Best Female Fantasy Writers

Post by **pat5150** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:34 pm

Hi guys!

Well, since many of you encouraged me to do another survey, here it is! As I mentioned before, I had officially run out of ideas. But some people submitted suggestions, and this is one of them. Personally, I am persuaded that Robin Hobb will easily take the cake. But it will be interesting to see who else will make the list. . .

As always, feel free to vote here or on the blog. I'll compile the results in about a week!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:30 am

Well, I like lighter fare, so Anne McCaffrey gets my vote!

But, can I place Diana Gabaldon a close second? Or J. K. Rowling?

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:57 am

Lois McMaster Bujold

Patricia McKillip

Robin Hobb

Ursula K. LeGuin
(I think of her more as sf than fantasy, as I have read more of her sf books, so she didn't even initially occur to me

)

P. C. Hodgell

Post by **Edge** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:21 am

Ursula K LeGuin

Edit: Now that MsMary has reminded me by bringing her name up, Madeleine L'Engle goes in here at #2.

Anne McCaffrey

Laurell K Hamilton

Post by **Ainulindale** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:50 am

Personally, I am persuaded that Robin Hobb will easily take the cake. But it will be interesting to see who else will make the list. . .

Although I have little doubt Hobb will win in such a poll, and I defintely am a fan I certainly don't agree she is the best by any means - the exclusion of Lackey and Wurtz are intentional as I find both of them unbearable:

My Top 10 in order:

1. Ursula Leguin - nobody is even close; nobody can match the quatity/quality and versatility. Except maybe Willis.

2. Angela Carter

3. Susanna Clarke

4. Hope Mirless

5. Lois Mcmaster Bujold

6. Mary Gentle

7. Connie Willis

8. Vera Nazarian

9. Patrica Mckillip

10.. Kelly Link

Worth mentioning:

Robin Hobb
KJ Bishop
Tamar Yellin
JV Jones
Diane Wynne Jones
Lynn Flewelling
Steph Swainston
Holly Phillips
CL Moore
Sharon Shinn
Ann McCaffery
Liz Williams
Martha Wells
Catherynne M. Valent,
Jacqueline Carey
Jane Yolen
Tanith Lee
Julian May
JK Rowwing
Kage Baker

Post by **Warmark** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:48 am

Ursula K LeGuin

There is NO other chioce.

Oh, and Robin Hobb is female? i didnt know that.

Post by **taraswizard** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:56 am

Robin Hobb; AKA Megan Lindholm.

Post by **[Syl]** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:12 pm

Patricia McKillip

Post by **CovenantJr** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:29 pm

Ainulindale wrote:the exclusion of Lackey and Wurtz are intentional as I find both of them unbearable

Quite right, Mercedes Lacking (

) must be excluded. I say Le Guin.

Post by **danlo** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:19 pm

Why no Jane Lindskold on your list Ain? Too "Harlequinny"?

I think May should be much higher on your wm list--(I'll confirm that after I actually read one of her books)--Mellisa Scott's pretty good too!

(or is this an exclusively fantasy thread?)

I vote for U. K. Leguin, btw, and as well...

Post by **Ainulindale** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 4:14 pm

Why no Jane Lindskold on your list Ain? Too "Harlequinny"? I think May should be much higher on your wm list--(I'll confirm that after I actually read one of her books)--Mellisa Scott's pretty good too! (or is this an exclusively fantasy thread?)

I've only read one effort by Lindskold that I can remember and it was a collaboration, so not enough to go on

Post by **danlo** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:07 pm

Was it with Roger Zelanzy? She was his protege and helped him finish 3 books or so...

Post by **MsMary** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 7:27 pm

In order of preference:

Patricia McKillip
Ursula LeGuin
Madeleine L'Engle
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Mary Stewart (Merlin series)
J. K. Rowling

It's sort of sad how few female fantasy writers I can think of, compared with the number of male writers.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 10:25 pm

Ooh, Marion Zimmer Bradley, of course!

Post by **Encryptic** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:55 pm

Robin Hobb

J.V. Jones

Katherine Kurtz

Patricia McKillip

Edit: How did I forget Martha Wells?

Post by **Lord Mhoram** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:38 am

danlo,

Was it with Roger Zelanzy? She was his protege and helped him finish 3 books or so...

It must have been her. She did several collaborations with Mr Zelazny late in his life, some of which are quite good I hear.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 12:59 am

I read Lord Demon, one of those collaborations, and it was quite good.

Another woman fantasy writer who has done some good collaborations is Janny Wurts, who did some good work with Raymond Feist in the Daughter of the Empire and its sequels.

Post by **Ainulindale** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:27 am

Another woman fantasy writer who has done some good collaborations is Janny Wurts

Who also wrote The War of Light and Shadow, and Alliance of the Light whcih still ranks iMHO the worst attempt at epic fantays in the history of the genre

I have heard good things about her collabo with Feist, but, I can't bring myself to read another Wurts work,

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 7:52 am

Her collaboration with Feist on the Empire series is indeed excellent. Never read anything else by her though.

--A

Post by **Encryptic** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:31 pm

Avatar wrote:Her collaboration with Feist on the Empire series is indeed excellent. Never read anything else by her though.

--A

Yup, the Empire trilogy is really pretty good. I've only read (well, attempted to read) Wurts' Curse of the Mistwraith and it sucked so bad I couldn't finish it.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Best Female Fantasy Writers

Best Female Fantasy Writers

Robin Hobb