elements include vampires, werewolves and ghosts but isn't naff like Twilight or True Blood (not rhat I've read either series).

I did try a series by Carol Goodman, billed at supernatural romance, but the second book was dire. Not v feminist, either!

MrsHoarder · 20/01/2013 22:36

I came on to suggest Tamora Pierce too. Or Termeraire. Male character, but female secondary characters not in traditional roles.

FabulousFreaks · 20/01/2013 22:27

I like Maria Snyder and Kristin Cashore, very enjoyable

Phantomquartz · 20/01/2013 22:26

Start with her first series, The Song of the Lioness. The characters pop up in lots of her later books. If you find you like her books, she tends to recommend similar authors on her website.

Original poster
Takver · 20/01/2013 22:21

Her books definitely look good, the Circle of Magic series especially looks like just the sort of thing I'd like. I think dd would probably like them too :)

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MadCap · 20/01/2013 22:20

The first one is called Switched.

MadCap · 20/01/2013 22:19

Try the Trylle books by Amanda Hocking. I really enjoyed them. Strong female lead. I only discovered them last week and have read the trilogy through twice already.

Phantomquartz · 20/01/2013 22:18

She writes for young adults, but she's definitely strongly feminist. I have a real soft spot for her as an author.

Original poster
Takver · 20/01/2013 22:13

Hmm, I wouldn't count Margaret Atwood or Woman on the Edge of Time as light fantasy, particularly - looking for something a bit more fluffy IYKWIM (though I do like both of them). Dystopia would definitely count as fantasy but I think right now I'd like something more cheerful Grin

I'll check out Tamora Pierce, haven't tried any of her books.

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