I constantly see complaints on the internet about the lack of Female Characters that are constructed well, especially within the context of the Fantasy Science Fiction Genre. Today, I will be bringing to light characters that are when the writer(s) break these stereotypes and create satisfying characters that happen to be women too.
First, I should point out what I do not like in a female character that helped me create this list. I do not like when a women's entire purpose in the story is to be eye candy and for her to fall in love with someone who then "fixes" her. I also despise females who constantly get kidnapped and cannot protect themselves (also women who cannot protect themselves in general irks me) The final thing that upsets me is when a female gets pregnant and suddenly all the amazing things they did up until that point are gone. With those factors addressed, lets move on.
This is the Protagonist portion of this article. I will be writing a follow up for the villains.
Vin (Mistborn)
I kicked this list off with one of my favorite main characters ever. Vin is awesome in a small package. Pretending to be a proper lady by day, and assassinating nasties by night. Vin learned as a girl on the streets to depend on no one but herself and while much of her early character arc involves her learning to trust, it only makes her a stronger character, not one who becomes irrelevant when she finds love. One of my favorite aspects of Vin is that when she finds a lover, she ends up being the protector, ultimately causing a reversal in gender norms.
All and all, when I think bad ass women, Vin is the first one that comes to mind. She fights with a combination of elegance and pragmatism that I have come to expect from any gritty hero. And in a world where Metal is deadly not only due to sharpness, Vin has mastered her powers to the point where even individuals who have used Magic longer than her soon succumb to her determination.
Beatrix (Final Fantasy IX)
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While we are on the subject of bad ass warrior women, look no further than Beatrix. The general of an all women army indicates some level of awesomeness, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. She is the most feared swordsman in the world, and just uttering her name causes soldiers to retreat in fear. When she is met around 1/4 of the way through the story, she is fighting for her kingdom, which happens to be on the wrong side. Which is quite unfortunate for the Protagonists who get completely clobbered by her. With a character defining quote: " I once killed a hundred knights single-handedly... To me, you are nothing more than insects." And as stated above, she delivers. Its to the relief of all the other heroes in Final Fantasy IX when Beatrix realizes that she is on the wrong side, and joins the Protagonists for the final half of the story.
Falling in love does nothing to lessen her as a character, and she returns for the finale in one of my favorite moments in video gaming to help save the rest of the heroes. And also breaking tradition, Beatrix is a Swordsman, and a Mage. Packing some of the most powerful abilities on both sides of the spectrum, there is a reason she has a massive fandom.
Catti-Brie (Legend of Drizzt)
Not all the Females I have chosen use slashing weapons as their primary means of defense.
Catti-Brie decides to learn how to use basically everything. She has a magical bow, A sword that cuts through anything, and on top of that she is a powerful sorceress chosen by a powerful deity as a major servant .And like the two above, her relationship, (in this case, the Dark Elf Drizzt) enhances her character, rather than detract. Being raised by a Dwarf has bestowed incredible bravery upon this human woman. she has delved in lightless caves filled with Demons and Dark Elves. She has fought hordes of Undead led by a Dracolich (A zombie Dragon with extra supernatural powers for those of you not versed) and charged in without a fear. She is not afraid of death. No, what she fears is that any of the powers that be who constantly seek to destroy her will destroy the world she cares about so much.
Catti-Bre is a character who has undergone drastic character development and it really is rewarding for readers to watch the little girl introduced at the start of the series turn into the versatile legend that she has become. Considering her husband is the most legendary Dark Elf in Dungeon & Dragons, this incredible woman has made a name for herself that rivals the love of her life's.
Athena (Borderlands)
Taking a step away from the medieval fantasy genre, we come face to face with this awesome character from Borderlands. Now what is interesting here is that Borderlands draws a lot of basis from Mad Max. Considering the source is all about masculinity, it was very surprising that a character like this exists in that world. But Athena does exist, and carries a few traits that make her stand out from some of the others on the list. First off, Athena was raised from a child to be an assassin and would have stayed with that life, if one of her missions had not been to kill her twin sister. The resulting betrayals that followed would lead Athena to make a series of choices that ultimately put her in a pretty terrible place. She has now dedicated the rest of her life to correct the wrongs she sowed.
There are another interesting two tidbits on Athena that really make her a really special female character. One, she is the tank character as far as the protagonists are concerned. she is the first one to charge into danger, and the last to leave it. The other factor, which has become increasingly important, given the recent shooting in Orlando is the fact that Athena is Lesbian. And unlike many Lesbians in fiction, she is not one offed, and the relationship with her girlfriend is addressed in a non polarizing sort of way. Just like in any other relationship, it adds to her character, rather than consume it.
Kallen (Code Geass)
You may notice a pattern on this list where every one of these women are action girls. Kallen is the action girl in Code Geass. In a world populated by chess masters and deadly politicians, Kallen makes the world a better place from her piloted mech. One soldier battle at a time. she does not have any magical powers. She is just an incredibly talented bad ass normal with courage and stubbornness in equal amounts. she also is forced to live a double life to protect herself as well as friends and family. As one of the leaders of a revolution, she has been branded a terrorist by the villains.
And unique to this character on the list, she rejects the man she loves. Their ideals are not the same, and Kallen refuses to change who she is, even for the man she cares about more than any other. The red hair only indicates on the surface how competent of a fighter she is. Unlike amny other characters in Code Geass who either depend on their mechs, their wit, or their magical powers, Kallen is capable of giving a good old fashioned beat down in addition to her many other skills.
Olivier (Fullmetal Alchemist)
To the surprise of no one who knows me well, the Iron Lady of Fullmetal Alchemist made the cut. Hailing from the fortress of Briggs, Olivier leads a squadron of soldiers in an incredibly inhospitable climate. Under her leadership, social norms are eliminated out of necessity. In a hostile environment, meaningless variables are eliminated. And just like Kallen, she has no time for love. She also is a bad ass normal in a world filled with Magic (Alchemy) an ancient conspiracy and really powerful monsters. Olivier's most important skill is her adaptability. When confronted with an unusual story, she proceeds just in case it is completely true, regardless of her personal belief.
Olivier takes on magical entities armed with her courage making her possibly the biggest bad ass on this list. She has none of the abilities that allow the other women listed to dominate in their hostile environments. Olivier is the epitome of a normal person rising to legend.
Aviendha (Wheel of Time)
For the final entry on this list, we travel far from the cold lands of Briggs to the scorching hot sands of the Aiel Waste. Here reside a people that the desert is named for. An entire civilization of deadly warriors, Aviendha manages to set herself apart from her people in countless ways. Choosing the life of the Spear, she belongs to an Amazon brigade that forces the choice of child, or combat. Never both. Despite her best wishes, Aviendha is pulled away from the spear, not because of love, but because she is able to use Magic. And Aiel Society forbids Mages from fighting. But tradition changes when the Dragon Reborn comes. And Avidenha seeks to preserve as much of her culture as possible.
Unlike most Mages in fiction, a knife is never far from Aviendha's hands. She is genre savvy enough to know that she would be defenseless in the situation where her magic is blocked. So she keeps steel to defeat any enemy that think her beaten. And while she is continually prodded by many people who want her to behave according to their standards, this former Maiden of the Spear chooses her own fate.
