Pix, have you considered something by Angela Carter? I can't think of any specific titles at the moment, but her name popped into my head.

What I can conclude from that is that one time, Tepper had at least an unconscious death wish. But apparently still survives in a nominal form.

I had to stop reading her a number of years ago when the sledgehammer got heavier and heavier and all the subtlety went away.

I don't remember which story it was in which she had male pregnancy, but it was pretty clearly her revenge against male conservative anti-abortion Republicans, and it was like listening to a crazy person spin a tale. She lost all touch with the novel she'd been writing, and went off into revenge fantasy. I get being upset at pro lifers. I get thinking they need a strong dose of empathy about the situation. Ruining your novel doesn't fix that.

Any author that doesn't care to separate story from message well enough to keep telling a good story isn't one I care to keep funding, so no more Tepper for me. And that was before I came across any of her opinions I actually disagreed with.

I can't think of any specific titles at the moment, but her name popped into my head.

Night at the Circus is probably the closest to a hero journey.

Actually The Passion of New Eve is a hero journey but since the character starts as a male and then becomes female I'm not sure it really qualifies.

Tanith Lee's "The Birthgrave" qualifies, but was a really awful story. Come to think of it a lot of Tanith Lee would qualify. "Drinking Sapphire Wine". "The Silver Metal Lover" is a tragic romance between a woman and a robot. For various reasons I think it strongly qualifies as a a classic heroe's journey. The end especially - following descent into the underworld the hero(ine) returns to the land of the living with something of great value for her society, obtained at great personal expense and loss.

Also some of Lee's best smartass. Tanith Lee gives great smartass when she cares to. I think "The Silver Metal Lover" would be perfect for high school kids. (Though a lot to be said for Sapphire wine too.)

It occurs to me that Julie Powell may be a buffista and also that I've said some things that might come off as kind of nasty towards her.

If you're lurking, Julie, I assure you- I am so envious, really.

She satisfies my feminism in ways that none of his other women do (even the ones in Monstrous Regiment, which annoyed me for reasons I cannot recall at the moment).

You probably blogged about it!

I happen to have an irrational, deep love of Monstrous Regiment, so I'm sure there's stuff that sucked about it, but I can't *see* it for the stars in my eyes.

Laga, you're just reading Julie and Julia, right? Do you know what's gone on in Julie Powell's life since then?

You probably blogged about it!

I just ran a search on my Gmail for "regiment". Apparently I found it preachy and predictable. I'll probably read it again at some point, though.

Do you know what's gone on in Julie Powell's life since then?

Other than taking up butchery I have no idea.