Happy March and hello to Women’s History Month! I love celebrating this month by checking out the exhibits here, spending time researching brilliant women in history, and reading books that center strong, fierce female characters. To that end, I think featuring science fiction books where women lead the action is a great way to start the month!
These books are fast-paced, packed with action, and feature young women taking charge and dominating worlds, both real and imagined. Sound like something you’d enjoy? Get started with one of these titles:
War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi: The year is 2172 and much of the world is unlivable. Two sisters dream of escaping war-torn Nigeria in search of a better future together, but instead are torn apart and find themselves on opposite sides of a war. This is an action-packed, compelling tale that draws on the history of the Nigerian Civil War in the 1960s, but sets the action against a futuristic and brutal world with advanced technology.
Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan: When the notorious space pirate, la Cocha, is captured by the Olympus Commonwealth, she is sentenced to rehabilitation at the training ground for the elite Star Force, where she forms unlikely alliances. Each chapter switches perspectives between the two main characters, Brinn and la Cocha, and the world is fascinating and fully developed. A fun sci-fi romp that still thoughtfully tackles social justice issues.
Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely: In a lawless, post-Second Civil War West, sharpshooter Serendipity “Pity” Jones is given a decadent, deadly theater act with the Theater Vespertine, but there is a dark cost to this freedom. This is a gritty futuristic western packed with action and a witty, bold protagonist you love to root for. And, the lawless town of Cessation, run by a ruthless woman, is expertly crafted. The story starts a bit slow, but builds steam to an exciting, dramatic conclusion.
The Leveller by Julia Durango: Phoenix “Nixy” Bauer, a self-made video game bounty hunter, gets in over her head when she attempts to rescue a game developer’s son from a virtual trap. Nixy is a whip-smart and sassy character focused on earning money to get into college. The building of the virtual reality world is fascinating and fully realized. It’s a fast-paced ride perfect for gamers or those who are all about the action.
Female-led science fiction is always a joy for me to read and is gaining in popularity. Want even more suggestions? Check out my list for suggestions running the gamut from alternate history to space opera to dystopia. And check back throughout the month for more suggestions for Women’s History inspired reading!
What are your favorite female-led sci fi novels? My TBR pile is ready!
I Blame My Shelf 