I'm looking for sci-fi and fantasy (ideally audiobooks) written by women. Any suggestions?

ThunderSaid

Today, I came across this blog post that talked about the ratio of male to female authors in genre fiction. I thought it was an interesting read, and it got me wondering about the ratio of male to female authors in the list of books I've personally read. Thankfully, most of my "reading" is done via my Audible.com account, so I was able to get what I think is a pretty good estimate by looking at the list of all the books I've ever bought from them. Unfortunately, my personal ratio appears to be approximately 4:1, which is even more skewed than the publisher's ratio of approximately 2:1.

So, now I'm looking for suggestions of good books written by women. I'm particularly interested in titles I can get as audiobooks, but that's not a firm requirement. I like both fantasy and sci-fi, and I tend to prefer lighter stories (good wins) over "grittier" stories (good loses an eye in explicit detail). I like urban fantasy, but I'm not interested in romance that's pretending to be fantasy (i.e. "100 ways to boink a zombie").

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

Heartlash

Hate to mention the obvious ones, but the Harry Potter audio books are quite good. Also, I've never heard the Hunger Games audio books, but they may be worth checking out if you haven't read them. I know these series are both considered "Young Adult", but I wouldn't underestimate how well crafted they both are on account of that.

ThunderSaid

Thank you for the suggestions.

I've actually read both. I enjoyed Harry Potter a lot, but the Hunger Games were a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the first one, thought the second was only OK, and ground my way through the third one only because I'd already read the first two. However, you bring up a good point - I think the young adult category gets more grief than it deserves. I've read a few really good books that were being marketed to a younger crowd.

Gaslight

Slightly off topic and not trying to start a debate here, but I am puzzled by that blog post. Sci-fi I can see having a majority of male authors but the fantasy shelves of every bookstore of library I have ever been in were skewed HEAVILY towards women writers.

Mike Danger

Ursula K. LeGuin has written both fantasy and SF, and IIRC is sort of in the middle of the light/gritty spectrum.

AaronKI

http://bookriot.com/2013/05/24/5-magical-books-by-women/

Maybe one of these will catch your interest. I'm currently reading The Night Circus and enjoying it quite a bit. Magical Realism/Historical Fiction about a wizards' duel. It does feature a romance, but I don't think it's pretending to be fantasy. (Though I'm not really sure what you mean by that.)

ThunderSaid

Mike Danger wrote: »

Ursula K. LeGuin has written both fantasy and SF, and IIRC is sort of in the middle of the light/gritty spectrum.

Thank you.

I've read all of Le Guin's Earthsea books, and I also really liked 'Changing Planes.' 'The Dispossessed' is in my queue right now as well. Looking at Audible's selection, they seem to have several other's that I hadn't really thought about, though. I'll be sure to take an additional look at them

(edited to correctly spell 'Dispossessed')

Tofystedeth

Well, there's always Ursula K LeGuin (Left Hand of Darkness, the EarthSea books), Diana Wynn Jones (Howl's Moving Castle a bunch of other excellent stuff), Anne McAffery (The Pern books and some other sci-fi), J. V. Jones (The Baker's Boy series, this other one that I only read the first one of, Cavern of Grey Ice that seemed pretty interesting), and C. J. Cherryh(the Dying Sun trilogy, Foreigner and it's sequels)
They all write different kinds of stuff but they're pretty good.
LeGuin especially is pretty important among among Sci-Fi and fantasy writers.
It'd help if we had the names or works of the ones you do have.

ThunderSaid

AaronKI wrote: »

http://bookriot.com/2013/05/24/5-magical-books-by-women/

Maybe one of these will catch your interest. I'm currently reading The Night Circus and enjoying it quite a bit. Magical Realism/Historical Fiction about a wizards' duel. It does feature a romance, but I don't think it's pretending to be fantasy. (Though I'm not really sure what you mean by that.)

Thanks for the suggestion and the link. I don't think I've ever heard of Ekaterina Sedia or Kelly Link. I'll definitely check out their work.

I tried reading The Night Circus, but couldn't get through it. I don't know what exactly didn't resonate with me, but I put it down about two thirds of the way through and didn't pick it back up again. I really seem to be in the minority on that one, though. The Shining Girls was great. I just finished it this week, actually. I liked Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, but The Ladies of Grace Adieu didn't really catch me. I think I might have just not been in the mood for short stories at the time, though, so I might pick that one back up.

