List of fictional swordswomen
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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
- Aliera in Vlad Taltos series by Steven Brust
- Alyx in The Adventures of Alyx by Joanna Russ
- 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
- 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
- Sethra Lavode in series by Steven Brust
Works
- character(s) in Hawk Queen and sequels by David Gemmell
- character(s) in Jalva by Sharon Green
- Rogue Angel series by Alex Archer
- 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
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