favorite fiction.
	these books are some of my sci-fi and fantasy favorites, mostly written by women. the titles link to amazon.com where you can buy them if you like! these are in no particular order.
	The Snow Queen
	by Joan D. Vinge (2001) My absolute favorite book, this sci-fi/fantasy blend follows a young woman through a complex Empire as she seeks love, rises to power, and discovers hidden truths about the powerful flow of politics.
	Ship of Magic (The Liveship Traders, Book 1)
	by Robin Hobb (1998) Compelling and detailed fantasy trilogy: a passionate woman thwarted from inheriting the family's living, sentient ship fights back only to discover the ships are more than she ever imagined. This set of Ms. Hobb's books are set in the same world and (eventually) with some fascinating character and plot overlap, as her two other amazing series, "The Farseer" trilogy and the "Tawny Man" trilogy. I strongly recommend them all!
	Dead Witch Walking
	by Kim Harrison (2004) Rachel Morgan is a witch in the employ of the paranormal version of the IRS. After realizing that her sharp attitude and the agency's rigid rules don't mesh, Rachel strikes out on her own to tangle with vampires, sorcerers, and pixies. A great urban fantasy read with a lively pace and memorable characters. This is the first of four stand-alone volumes about Rachel and her world.
	Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)
	by Jim Butcher (2000) A wizard / private eye wanders in the hidden world of magic and monsters in this hard-boiled urban fantasy. This standalone is the first of seven in the set. A great read, fun, and engaging.
	Ill Wind (Weather Warden, Book 1)
	by Rachel Caine (2003) In charge of keeping chaotic weather in check with her supernatural talents, Joanne Baldwin is tested to the limit when she confronts corruption, rogue djini, and demons. This book is another wry urban fantasy that speeds by in a handful of hours. The first in a now four-book series, this light fantasy is great fun.
	Dime Store Magic: Women of the Otherworld
	by Kelley Armstrong (2004) Rebel witch Paige Winterborne inherits her mother's leadership of the local coven - but runs into big problems with friends and enemies alike. This modern urban fantasy is engaging, complex, and a great first volume in a several book series.
	Beauty
	by Sheri S. Tepper (1992) This power-woman rewrite of the beauties from various fairy tales moves from fantasy pasts to possible futures and back again. It's one of Tepper's best.
	The Mists of Avalon
	by Marion Zimmer Bradley (1982) If you haven't read this classic power woman re-write of the Arthurian legends from the point of view of Morganne La Fey, you must!
	Grass
	by Sheri S. Tepper (1993) Another Tepper - one of her most thought-provoking and complex - about a world where a battle for dominance between environment and culture reveals compelling secrets.
	Guilty Pleasures
	by Laurell K. Hamilton (1995) A fast read, this dark mystery series is about a kickin' vampire hunter who battles ghouls and falls in love with the enemy but never gives in - start with this first volume to get the whole subplot.
	The Deed of Paksenarrion
	by Elizabeth Moon (1992) About a soldier learning to face the harshness of battle and her own special inner powers, this terrific fantasy series is detailed and compelling.
	Dawn
	by Octavia E. Butler (1997) More literature than fantasy, this trilogy describes an alien race's response to humanity's self-destruction: a forced transformation of both the mental and the physiological.
	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
	by Gregory Maguire, Douglas Smith (Illustrator) (1996) Often in the literature section, this is the Wizard of Oz from the point of view of the Wicked Witch of the West.
	The Sacrifice: The First Book of the Fey
	by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (1996) This story about an invasion by a magic-bearing warrior race features a vibrant warrior woman struggling against non-magical humans - it is surprisingly complex and never really lets you take sides.
	Beholder's Eye
	by Julie E. Czerneda (1998) A sci-fi world of shape-shifting aliens and powerful questions about ethics and trust.
	Cordelia's Honor
	by Lois McMaster Bujold (1999) A space-faring, rebellious captain falls in with a traditionalist Empire that she is determined to change. Later books follow her unlikely hero son, Miles. Each book is a complete story, so no cliff-hangers. Read them all anyway!.
	Sword-Dancer
	by Jennifer Roberson (1986) The first in Roberson’s great series chronicling the adventures of the mercenary Tiger and swordmistress Del as they battle politics and magic. This is a great series - I miss the characters now that I’m done!
	Shapechanger's Song (Chronicles of the Cheysuli, Omnibus 1)
	by Jennifer Roberson (1981; 2001) The first book in a terrific, if occasionally repetitive, series in a fantasy world where shapechangers hold the key to all humanity’s salvation. I am so happy to have discovered another great woman author!
	Expendable
	by James Alan Gardner This set of books, which starts with this stand-alone volume, is a terrific space adventure, set in a world where the mysterious League of Peoples has insured that there is no war, little crime, and life is sacred....unless you're an Explorer. The ugly, the flawed, the misfit, the deformed, they are the unwanted, flung to the farthest corners of the galaxy to investigate hostile planets and strange, vicious creatures. The main character, Festina Ramos, is "expendable" but one tough cookie.
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