Nelson DeMille, author of The Panther

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Blackout by Connie Willis

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Connie Willis is the most recent Grand Master Award Winner, and you can see why just by looking at her list of major awards. Just the 11 Hugo Awards for Novels/Novellas/Short Stories is enough to make a reader take notice. When you crack open her books, you are instantly lost in story. Whether you start with Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog, or Blackout/All Clear, you'll find incredible story and a text so easy and fluid to wade into that you'll soon be done and clamoring for more.

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The Summer Queen by Joan D. Vinge

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Joan D. Vinge has had her hand on many film novelizations -- from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome to Ladyhawke to Cowboys & Aliens. It is the Hugo Award winning The Snow Queen, however, that has gripped readers and kicked off her Snow Queen Cycle, which is based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale. Her output has suffered since a dreadful car accident in 2002, coupled with other health issues, but she is back writing. Hopefully we will see much more from her in the near future.

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Her Smoke Rose Up Forever by James Tiptree, Jr.

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Alice Bradley Sheldon was the Kaiser Soze of her day. In 1968 she began publishing science fiction stories under the name James Tiptree, Jr. -- a pseudonym she would successfully hide behind for nine years until it would finally be discovered, somewhat shockingly, that she was a woman. Her stories are dark science fiction, teeming with sexual tensions, often pessimistic, and weighted with a feminist theme. Hidden in her work were the struggles of a woman suffering emotional troubles, and she would take her own life in 1987. An award in her name is presented each year to a work of science fiction or fantasy that expands/explores understanding of gender.

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Elsewhens by Melanie Rawn

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

Melanie Rawn took a lot of time off to try and deal with some personal demons but before she took a bow she turned out some first rate fantasy work. Her Dragon Prince and Dragon Star trilogies took up residence on shelves, epic in scope and in size. Since 2006, she'd dipped her feet in slowly but exploded with the outstanding Touchstone. The writing world is better served with Rawn actively engaged and providing more of her first rate stories.

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Ice and Shadow by Andre Norton

Female Fantasy Authors, November 2012

In 1984, Andre Norton was named the first woman to receive the Grand Master Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America. And she deserved it. Publishing her first novel, The Prince Commands, in 1934, Norton would take on the world -- after changing her name from Alice to Andre, of course. She was a writer of open spaces as opposed to cityscapes and her characters were often witty and independent. 1965's Year of the Unicorn would see Norton utilize a rare idea -- a female protagonist. With 27 different series to her name, Norton truly defined the term Trailblazer, and left an indelible mark on generations of readers and writers.

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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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