Here at EW, we’re always looking for the next great sci-fi or fantasy epic.
Yet these are where the big movie ideas come from."
Here are 27 female authors who’ve conquered sci-fi and fantasy.
Credit: St. Martin’s Griffin; Penguin Books; Tor Books
Her first adult novel,Who Fears Death,won the 2011 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel.
In 2017,she announced it’s been optioned by HBOwith George R.R.
Her releases include 2017’sA Line in the Darkand 2021’sLast Night at the Telegraph Club.
St. Martin’s Griffin
Malka Older
Looking for a sci-fi novel that hits a little too close to home?
Older’sCentenal Cycleseries also include 2017’sNull Statesand 2018’sState Tectonics.
She won forThe Fifth Season,the first book inThe Broken Earthtrilogy, which concluded withThe Stone Skyin 2017.
Saga Press
Jemisin’s bookThe City We Becamewill be followed byThe World We Makein 2022.
The long-awaited sequel,The Hidden Palace,was released in 2021.
Johansen proved that YA dystopic female-driven fiction was as fresh as ever with her chilling trilogy.
DAW
Amanda Bouchet
V.E.
Schwab has continued conjuring fantasy tales with her highly-praisedThe Invisible Life of AddieLaRueand her 2022 releaseGallant.
Combining elements of fantasy and science fiction, Shawl weaves a unique steampunk tale.
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Link’s an expert in her genreshe and husband Gavin J.
Grant coedited St. Martin Press’sYears Best Fantasy and Horroranthology for five years.
Hardinge’s made a name for herself with her spooky, twisted YA fantasy novels.
Mulholland Books
Her most recent addition is entitledWhen Women Were Dragons,which hit shelves in 2022.
Her second bookA Closed and Common Orbitwas shortlisted for the 2017 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
Harkness channeled her expertise as a historian into a nuanced and compelling adult fairytale.
Tor.com
Marie Lu
CBS Films snatched up the rightsto Marie Lu’sLegendbefore it even hit shelves.
Lu continues writing YA dystopian novels, with herSkyhunterseries being her latest.
Orbit
Orbit
Razorbill
Small Beer Press
Harper Perennial
Harper Collins
Sourcebooks Casablanca
Tor Books
Saga Press
Tor Books
Random House
Tor Books
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Harry N. Abrams
Algonquin Young Readers
Harper Voyager
Penguin Books
HarperTeen
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Ace
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