Robert Heinlein once posed a question:

[ismnotwasm]

11. Oh yes indeed

You sound far more versed in history than I am! I'm a huge CJ Cheeryh fan--at least her earlier stuff--among others. She's one of those author that used initials and also added an "h" to her last name for obvious reasons. I like Julian May as well.

I spent a year reading only women authors, and I read a lot of science-fi. Definitely changes one's perspective, doesn't matter if the author claims he label feminist or not.

Scalzi is a current favorite, he's an interesting writer, he can mix military sci-fi, space opera and old fashioned space travel sci-fi--and writes in decent women characters and well as GBLT ones. I don't think anybody beats Octavia Butler for challenges genders and sexuality--as well as race.