List of fictional swordswomen

2009-11-26T08:52:18Z

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This is a list of fictional '''swordswomen''', female characters who are professional or expert or trained in use of the sword, and whose sword skills comprise a significant part of their identities. These are most often characters in works of fantasy or alternate history, but occasionally science fiction will pop up.

==List of characters==
* [[Aerin]] in ''[[The Hero and the Crown]]'' by [[Robin McKinley]]
* [[Alanna]] from ''The Song of the Lioness'' quartet by [[Tamora Pierce]] (''[[Alanna: The First Adventure]]'', ''[[In the Hand of the Goddess]]'', ''[[The Woman Who Rides Like a Man]]'', ''[[Lioness Rampant]]'')
* [[Aliera]] in [[Vlad Taltos series]] by [[Steven Brust]]
* [[Alyx]] in ''[[The Adventures of Alyx]]'' by [[Joanna Russ]]
* [[Annja Creed]] in ''[[Rogue Angel]]'' series by [[Alex Archer]]

* [[Ash]] in the Ash book(s) by [[Mary Gentle]] (''[[ASH: A Secret History]]'', published in the US in four separate volumes: ''[[The Book of Ash]]'', ''[[Carthage Ascendant]]'', ''[[The Wild Machines]]'', and ''[[Lost Burgundy]]'')
* [[Cimorene]] from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles (''[[Dealing With Dragons]]'' etc) by [[Patricia C. Wrede]]
* [[Eowyn]], Shield-Maiden of Rohan in ''[[Lord of the Rings]]'' by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
* [[Harry]] (aka Harimad) - the protagonist; also minor character Senay in ''[[The Blue Sword]]'' by [[Robin McKinley]]
* [[Jirel of Joiry]] by [[C. L. Moore]]
* [[Keladry]] from ''Protector of the Small'' series by [[Tamora Pierce]]
* [[Kerowyn]] in ''[[By the Sword]]'' by [[Mercedes Lackey]]; Kerowyn was minor character in many other Lackey novels
* [[Paksenarrion]] in the books by [[Elizabeth Moon]]
* [[Rifkind]] in the [[Lynn Abbey]] series ''[[Daughter of the Bright Moon]]'' and sequels
* [[Tarma]] in the Vows & Honor series (''[[Oathbreakers]]'', ''[[Oathblood]]'', ''[[The Oathbound]]'') by [[Mercedes Lackey]]
* [[Valeria of the Red Brotherhood]], from ''[[Red Nails]]'' by [[Robert E. Howard]]
* [[Xena]]
* [[Hazel D'Ark]] and others in the [[Deathstalker series]] by [[Simon R. Green]]
* [[Katherine Talbert]], in ''[[The Privilege of the Sword]]'' by [[Ellen Kushner]]
* ''[[Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordsperson]]'' by [[George Alec Effinger]]
* [[Red Sonja]] - ''[[Blood Debt]]'' (Red Sonja #2) by [[Tom DeFalco]]
* [[Sethra Lavode]] in series by [[Steven Brust]]

* [[Taija]] in ''[[The Paladin]]'' by [[C. J. Cherryh]]
* [[Utena Tenjou]] and others (Juri, Nanami, etc.) in ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]''

==Works==
* character(s) in ''[[Hawk Queen]]'' and sequels by [[David Gemmell]]
* character(s) in ''[[Jalva]]'' by [[Sharon Green]]
* multiple characters in [[L. E. Modessit]]'s [[Recluse series]], in the [[Westwind society]]
* [[Viscount of Adrilankha series]] and [[Vlad Taltos series]] ([[Aliera]]) by [[Steven Brust]]
* protagonist in ''[[Point of Honour]]'' by [[Madeleine Robins]] is a non-fantasy, semi-alternate history Regency swordswoman/PI
* female knight in ''[[King's Name]]'' and ''[[King's Peace]]'' by [[Jo Walton]]
* protagonist in ''[[Jaran]]'' and sequelae by [[Kate Elliott]]
* protagonist in ''[[The Aware]]'' by [[Glenda Larke]], and other characters in the "Isles of Glory" trilogy (''The Aware'', ''Gilfeather'', ''The Tainted'')
* [[Dark Agnes]] and [[Sonya of Rogatino]] in ''[[Sword Woman]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Vulture]]'' by [[Robert E. Howard]]
* ''[[The Bone Doll's Twin]]'' and sequelae by [[Lynn Flewelling]]
* ''[[Lorimal's Chalice]]'' and sequels by [[Jane Fletcher]]

===Swordswoman series===
* See ''[[Sword and Sorceress series]]'' edited by [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]]
* Numerous works in the ''[[Amazons!]]'' and ''[[Amazons 2]]'' edited by [[Jessica Amanda Salmonson]]
* Numerous characters in the ''[[Chicks in Chainmail series]]'' edited by [[Esther M. Friesner]]

==Other suggestions==
* ''[[Sasha]]'' by [[Joel Shepherd]]
* ''[[Paladin]]'' by [[C. J. Cherryh]]
* ''[[Gate of Ivrel]]'' by [[C. J. Cherryh]]
* ''The Morgaine Saga'' by [[C. J. Cherryh]]
* Wonder Woman in ''[[Kingdom Come]]'' by [[Elliot S. Maggin]]
* [[Makri]] from the Thraxas series
* [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]] can wield a sword
* ''[[A Taste For Death]]'' by [[Peter O'Donnell]] - [[Modesty Blaise]] is involved in a fencing match for their lives - one of the major parts of this book compared to the others, the sword thing.
* ''[[Elektra]]'' by [[Yvonne Navarro]]
* Brienne in ''A Song of Ice and Fire''

==Further reading==
* [http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=21423 LibraryThing "Swordswomen?" thread]

[[Category:Characters by occupation|Swordswomen]]

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List of fictional swordswomen