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

[wintercreek]

Chalice by Robin McKinley - it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but with the story stripped down and rebuilt in interesting ways.

Deep Secret and The Merlin Conspiracy by Diana Wynne Jones - Deep Secret is set mostly at an SFF con, which is awesome, and The Merlin Conspiracy mixes a neighboring universe with one of the characters from Deep Secret. Both feature interesting, flawed characters.

Among Others by Jo Walton - simultaneously the story of a lonely teenage girl who finds solace in reading SFF; and the story of a young woman who can work magic and see fairies, and who has battled to save the world from evil magic. Amazing writing.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente - an answer to all the classic fantastic children's stories that left the girls at home or only brought them along to play mother. Has a lovely early 20th century feel while maintaining a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.

[luzula]

I am definitely getting something by McKinley, and I already decided on getting "Among Others", but it's good to get more votes in their favor!

Huh, I hadn't even heard of those DWJ books, though I've read plenty of others of hers. *makes note of them* She was so prolific!

And the last book sounds really charming.