And another SF thing: Galactic Empires and Gender

[roseembolism]

So, I've always been a bit bemused by the fascination that SF writers have with Galactic Empires. But just now, something new grabbed my attention. We all know that in history, there's been a number of empires -- some of the more famous and powerful ones in fact -- have been headed by women: Elizabeth, Victoria, Catherine the Great, and so on. But here's the question: in SF literature, story, can one name an interstellar empire run by an Empress?

(note: planetary empires, of the sort headed by the beautiful queen just waiting to be impressed by a strapping Earthman don't count)

Hmm...I honestly can't think of any. And what does this say about Science Fiction and gender?

edit: My beautiful wife did point out a female GE empress: the Ahb empire in the anime/novels Banner of the Stars.

Comments

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

I'm actually kind of gratified that there's more empresses out there than I thought. Albeit most of them are Japanese- which probably has something to do with it (Watch me drift off into muttered musings about Japanese legends and history).

I'm absolutely amazed there isn't a TV trope for Galactic Empires. If I wasn't so down on TV Tropes, I'd do something about it.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Weren't the Japanese reigning empresses pre-1000, practically legendary? Does stuff that far back have impact?

Though you do have the imperial line having legitimacy from the sun-goddess... still, there's a suspicious level of "OTHER people, if you can call them people, have empresses". Even if the Abh are sympathetic.