Women science fiction authors

Although the novel Frankenstein, written in 1818 by Mary Shelley, has been called the first science fiction novel, there is a persistent but false belief that women did not enter the field of science fiction writing until the 1960s and 1970s.

Other notable women in the science fiction field include:

• Doris Lessing
• Patricia Anthony[?]
• Catherine Asaro[?]
• Kage Baker[?]
• Leigh Brackett
• Marion Zimmer Bradley
• Lois McMaster Bujold
• Octavia Butler
• Suzy McKee Charnas[?]
• C.J. Cherryh
• Brenda Clough[?]
• Suzette Haden Elgin[?]
• Esther Friesner[?]
• Mary Gentle[?]
• Lisa Goldstein[?]
• Kathleen Ann Goonan[?]
• Nicola Griffith[?]
• Barbara Hambly[?]
• Zenna Henderson[?]
• Janet Kagan[?]
• Nancy Kress[?]
• Mercedes Lackey
• Ursula K. LeGuin
• Julian May[?]
• Anne McCaffrey
• Maureen McHugh[?]
• Vonda McIntyre[?]
• Katherine Maclean
• Judith Merril[?]
• Elizabeth Moon
• C. L. Moore
• Pat Murphy[?]
• Linda Nagata
• Andre Norton[?] (Born Alice Mary Norton, changed her name to Andre Alice Norton)
• Rebecca Ore[?]
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch[?]
• Joanna Russ
• Pamela Sargent[?]
• Mary Shelley
• Susan Shwartz[?]
• Joan Slonczewski[?]
• Margaret St. Clair[?]
• Sheri Tepper[?]
• James Tiptree, Jr (pen name of Alice Sheldon)
• Joan D. Vinge[?]
• Kate Wilhelm[?]
• Connie Willis[?]
• Sarah Zettel

See also: Women in Science Fiction