Welcome to “Women in Genre Month” on The Alternative Typewriter, running from April 1st to April 30th. I hope you can spare me a few minutes and hear what I have to say. Genre fiction and its surrounding community has brought me many joys over the years. Most of the happiest moments I had as part of this community have been brought by women – wonderful, crazy talented, passionate and generous women.
Women in genre have brought me into reading and writing. The books crucial to my growth as a person and creator have been written by women in genre and serve as foundation to my craft. My period as a reviewer saw a great many women influence me in my technique. Women in genre have taught me how to be honest online without being offensive. It’s safe to say I’m who I am in the genre community thanks to the women in genre.
I love the women in genre. It’s that simple. My relationship with them runs deep and is powerful, so I get aggressively defensive when they’re questioned. I’m tired of the magical hunt for women in genre, because someone can’t think of a woman writing X, Y or Z, or doesn’t trust a woman to write X, Y or Z.
Where are they? Why are they underrepresented?
Newsflash, women are here. They’re not invisible and they’re having a marvelous time kicking ass, taking names and snatching critical acclaim. Nevertheless, there’s a problem in how we see gender in genre, because I still see women treated as a novelty when they contribute worthwhile material in genre. Janet Harriett writes about this on her blog as a prelude to this month.
I think we’re stuck on the idea of women as a minority and it’s playing a joke on our community as to how we see women or if we see them at all. It’s partially why we can’t move on and escape the loop we’re caught when it comes to discussing women in genre.
Where are the women in genre? This isn’t the question we ought to answer. Who are they? That’s the right question to ask.
This is the purpose behind this small project – to shed light on the 30 women in genre who have made significant difference in my life through their work and friendship. Each day, I’ll share one story – some will be raw and personal, others not so much.
I want us as a community to celebrate women and I’d like you participate the women in genre that have left a mark. Name books, give names and say thanks. The more we discuss women in genre as individuals, the less we’ll need to talk about them as a group. It’s time we change this conversation’s tone and ensure future readers won’t feel the necessity to wonder where the women are in genre.
Are you game?
I hope you are, because I’m one person. I can’t do much, even if I’m on all the channels.
Write about the women in genre you know and appreciate.
If you’re on Twitter, use the #WomenInGenre hashtag to find other people involved and spread the word wide and far.
Comment here and leave the names of women in genre. By the end of April, I’ll gather all names suggested and create one giant list so that we see just how many women there are.
However, what I truly and utterly hope for is for this conversation doesn’t end with April and the last day of this project. Please talk about women in genre every day. I think it’s one pretty good remedy for the problem of their underrepresentation.
The list could be massive, but here are a few off the top of my head:
Urula K. LeGuin
James Tiptree Jnr (Alice B. Sheldon)
Mary Shelley
Connie Willis
Joanna Russ
Charlaine Harris
Kelly Link
Zenna Henderson
CL Moore
Suzanne Collins (Rowling competitor with The Hunger Games)
Lois McMaster Bujold
CJ Cherryh
Tanith Lee
Kage Baker
Elizabeth Moon
Anne McCaffrey
Nancy Kress
Cherie Priest
Pat Cadigan
Suzy McKee Charnas
Nalo Hopkinson
…that’s just for starters. The list goes on and on and on….
A quick look over my own shelves gives me these to add to the above list:
Judith Tarr
Jane Yolen
Sherri Tepper
Kari Sperring
Melissa Scott
Michelle West
Tanya Huff
Martha Wells
Elaine Cunningham
Barbara Hambly
Robin Hobb
Janet Morris
Nina Niriki Hoffman
Erin Hoffman
Diana L. Paxton
RA McAvoy
Jo Walton
Fiona Patton
Diana Wynn Jones
Katherine Kerr
Gwyneth Jones
Andre Norton
Comments! Oh I love comments. Thank you for stopping by and leaving these names. All excellent names.
I’d like to add Patricia McKillip, Julie E. Czerneda, Octavia Butler, and Lindsay Buroker to the list.
I am so glad you are doing this. The above lists are terrific and I may repeat some but I want to focus on my favorite new(er) writers who are almost exclusively women. Some have not yet made their mark with big novels. But in that case readers are missing out on 1/2 of the SF scene by not checking out short fiction:
Vandana Singh
Carolyn Ives Gilman
Eleanor Arnason
M.J. Jemison
Yoon Ha Lee
Aliette de Bodard
Naomi Kritzer
Nancy Kress
Elizabeth Bear
Kij Johnson
Mira Grant (Seanan McGuire)
Nedi Okorafor
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Catherynne M. Valente
Brit Mandelo
Carrie Vaughn
Margo Lanagan
Rachel Swirsky
Mary Robinette Kowall
Leigh Bardugo
Rachel Pollack
Catherine Asaro
Cat Rambo
Xia Jia (I’m not sure here but i believe this is a woman)
Jennifier Albin
Theodora Goss
Sandra MacDonald
Pat Cadigan
Linda Nagata
Kristine Katherine Rusch
Megan Arkenburg
Gwyneth Jones
Helena Bell
Genvieve Valentine
Nancy Fulda
Melissa Mead
Maggie Clark
Maria Davhana Headley
And this list is just from my favorite Novels/Short Fiction published in 2012!
