Women in Sci-Fi and Fantasy/Game of Thrones

[tangentgirl]

I had to scroll past some of this quickly, because I haven't read DwD yet, but, on George RR Martin and the Ice & Fire books...

I like his female characters. A lot. SPOILERS HERE

Arya is my HERO. If I ever had a daughter, that name would be a strong contender, along with Lyra (Golden Compass). And maybe Keala (Kennely, the badass surfer chick in the real world). But I digress. Talk about a mean little survivor.

Danerys? Getting rid of her abusive brother? Becoming this legendary queen? Awesome.

Cersei - so ridiculous and evil and a terrible leader, but Martin really explains how she is who she is in part because she was marginalized.

Brienne - Brave, both in battle and out. She is who she is despite every single thing being against her.

I haven't read the rape/rough sex scene described at the beginning of this thread, so it's hard to comment on it. However, horrible things happen to lots of characters throughout these books. It's not like Martin is focusing on objectifying women in particular. If he had been, Sansa would be pregnant with Tyrrian's second kid by now, cause Tyrrian wouldn't have had any qualms about *ing his hot 13-year-old bride.

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Other FSF female awesomeness...

+1 on Octavia Butler. And Terry Pratchett and Phillp Pullman.

Margaret Atwood. Her futures scare the bejezzus outta me.

Vernor Vinge's Rainbow's End has a wonderful main female character. Then again, I'm biased, I love that book to pieces. His future is actually gonna happen.

Connie Willis! Hooray for Connie Willis and her time-traveling heroes, female and male. I wish her futures would happen. I'd like to be a historian.

Anyone read the Soulless series by Gail Carriger? Steampunk vampire werewolf hilarity, with a wonderful woman at the lead.

I'm surprised we haven't gotten a mention of Marion Zimmer Bradley here and The Mists of Avalon, her re-imagined Camelot from the women's point of view. I found those characters frustrating, but the idea of turning The Once and Future King (which I also love) on its ear is pretty cool.

Finally, this is television, but Battlestar Galactica and Kara Thrace. The new Starbuck kicked so much @$$ that the old Starbuck got jealous and threw an internet hissy fit. Hooray for new Starbuck!

Ok, time for me to go play World of Warcraft. Peace out.