ThunderSaid

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Well, there's always Ursula K LeGuin (Left Hand of Darkness, the EarthSea books), Diana Wynn Jones (Howl's Moving Castle a bunch of other excellent stuff), Anne McAffery (The Pern books and some other sci-fi), J. V. Jones (The Baker's Boy series, this other one that I only read the first one of, Cavern of Grey Ice that seemed pretty interesting), and C. J. Cherryh(the Dying Sun trilogy, Foreigner and it's sequels)
They all write different kinds of stuff but they're pretty good.
LeGuin especially is pretty important among among Sci-Fi and fantasy writers.
It'd help if we had the names or works of the ones you do have.

Thanks.

I haven't heard of J.V. Jones, and although I think I've heard of C.J. Cherryh, I didn't realize she was female. I'll definitely give them both a look.

A quick perusal of my Audible purchases turn up these names. I wouldn't say all of them are good, just that I'm familiar with them:

Ursula K. Le Guin
Patricia McKillip
Lisa Shearin
Kate Mosse
Erin Morgenstern
Marissa Meyer
Stephenie Meyer (Don't look at me, I'm Hideous!)
Seanan McGuire
Anne McCaffrey
Mercedes Lackey
N.K. Jemisen
Kim Harrison
Deborah Harkness
Susan Cooper
Suzanne Collins
Susanna Clarke
Cassandra Clare
Kristin Cashore
Gail Carriger
Jacqueline Carey
Lois McMaster Bujold
Libba Bray
Lauren Beukes
Leigh Bardugo

Grouch

Have you read anything by Lois McMaster Bujold? If not, her body of work should keep you occupied for a solid chunk of time. If you have, go back to some of your favourites (because how could you read anything by her an not love at least some of it?)

Usagi

Also Marian Zimmer Bradley, I don't know if any of her books are on audiotape but I loved the Mists of Avalon and all of the Darkover series books I've been able to get my hands on

dresdenphile

The first five or so of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series probably fit the bill. After that, they quickly become more about supernatural orgies than solving murders and shooting monsters.

DirtyDirtyVagrant

Jacqueline Carey's Kushiels series is good. Like, really good.

foodle

Julian May - Pliocene Saga

Vesty

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest is pretty good and award nominated. It takes place in a steampunk, zombie infested, alternate history Seattle!

Sentry

Seconding Mists of Avalon. It ruined all other Arthurian legend stories for me though, so beware.

amateurhour

A.J. Scudiere writes some good fantasy and sci-fi.

Sentry

Oh, this book series was also really good:
http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Prince-Book-Melanie-Rawn/dp/0886774500/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373661261&sr=8-1&keywords=Dragon+Prince

Djeet

ThunderSaid wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion and the link. I don't think I've ever heard of Ekaterina Sedia or Kelly Link. I'll definitely check out their work.

I haven't read the Kelly Link book posted in that link, but her Magic for Beginners I thought was very good. Not really Fantasy or SF, more Magical Realism.

ceres

Grouch wrote: »

Have you read anything by Lois McMaster Bujold? If not, her body of work should keep you occupied for a solid chunk of time. If you have, go back to some of your favourites (because how could you read anything by her an not love at least some of it?)

My son is named after a character in her books.

Hahnsoo1

My girlfriend primarily reads science fiction and fantasy novels, and she loves Lois McMaster Bujold, Connie Willis, and Elizabeth Moon.

TychoCelchuuu

Lauren Beukes showed up in @ThunderSaid's list but it would be a shame if she remained buried there. She's great.

LostNinja

Trudi Canavan's dark magician trilogy and traitor spy trilogy are pretty solid fantasy reads, as is Gail Z. Martin's chronicles of the necromancer series

Cabezone

The Fareseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb is excellent.

Darkewolfe

I haven't read them in over a decade, but I remember really enjoying the Cheysuli Chronicles by Jennifer Roberson.

CourtOfOwls

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Well, there's always Ursula K LeGuin (Left Hand of Darkness, the EarthSea books), Diana Wynn Jones (Howl's Moving Castle a bunch of other excellent stuff), Anne McAffery (The Pern books and some other sci-fi), J. V. Jones (The Baker's Boy series, this other one that I only read the first one of, Cavern of Grey Ice that seemed pretty interesting), and C. J. Cherryh(the Dying Sun trilogy, Foreigner and it's sequels)
They all write different kinds of stuff but they're pretty good.
LeGuin especially is pretty important among among Sci-Fi and fantasy writers.
It'd help if we had the names or works of the ones you do have.

I second Left Hand of Darkness. It was a completely new and unique story telling experience for me, I recommend it.

VanityPants

Like @Cabezone said, Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy is fantastic, as is The Liveship Traders Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy.

His Majesty's Dragons by Naomi Novik is the first book of the Temeraire series. These books are about the Napoleonic wars with the addition of dragons.