I mean even without going to the past giants in the feild like Ursula K. Leguin and James Tiptree, Jr etc. we have more women writing genre than ever before. And I know I missed a lot, still! We are blind if we ask were are the women writers in genre.
Bob
In addition to the above, there’s Sherri S Tepper, Carol Berg, Lynn Flewelling, Kara Dalkey.
Kari Sperring, Louise Marley, Seanan McGuire (she just got five Hugo noms!), ALma Alexander Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Nisi Shawl…
Thank for the opportunity to spread the word about women in genre. I’ve been compiling a list on my blog (http://www.thegalaxyexpress.net/p/sfr-authors.html) that features women authors of science fiction romance. The names range from brand name SF authors to unknowns and they’ve written stories that combine romance and SF in some way.
Jayge Carr
Jan Clark
Phoebe Conn
Rebecca Brandewyne
Lois McMaster Bujold
Debra Doyle
Carole Nelson Douglas
Doris Egan
Teresa Edgeton
Kate Elliot
Cheryl Franklin
Tara K. Harper
Katharine Eliska Kimbriel
Jayne Ann Krentz
Sharon Le
Jean Lorrah
Adrienne Martine-Barnes
Flora Speer
Susan Shwartz
Janelle Taylor
Joan Vinge
M. K. Wren
Catherine Asaro
Anne Avery
Marilyn Campbell
Nancy Cane
Jackie Casto
Justine Davis
Saranne Dawson
Jane Emerson
Rebecca Flanders
Karen Fox
Judy Gill
Chloe Hall
Marilyn Jordan
Dara Joy
Janet Kagan
Susan Krinard
Carole Ann Lee
Kristen Kyle
Johanna Lindsey
Mickee Madden
Tess Mallory
Pam McCutcheon
Christine Michels
Kathleen Morgan
Lisanne Norman
Stobie Piel
Pam Rock
Patricia Roenbeck
Melissa Scott
Sharon Shinn
Wen Spencer
Janice Tarantino
Connie Willis
Jan Zimlich
Ann Aguirre
KS Augustin
C.J. Barry
Cheryl Brooks
Beth Ciotta
Rowena Cherry
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Elaine Corvidae
Tracy Cozzens
Bianc D’Arc
Autumn Dawn
Katherine Deauxville
Claire Delacroix
Marianne de Pierres
Leslie Dicken
Andrea Dionne
Jax Garren
Jess Granger
Susan Grant
Nathalie Gray
Colby Hodge
Pauline B. Jones
Susan Kearney
Karen Kelley
Isabo Kelly
Eve Kenin
Katherine Eliska Kimbrel
Stacey Klemstein
Angela Knight
Deidre Knight
Kim Knox
Ellen Fisher
Lisa Lane
Jade Lee
Marjorie M. Liu
Rae Lori
Gennita Low
Michelle Maddox
Marianne Mancusi
Ellie Marvel
Liz Maverick
Sandra McDonald
Janet Miller
Kathleen Nance
Patti O’Shea
Robin D. Owens
Dru Pagliassotti
Robin T. Popp
J.D. Robb
Linnea Sinclair
Gena Showalter
Susan Sizemore
Catherine Spangler
Angelia Sparrow
Susan Squires
Amanda Steiger
Jordan Summers
Karen Traviss
Diane Turnshek
Angela Verdenius
S.L. Viehl
Patricia Waddell
Saje Williams
Maria Zannini
Melisse Aires
Erica Anderson
Cheryl Angst
Zoe Archer
Christine Bell
Jenna Bennett
Manda Benson
Tilda Booth
Sidney Bristol
Meljean Brook
Misa Buckley
Joely Sue Burkhart
Marcella Burnard
K.C. Burn
Diane Burton
Lilly Cain
Kat Cantrell
J.K. Coi
Sara Creasy
Anah Crow
Sara Brookes
Christine Danse
Ainsley Davidson
Bonnie Dee
Delilah Devlin
Diane Dooley
Ella Drake
Barbara Elsborg
Marie Fee
Sharon Lynn Fisher
P.G. Forte
Jacquelyn Frank
Stacy Gail
Kait Gamble
L.J. Garland
S.E. Gilchrist
K.T. Grant
Inari Gray
Patricia Green
Jeanette Grey
Anna Hackett
Barbara J. Hancock
S. Reesa Herberth
Leanna Renee Hieber
J.L. Hilton
Violet Hilton
Sarah A. Hoyt
D.L. Jackson
Pippa Jay
Ilene Kaye
Kallysten
Erin Kellison
Sahara Kelly
C.E. Kilgore
KC Klein
Gini Koch
Eve Langlais
Corrina Lawson
Karalynn Lee
Michelle L. Levigne
Sarah Mäkelä
Kaye Manro
Katie MacAlister
Heather Massey
Jenna McCormick
Anitra Lynn McLeod
Linda Mooney
Michelle Moore
Sheryl Nantus
A.R. Norris
Cindy Spencer Pape
Frances Pauli
Cathy Pegau
Berinn Rae
Edie Ramer
Chris Reher
LK Rigel
Val Roberts
Candace Sams
Vijaya Schartz
P.J. Schnyder
Jenny Schwartz
Veronica Scott
Yolanda Sfetsos
Jessica Slade
Sandra Sookoo
Lisa Paitz Spindler
Jessica E. Subject
Sasha Summers
Fae Sutherland
T.K. Toppin
Kate Roman
Joss Ware
Aubrey Watt
Sharolyn Wells
Gayle Ann Williams
Brenda Williamson
Lucy Woodhull
I just have one name, there are many wonderful women in genre that have already been named. I would like to point you to one who is just starting out. Kortnee Bryant. Check out some of her stories here.
