7 March 2003

My Favorite SF/F Books by Women
by Lydia Marano of Dangerous Visions Bookstore

In 1981, Lydia Marano and Arthur Byron Cover founded Dangerous Visions, a Southern California bookstore specializing in new, used, and rare science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Along the way, they've hosted hundreds of autograph parties, got married, and raised several fine dogs. The current cat count is five. Art had a number of novels published, hosted a radio show on Pacifica's KPFK, and taught writing. Lydia's written animation for a number of studios including Disney, had two young adult books published, and taught herself html. At the end of 1999 Art and Lydia began Babbage Press and have published 11 science fiction, fantasy, and horror books to date. Recently, they closed Dangerous Visions' physical bookstore and will soon be selling books through their web site.

Wild Seed, by Octavia Butler. It's rich characterization makes this book difficult to forget.

Mind Players, by Pat Cadigan. Move over guys — Cadigan gives great cyberpunk!

Here Be Demons, by Esther M. Friesner. Popcorn ... Caramel Popcorn. A great funny book: easy to read, impossible to put down, and leaving you wanting more ... more!

Those Who Hunt The Night, by Barbara Hambly. A period vampire piece. Chilling and well-written.

The Wizard of Pigeons, by Meghan Lindholm. A soft, magical book positing that the health of society can be judged by the rhymes of its children. Out of print, but well worth the search.

Shambleau, by C.L. Moore. Classic sf action by a woman who dared to make her mark when the field was one big boy's club.

The City Not Long After, by Pat Murphy. Impossible to put down. A great piece of writing.

Vanishing Point, by Michaela Roessner. A terrific sf mystery. Great characters with real interplay between them. It'll make you want to visit the Winchester Mystery House.

Starsong Of An Old Primate, by James Tiptree, Jr. Alice Sheldon was a magnificent writer who, in the course of one short story, could say more about the nature of humanity than most people can get into an entire series of novels. This remains one of her best along with 10,000 Light Years from Home.

Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang, by Kate Wilhelm. This classic clone story could only have been written by a woman.

Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis. Heart-rending. She makes it look so easy — then you realize all the research and care that went into its creation. A wonder of a novel that I can't get out of my head.

To Say Nothing Of The Dog, by Connie Willis. A modern-day comedy of manners. Very funny at times but overall a smart book by a smart writer. I read it in one day! — so who needs sleep?