The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling is the first book in the Tamir Triad series. A dark fantasy that explores the topic of gender as well.

The Green Rider by Kristen Britain is the first book in the Green Rider series. Sort of a quest story with a lot of great characterization.

Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw. This isn't strictly fantasy--it's a novel based on Arthurian legend with almost a historical fiction feeling. There is magic, though, and a lot of mythological elements, and if you like fantasy, I'm sure you'll like it. It's told by the point of view of Gwalchmai (Gawain) and is one of my favorites.

If you don't mind YA Fantasy (which I'm guessing you don't, given your inclusion of Leigh Bardugo--love her books), here are a couple of other recommendations:
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta is the first book of the Lumatere Chronicles and is absolutely fantastic. Everyone should read these books.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore is a great fantasy book. Sort of an X-Men meets typical Fantasy thing going on. She has two more books set in the same world (Fire and Bitterblue.) -- Drat, just saw you already listed Cashore.

Edit: I had my issues with Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but I think it's a really enjoyable book despite the weaknesses.

Zenitram

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. She also wrote The Handmaid's Tale but I haven't read it.

Essee

Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave series is another great take on the Arthurian legend (haven't personally read Mists of Avalon/Hawk of May). Tells the story from Merlin's point of view. Sadly I don't think there's an audiobook version. My mom and I both read tons of sci-fi and fantasy and loved it, as have several people we've recommended it to. Also fits in with your desire to not go completely grimdark with your books!

Rend

Cherryh also did Cyteen, which was an amazing read.

Mayabird

Doesn't look like Octavia Butler has been mentioned. Searching for audiobooks on Amazon brings up Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents which I had read and thought were excellent. Her series "Lilith's Bood" (Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago) was also great (and probably more to your preference as the Parable series take place in a dystopian future

which is made better, not "gets better" but "is made better"

) but I don't see any audiobook versions on quick glance.

Turkson

I've only read "The Paladin" by Cherryh, and I thought it was pretty mediocre.

I'm a fan of Moon's "The Deeds of Paksennarion." Good on battles and establishing a world. More iffy on dialogue.

kaliyama

ceres wrote: »

Grouch wrote: »

Have you read anything by Lois McMaster Bujold? If not, her body of work should keep you occupied for a solid chunk of time. If you have, go back to some of your favourites (because how could you read anything by her an not love at least some of it?)

My son is named after a character in her books.

You named your kid Roic, @Ceres ?

I hoped on here to recommend Bujold. First thing to read hands down.

ceres

kaliyama wrote: »

ceres wrote: »

Grouch wrote: »

Have you read anything by Lois McMaster Bujold? If not, her body of work should keep you occupied for a solid chunk of time. If you have, go back to some of your favourites (because how could you read anything by her an not love at least some of it?)

My son is named after a character in her books.

You named your kid Roic, @Ceres ?

I hoped on here to recommend Bujold. First thing to read hands down.

Miles.

My husband's idea, I've never read them.

Raif Severance

I will second JV Jones. I thoroughly enjoyed Cavern of Black Ice (hence my forum name, although spelled slightly differently) and the Sword of Shadows series in general.

FightTest

I've enjoyed some C.S. Friedman books. The Coldfire Trilogy along with The Madness Season were all good. Semi-gritty? As a mild-but-not-much-of-a spoiler she was the first fantasy author to shock me by killing off a pretty prominent character in a story. (This was pre GRRM.)

*disclaimer: I read these books like 15 years ago in high school, I assume they hold up but who knows.

davidsdurions

I'm going to recommend Julie Czerneda's Species Imperative series solely based on my decade old memory of enjoying it immensely.

Xenogears of Bore

The problem here is that a lot of the stuff mentioned either has no audiobook version or a bad one. I'll look through my library and see what fits and is actually recorded competently!

Cambiata

I see someone already mentioned it, but The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey is an excellent series. As a plus I checked on audible and it does have audio versions, though the reviews of those performances are mixed. I'm particularly fond of The Harper Hall trilogy (essentially the second trilogy in the series) because of the way she presents the importance of music and artistry to a culture and somehow makes it exciting.

Captain Marcus

FightTest wrote: »

I've enjoyed some C.S. Friedman books. The Coldfire Trilogy along with The Madness Season were all good. Semi-gritty? As a mild-but-not-much-of-a spoiler she was the first fantasy author to shock me by killing off a pretty prominent character in a story. (This was pre GRRM.)

*disclaimer: I read these books like 15 years ago in high school, I assume they hold up but who knows.

The Coldfire Trilogy holds up. I've never read The Madness Season.

Kate Elliot's Crown of Stars series is also good, but it's seven books long.