http://steponthejourney.wordpress.com
two of her best are:
http://steponthejourney.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/friday-flash-fiction-ashes-in-the-sword/
http://steponthejourney.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/bonus-flash-fiction-the-detective-and-the-archaeologist/
Thank you all. This will lead me to have a very busy weekend ahead, but I am quite excited to see so many names listed already.
Madeline Ashby
Gwenda Bond
Kim Curran
Gail Martin
Trudi Canavan
Kate Locke
Gail Carriger
Mercedes Lackey
Naomi Novik
Anne Rice
N.K. Jemisin
K.T. Davies
Margaret Weis
Janny Wurts
Rowena Cory Daniels
Justina Robson
Laura Lam
Cassandra Rose Clarke
And I think Doris Lessing must be mentioned.
Hey, what about Philippa “Pip” Ballantine. Four fantasy, four steampunk. She’s fantastic!
[…] Markov’s Women in Genre and Fantasy Cafe’s Women in Science Fiction and Fantasy […]
Susana Clark
Seanan McGuire
Jane Yolen
Susan Cooper
Tanith Lee
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Mercedes Lackey
Pamela Dean
Holly Black
Julian May
Nancy A. Collins
Terri Windling
Rachel Caine
Kim Harrison
Octavia Butler
Ursula K. LeGuin
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Diana Paxson
Gael Baudino
Caitlin Kittredge
C. E. Murphy
Marie Brennan
Sarah A. Hoyt
Melissa Marr
Midori Snyder
Ellen Kushner
Delia Sherman
Emma Bull
Kara Dalkey
Leigh Brackett
C. L. Moore
Esther Friesner
Katherine Kurtz
Joan D. Vinge
Lisa Goldstein
Cherie Priest
Patricia A. McKillip
Jane Lindskold
Andre Norton
Maggie Stiefvater
Carole Nelson Douglas
Ellen Datlow
Evangeline Walton
Sarah Monette, Elizabeth Bear, Karen Lowachee, Robin McKinley, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Jacqueline Carey, Michelle Sagara, Stacia Kane, Jennifer Harlow, Darynda Jones, Kelly Gay, Kelly Meding, Kalayna Price, Jennifer Estep, Wen Spencer, Faith Hunter, C.S. Friedman, Mercedes Lackey, Juliet Marillier, Rachel Aaron, Marissa Meyer, Sherwood Smith, Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer, Megan Whalen Turner, Sarah Rees Brennan, Madeleine L’ Engle.
[…] Markov is running a blog series “Women in Genre” dedicated to celebrating female genre creators. Throughout the month of April, he will be […]
I’ve been discussing women as writers and protagonists of SF (and as scientists and other non-supporting vocations and functions) for decades; I heartily wish we didn’t need to still have this discussion. Here’s a huge, neglected (surprise!) database: http://www.feministsf.org/authors/wsfwriters.html
Also, below are additional names that don’t overlap with those already listed. I have no doubt I’ll think of more the moment I push the “Post” button.
Vonda McIntyre
Marge Piercy
Laura Mixon (Morgan Locke)
C. S. Friedman
Joan Slonczewski
Elizabeth Lynn
Elizabeth Hand
Marie Jakober
Bharati Mukherjee
Kristin Landon
Evghenia Fakinou
Laura Esquivel
Sabrina Vourvoulias
Kelly Jennings
Christine Lucas
Sue Lange
Terry Boren
Alex Dally MacFarlane
Carol Emshwiller
Louise Erdrich
Alice Hoffman
Margaret Atwood
Pamela Sargent
Diane Duane
Karen Fowler
Valerie Freireich
Nicola Griffith
Sonia Orin Lyris
Sylvia Townsend Warner
Isabel Allende
Tatyana Tolstaya
Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)
Angela Carter
Sheila Finch
Lauren Beukes
Toni Morrison
Barbara Naylor
Johanna Sinisalo
Kate Wilhelm
Pat Murphy
Meredith Ann Pierce
Women in Horror:
B.E. Scully
Edith Wharton
Joyce Carol Oates
Karen Dent
Roxanne dent
Holly Newstein
Yes and yes and yes! I love the “Not where are they, but WHO are they?” approach. I will read all of these ladies.