There is a lack of
strong female characters across the fantasy genre, although the stories with
such powerful heroines have plenty more benefits in comparison with the others.
Two of my favorite fantasy novels of 2012, Mike
Carey, Linda Carey & Louise Carey’s “The Steel Seraglio” and Karen
Lord’s “Redemption in Indigo”,
were impressive on this matter. I believe that we certainly need more such
novels, with strong female characters, powerfully constructed and making the
reader cherish them. There was another character with potential in Jeff Salyards’ “Scourge of the Betrayer”, but she was not overly developed
although the excellent premises were there. At some point in the story I
understood the situation, but still I would have liked that angle explored just
a bit more. However, still she is the sole female character with any importance
within the story; more than other fantasy novels, but still less than what would
place the genders on balance in the said genre. One character that I hold dear
in the high fantasy sword and sorcery fiction is Red Sonja. Now, don’t get me
wrong, I did not appreciate the character for the summary chain mail armor, but
for bringing the archetypical fantasy figure in a new light. Soon, we will get
the chance to meet new female characters who will rightfully take their place
on the center stage. After publishing “Warriors”,
an anthology featuring stories of war and warriors, Tor Books will release
another collection edited by George R.R.
Martin and Gardner Dozois, “Dangerous Women”. Initially named
“Femmes Fatale”, “Dangerous Women” is a massive crossgenre anthology, bigger
than “Warriors” and with a very strong line-up, including an original novella
set in the world of renowned George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”. What is interesting and makes the
anthology even more appealing for me is that the recently announced table of contents of “Dangerous Women” is true to its crossgenre quality, featuring
all-star authors from fantasy, urban fantasy, science-fiction, historical
fiction, horror and crime fiction. More so, I am happy to see Megan Abbott’s presence on the line-up,
because her hardboiled crime fiction I read so far was a true delight. We do
not have a publishing date yet, but as George R.R. Martin says on his blog post:
“the
women are coming, and they're armed and dangerous.”
Introduction by Gardner Dozois
“Some Desperado” (Red Country story) by Joe Abercrombie
“My Heart is Either Broken” by Megan Abbott
“Nora’s Song” by Cecelia Holland
“The Hands That Are Not There” by Melinda Snodgrass
“Bombshells” (Harry Dresden story) by Jim Butcher
“Raisa Stepanova” by Carrie Vaughn
“Wrestling Jesus” by Joe R. Lansdale
“Neighbors” by Megan Lindholm
“I Know How to Pick ’Em” by Lawrence Block
“Shadows For Silence in the Forests of Hell” by Brandon Sanderson
“A Queen in Exile” by Sharon Kay Penman
“The Girl in the Mirror” (Magicians story) by Lev Grossman
“Second Arabesque, Very Slowly” by Nancy Kress
“City Lazarus” by Diana Rowland
“Virgins” (Outlander story) by Diana Gabaldon
“Hell Hath No Fury” by Sherilynn Kenyon
“Pronouncing Doom” (Emberverse story) by S.M. Stirling
“Name the Beast” by Sam Sykes
“Caretakers” by Pat Cadigan
“Lies My Mother Told Me” (Wild Cards story) by Caroline Spector
“The
Princess and the Queen” (A Song of Ice and Fire story) by George R.R. Martin
2 comments:
Sounds like an interesting collection, but I'm more interested to see you mentioned The Steel Seraglio as a favourite read of 2012. I picked up a copy for myself, but haven't gotten around to giving it a read.
Bob, I loved "The Steel Seraglio", it is such a fresh novel. There was time when it felt that was written by three authors, but nonetheless it kept me hooked. I highly recommend it! :)
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