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Today being Mother's Day, I thought I'd reprise my take on
Three Fabulous Moms of Fantasy SciFi -- because Moms are not only awesome, but awesome Moms are everywhere, right?
And should be celebrated. Right on; high five!
By the way, I'd love you to tell me your favorite fictional Moms in the comments. Fantasy-SF Moms would be fan-tastic, but tis not required since we *heart* all fiction and great fictional characters, as well as Moms, here on Supernatural Underground.
OK, here's three I feel are worth a mention today:
First up is Cherie Priest’s Briar Wilkes in the steampunk novel, Boneshaker. Briar risks all to enter—via dirigible, of course!—the zombie-infested
precinct of alternate 19th century Seattle, all to rescue her teenage
son, Zeke, who has foolishly ventured there in a quest to find his
missing father. Briar is a feisty steampunk heroine, but most
importantly, the raison d’etre behind her adventure is first and
foremost about being a Mom.
My second fabulous Mom is also a classic SFF character: Jessica from Frank Herbert’s Dune. Her son, Paul, may be the 'official' main character but Jessica gets almost as much air time.
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| Francesca Annis as Jessica |
What a character she is: strong,
resourceful, smart—and a Mom who is determined that her son’s going to
survive against extreme odds, even if this means that she has to deny
thousands of years maneuvering by of the political/magical Order (Bene Gesserit) to which she belongs. I
still recall how much I loved Jessica as a teen reader—her
vulnerability and strength, her toughness and love for her son. A Mom
and a mover-and-shaker at the same time: way to go, Jessica!
I've chosen the wizard, Jenny Waynest, in Barbara Hambly’s Dragonsbane as my third contender. The thing about Jenny is that she’s struggling with what it means to be
a wizard and yet also be a Mom and a partner to her kids’ father, John
Aversin. In that sense she’s “everywoman”, wanting to love her kids and
be a good Mom, yet still realise herself at the same time.
Have a happy Supernatural Underground Mother's Day everyone!
* This is post is adapted from an earlier Supernatural Underground feature in 2011
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Helen Lowe is a novelist, poet, interviewer and blogger whose first novel, Thornspell (Knopf), was published to critical praise in 2008. Her second, The Heir of Night (The Wall Of Night Series, Book One) won the Gemmell Morningstar Award 2012. The sequel, The Gathering Of The Lost, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Legend Award in 2013. Daughter Of Blood, (The Wall Of Night, Book Three) was published on January 26, 2016.
Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog and is also on Twitter: @helenl0we
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