The Supernatural Underground: “1 April & Three Fabulous Moms of SFF”
On the first of every month I post on the Supernatural Underground, a blog for writers of speculative fiction published by HarperCollinsUSA.
1 April (it’s still 1 April in the USA) being my mother’s birthday, I have focused today’s post on three characters that I consider to be among the great “moms” of SciFi-Fantasy. (And yup, writing the post made me realise just how few there are who feature as major characters. And yes again, even in books written by women.)
So do go on over, have a read and leave a comment. I’d love to see you there.
There are very few mothers in SF and Fantasy especially as main characters, or even secondary characters.
I agree Jessica Atreides from Dune is wonderful as a mother character. I saw the film and then read the book. I really enjoyed both versions, and thought the film caught the general flavour and feeling of the book.
I do have one mother to add – Cordelia. The mother of Miles Vorkosigan. She features in her own book “Cordelia’s Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold. It’s very good and the entire Vorkosigan Saga is worth reading, although Cordelia is only in the background for the rest of the books.
I didn’t think of Cordelia because she’s only been a background character in the MilesV books I’ve read, but I haven’t read all of them. (There are quite a few.:) )
I didn’t think Jessica was an “Atreides”, becasue she and the Duke had never married. She was just “Lady Jessica”—but definitely an anchorwoman mother, the kind you want on your team.
I think you’re right, Andie, but even in the book she and the Duke were “married in all but name” so I guess most people think of her as “Atreides” anyway.