Rec me some SF & F?

[luzula]

I'm ordering a big batch of science fiction and fantasy books from Sweden's SF & F bookstore, and I need a few more books to get over the free freight limit. I'm getting the rest of Karen Traviss' "Wess'Har" series (annoyingly, part 2 is out of print and I had to order it second hand from the US). And I'm also probably getting Jo Walton's "Among Others". But I'd love some recs as to what else I should get!

I'm in the mood for:
- interesting female characters
- interesting world-building
- not sure how to phrase this, but: books that deal with political issues, or environmental issues. Or characters who want to do the right thing, or struggle with various allegiances.

I'm not in the mood for:
- books where the main plot is a romance
- epic high fantasy

but if you have something so good that it will transcend my mood, just rec it anyway!

Have not read Robin McKinley's various fairy tale rewritings and am curious about them. If you have opinions about them, please share!

Comments

[mizface.livejournal.com]

Funny thing... I was literally just thinking about Robin. McKinley. I like her stuff quite a bi. Sunshine is terrific, if you like vampire fic at all. Deerskin was good, but also very dark and has disturbing themes, imo.

Have you read any Charles deLint? I love his urban fantasy, and all of his characters are strong and interesting.

[luzula]

I looooved Sunshine--basically, I fell in love with the main character and her narrative voice. Cool worldbuilding, too. I so want a sequel to it. *makes note of "Deerskin"*

Charles de Lint, hmm. I read one of his a couple of years ago ("Forests of the Heart") and liked it, but was not swept away, if you know what I mean? Maybe I should give him another chance. Any book in particular that you recommend?

[mizface.livejournal.com]

*ponders* If you want to just dip your toes into deLint's writing, Moonlight and Vines is a collection of short stories that I rec to anyone who has never read him.
I'll go home tonight and look over my bookshelf for other ideas for his books.

Oh, and you read Neil Gaiman, so I don't need to rec him, right? If not, Neverwhere and

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*ponders* If you want to just dip your toes into deLint's writing, <i>Moonlight and Vines</i> is a collection of short stories that I rec to anyone who has never read him.
I'll go home tonight and look over my bookshelf for other ideas for his books.

Oh, and you read Neil Gaiman, so I don't need to rec him, right? If not, <i>Neverwhere</i> and <Graveyard Book</i> are two I adore.

Uhm, and Elizabeth Moon's <i>Deed of Paksennarion</i> series is pretty terrific.

[luzula]

Yeah, I've read Gaiman! And the Paksenarrion series is comfort reading for me. : )