Best feminist military SF?

I prefer military SF for the science and tech elements, but would appreciate higher quality characterization; specifically of the female characters. Any recommendations?

Tanya Huff's Valor series is one of my all time favorite. Karin Traviss's City of pearl is not really military SF, but fills the need for me. Also, I Code of Conduct by Kristine Smith is great as well. There is also Honor Harrington in the David Weber books and Elizabeth Moon has several series that I would count as military sf with strong female characters.

Thanks, m4marya. Added Huff & Traviss to my wishlist!

You might try Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga - I just got through them a few months ago and they were pretty enjoyable. I think only the first two (which are collected in one book Cordelia's Honor, my favorite) actually follow a female main character, but I'd class her as a feminist writer, and her characters are well-developed. They're maybe more space opera than military sci-fi, but follow a militaristic society.

I can't say I enjoyed it very much, but the title of this post brought to mind the recent-ish Tiptree award winner The Carhullan Army by Sarah Hall. It does a good job of exploring the psychology of a group of women intending to fight a guerrilla war against the state, and the characters are certainly memorable. However, it's only SF in that it's set in the future: not much science or technology. It's also pretty depressing!

I read Sarah Hall's Daughters of the North the US title and loved it, but I alsofound it to be very heavy and emotionally exhausting.

I'm not sure how I missed this thread, but Elizabeth Moon writes really entertaining feminist military scifi in a couple of series, and David Weber's Honor Harrington series is hard to beat. Begin with Moon's Sporting Chance or Command Decision or Marque and Reprisal (almost young adult) or Weber's On Basilisk Station for feminist space opera. (And thanks for bringing Sarah Hall's name back to my attention.)

Thanks m4marya for pointing out the different US title - I hadn't realised. Sarah Hall is an interesting writer, but I think I prefer The Electric Michelangelo, which (being about a turn-of-the-century tattooist) is a bit off-topic for this thread!

The claustrophobic atmosphere of The Carhullan Army/Daughters of the North reminds me of Jacqueline Carey's Santa Olivia, which has militaristic overtones and an interesting heroine. Again, not very science-y, though.

I should also mention Elizabeth Bear and her Jenny Casey series with the first book being Hammered

Kris Longknife is a series that I have a hard time taking seriously, but still read each new book that comes out and wait for the next one.

Bitter angels is a book that I had a really hard time getting into, even though it is written by an author I really like--Sarah Zettle under another name.

All in all the Tanya Huff Valor series and Karen Traviss books are my favorites.

Well, you've got all my favorites!

I've heard good things about Catharine Asaro. They're romances, apparently, but that doesn't mean the woman can't (or won't) kick butt as needed. I have Primary Inversion but I haven't gotten to it yet. Need to read Heart of Valor first. ^_^

#7: Isn't it better to start with Hunting Party or Trading in danger? They're perhaps not the best books in the series, but to start in the middle (Command Decision!?) might be a little too confusing...

Anyway, I second Elizabeth Moons books.

Also second (or third, or whatever) On basilisk station :)

Edit to fix touchstones

Many thanks, Lady D. I looked at my shelves in the dark and messed up E. Moon.

Laura E. Reeve's Major Ariane Kedros series is good. She is a soldier and all, but it may be more space opera than military science fiction.

Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre. again, not strictly military science fiction. mc is a member of the corps, a jump pilot, who crashes, loses her memory and is than recruited to overthrow the existing order.