One of my favorite science fiction books featuring a strong female lead is Friday, by Robert Heinlein. Published in 1982, the book describes the adventures of a genetically-engineered superwoman living in a world of mere mortals.
Blessed with gifts of incredible strength, speed, stamina, intelligence, beauty and libido, the title character struggles with her alienation from the rest of mankind. Few can match her in any one characteristic, no one can match her breadth of ability.
The Wikipedia contributor who wrote the entry for Fridayhas indicated the book is among the most skillfully rendered of Heinlein's many novels. I think that's probably correct.
Many if not most of of Heinlein's books contain female characters who are more capable than the males, and Heinlein was famous as admirer of athletic women.
I remember reading that book when I was quite young and working my way through all of Heinlein's works. Friday certainly made an impression on my young mind.
AlexG
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64.254.203.xxx
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2006-04-02 22:55:41
Another that he waxes Amazonianly upon would be his character Star, from Glory Road.
By the way, in Expanded Universe he said it only took him 40 days or so to write Glory Road - fantasy being far too easy for him and hense why he never did another quite like it again.
ntsly
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67.169.164.xxx
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2006-04-06 13:30:27
I'm reading the book right now, about half way through so far. I like it so far, though Heinlein's style, with it's cartoonish oversimplification of social and political situations, sometimes grates against his own exhibited character insights...But it's still fun to read. There's a big focus on socially acceptable injustices in here, I notice myself feeling angry quite often while working my way through.
