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Victory Conditions: Vatta's War by Elizabeth Moon

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

The Speed of Dark, a science fiction near-future tale told from the viewpoint of an autistic computer programmer, won Elizabeth Moon the 2003 Nebula for Best Novel, and it is mind-blowing. A former computer specialist in the US Marine Corps, Moon has been publishing stellar fantasy and hard science fiction works since 1988, primarily within her Paksennarrion Series of sword and sorcery adventure. Within Vatta's War, Moon pulls out the stops for a militaristic space adventure. Moon is a capable author in both realms, wielding a sword or a blaster with competence.

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The Scrivener's Tale by Fiona McIntosh

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

If you don't know who Fiona McIntosh is, shame on you. While she's gaining accolades in Australia she's still looking for the lit fuse to hit the powder keg here in the States. With three series currently available here (The Quickening, Percheron, Valisar), McIntosh has found a way to shrink epic feel into three books, which means no waiting around for nine years to get to book seven. Another key is that all three of these trilogies are expressly different in setting and tone, yet if you pay attention you can see that they all occur within the same universe. Her pace is quick, her characters are likable and/or revolting (as necessary), and her stories absolutely reward you for giving them your time.

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All the Weyrs of Pern: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

While Anne McCaffrey has a solid foothold in science fiction as well as fantasy, it is her gifted combination of both elements in her Dragonriders of Pern that has secured her place amongst the greatest in the genre, no matter her gender. While she may have had struggles gaining a male readership back in the '60s, there should be zero problems in that area now. She enjoyed a successful run in teaming up with Elizabeth Ann Scarborough to write the Acorna Universe and the Petaybee Universe. She then worked with her son, Todd, on several Pern novels and has left the world in his hands. McCaffrey passed in November 2011, having won Hugos, Nebulas, appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list, was the 22nd Grand Master of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and entered the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2006.

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The Summoner: Chronicles of the Necromancer, Book 1 by Gail Z. Martin

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

With the release of The Summoner in 2007, Gail Z. Martin sent up a flag of warning that a new epic fantasist was on the scene. Now six books into The Chronicles of the Necromancer, Martin shows no sign of slowing down. The series holds everything a lover of epic fantasy will enjoy -- colorful characters, blood feuds, struggles for the crown, the dead...and the undead. And to top it all off, she takes those disparate elements and combines them with a deft hand and presents readers with small gifts within each cover.

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Daughter of the Forest: The Sevenwaters Trilogy, Book 1 by Juliet Marillier

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

New Zealand-born Marillier flies under the radar, and it's unfortunate, because a great many readers are missing out on some really strong writing. Her best work to date is The Sevenwaters Trilogy, which kicks off with the American Library Award winning Daughter of the Forest. Much of her work is presented in the first person viewpoint, which is not the easiest approach, but she nails it every time. The Saga of the Light Isles is a two book series with a Viking theme that deserves a look. Across the board, Marillier shows her gifts for folklore and should garner more readership than she does.

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The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Hugo. Nebula. National Book Award. Newbery Honor. Ursula K. LeGuin has piled up an impressive array of hardware for the quality of her work. It would be very easy to simply say Earthsea and leave things as they are, for it is an exquisite series. The Hainish series of books should be on everyone's list of science fiction must reads -- a series which includes such titles as The Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness. Add to that her stand-alone The Lathe of Heaven and you are just beginning to scratch the surface. That she can take themes of psychological and social importance and twist them into entertaining stories is a testament to her grand abilities.

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Deryni Rising: Chronicles of the Deryni, Book 1 by Katherine Kurtz

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

The Adept or the Templar Series are all worthwhile installments in the career of Katherine Kurtz, but nothing will compare to her work with the Chronicles of the Deryni. Since 1970, Kurtz has built the saga through five trilogies plus one stand-alone novel. Harkening back to a 10th century Great Britain environment, the land of Gwynedd is people by humans and Deryni, an offshoot of the human race that possess magic. Shades of grey abound in this political web, with the two sides struggling to balance governmental and religious powers. An unrelated novel, Saint Patrick's Gargoyle, is an intriguing take on the notion of living gargoyles and their charge in the world.

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Forest Mage: The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2 by Robin Hobb

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2013

Orson Scott Card once highly praised Robin Hobb and her work, boldly stating that she "set the standard for the modern serious fantasy novel." He did so with very good reason. Hobb's work is engaging and remarkably addicting. Her Farseer Trilogy, following the adventures of assassin FitzChivalry Farseer, pulls readers into a well-crafted world. Though she would detour from Fitz for her next series, the Liveship Traders Trilogy, she delivers a sea-going/nautical adventure that is a refreshing change of pace from standard fantasy fare. She would return to the adventures of Fitz, though she has branched out and shared newer worlds as well. Remarkable talent.

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The Wayfarer Redemption: The Axis Trilogy, Book 1 by Sara Douglass

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Here in the United States, The Wayfarer Redemption is a six book series, though in her native Australia it is two separate trilogies. However you present them, they are a compelling work. The first three volumes involve the Prophecy of the Destroyer and the rise of Axis Sunsoar to oppose him. Douglass weaves a magical tale of prophecy and betrayal, and thanks to keeping enough loose ends, had enough of a spark left to bring on the next three volumes, which follow the challenges facing Caelum SunSoar, the son of Axis. The background histories of this world are extensive and incredibly well crafted, giving the work a sense of real depth. Sadly, Douglass passed from ovarian cancer in 2011. Thankfully she left readers with quite  a legacy.

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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Though she has only one fantasy to her name, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is so remarkable on its own that it would be impossible not to include Clarke in this list. Ten years in the making, Clarke's alternate 19th century tale of magic, madness, and Englishness is a jewel. When Neil Gaiman hails the book as "Unquestionably the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last seventy years," you can take it to the bank. Though she is reportedly working on a sequel, she can take heart in knowing that this work of difficult birth landed her TIME Magazine's Best Novel of the Year (2004), as well as the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards for Best Novel (2005).

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