Women Rock!

[queenbookwench]

I didn't even realize it was International Women's Day, until I saw it on LJ! What would I do without my flist? I ask you. Anyhow, I gakked this from inlovewithnight--a favorite women characters meme!

So, some of erinpoetchica's favorite women characters, in no particular order:

1.) All the women of Firefly rock! But if absolutely pressed, I'd have to pick Zoe and River--and yet, Inara and Kaylee are almost as awesome!
2.) Vesper Holly, from Lloyd Alexander's The Illyria Adventure, etc. One of the kick-ass girl heroines of my childhood, whom I still adore.
3.) C.J. Cregg. Because she's tall and glamorous (but not too pretty) and funny and thoughtful and passionate and sad.
4.) Kay Howard. Because she's sensible without being dull, and compassionate without being soft, and more competitive than she usually admits. The hair doesn't hurt either.
5.) Vicky Austin, from Madeleine L'Engle's books. Because she's one of the female characters I identify with most deeply, along with
6.) Julia Redfern, from Eleanor Cameron book A Room Made of Windows and sequels. She has a journal called The Book of Strangenesses--how cool is that? Yes, it's a sensitive-yet-rebellious-young-girl-wants-to-be-a-writer book, but it's a really good one.
7.) Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan, from Lois McMaster Bujold's books. Because I want to be her when she grows up. She kicks all kinds of ass.
8.) Death from the Sandman comics. Because she is perky, and wise, and uniquely fabulous.
8.) Laura Roslin. Because she cares deeply for the welfare of humanity, and is willing to make hard choices to that end--she's not always right, but I almost always understand why she does what she does. Because she starts out uncertain, but she's resolute, a quick learner, and doesn't allow herself to be intimidated by anyone. Because she seemed to genuinely love teaching.
9.) Jenna Boller from Joan Bauer's novels, Rules of the Road and Best Foot Forward for her wry and funny voice, for her responsibility and courage in following an unusual passion.
10.) Katharine, Duchess of Tremontaine from Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint series. I can't explain this one in a coherent way--just go read The Privilege of the Sword.

Of course there are plenty of other female characters that I adore--these are just the ones that popped into my head right at the moment. :)

Comments

[mooseloon.livejournal.com]

I love your list.
I second
Cordelia Naismith. I love the Cordelia books.
Firefly!
Vicky Austin will always have a special place in my heart..

I have heard of most of the others...

[queenbookwench.livejournal.com]

Thanks! You should do one! The Vorkosigan universe is like a stealth fandom--everywhere I go I meet people who are into those books, but I get the impression that they are still sort of obscure. I remember we talked awhile back about you being a L'Engle fan and on Bonastra. Who is your favorite of her heroines? It's funny--I can see occasional flaws in her books that I couldn't necessarily see when I was a teenager, but I still love most of them with an uncritical love. :) Except the one about the nun (the Love Letters?) which I found kind of disturbing even at the time. I think she's better at writing girls than grown-up women, although I do like grown-up Katherine and Camilla.

[resolute.livejournal.com]

It's odd, i'n'i? That the Bujold fandom is stealth? Because she is a MULTIPLE HUGO WINNER, you know? I mean, obviously, everyone is reading and loving these books . . .