Samantha Stephens in Bewitched. Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek. Wonder Woman, Xena, Warrior Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and many more. Television’s women of science fiction and fantasy are iconic and unforgettable yet there hasn’t been a reference book devoted to them until now.
Covering 400 female characters from 200 series since the 1950s, this encyclopedic work celebrates the essential contributions of women to science fiction and fantasy TV, with characters who run the gamut from superheroes, extraterrestrials and time travelers to witches, vampires and mere mortals who deal with the fantastic in their daily lives.

A former professional librarian, Karen A. Romanko began her writing career in the 1980s with a “My Say” piece in Publishers Weekly. She went on to write articles about rock videos and SF movies and television for publications such as American Libraries and Library Journal. She lives in Los Angeles, California.

Karen A. Romanko
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 253
Bibliographic Info: 30 photos, appendix, index
Copyright Date: 2019
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6804-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3848-5
Imprint: McFarland

Preface: What’s in This Book 1
Introduction: A Woman’s Place Is in the Home—
Or on a Spaceship 3
Television’s Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Character Last Name and by Series Title 15
Appendix: Honorable Mentions 219
A Note on Sources 231
Index 233

• “If you’re feeling a little flush, or looking for a gift for the f&sf TV fan in your life, Women of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television is a diverting way to spend a few hours or spread some joy to a like-minded friend.”—Fantasy & Science Fiction

• “Of special note is the historical overview at the front of book, putting into context many of the more important female heroes included in the book, beginning with Tonga and Carol Carlisle (of Space Patrol) and concluding with Peggy Carter, the starring character of her very own series, Agent Carter.”—Mystery File

• “With female empowerment now a hot topic in films and television, author Romanko taps into a relevant subject by presenting a breezy, fun read that one can open to any page and find some interesting facts…One conclusion that we took away from the book is that women played a far greater role in the success of many vintage TV series than they were given credit for. This book takes a small step in setting the record straight.”—Cinema Retro

• “Essential…Romanko’s book is manna from heaven for the avid sci-fan or fantasy TV series fanatic…Her book was like a flashback to those shows I’d watched as a kid…vivid descriptions…lovingly researched…wonderfully enthusiastically written”—Realweegiemidget Reviews