Favourite Maternal Figures in Fantasy

It may not be Mother's Day where I am but happy Mother's Day to all those celebrating nevertheless - hopefully but sadly from a distance. That's how I had to do it this year and that's probably one of the reasons the non-British version's big on my mind (well, that and I have a wife who celebrates the non-British version). That's why I wanted to a list that paid tribute to the proud mothers of fantasy (or near mothers in some cases). They are a hard done lot and it's a lot easier to think of characters with dead mothers than with actual live mothers taking part in the page. I don't know why - authors concentrating on quests, mythological symbolism of orphans, not thinking its interesting - but they're rare. That's why I'd like to start with a small tribute and homage to the many, many dead and forgotten members of the genre, from Gilraen to Lyanna Stark and to all the women in between.

I'd also like to say a small tribute to my own mother (the silver lining to me not being the Chosen One is she's still alive). Many things led me to being a bookaholic, not least natural genetic disposition, but my mother has no superior on the list. We share a common taste in fiction which helps but she's always been willing to take me to libraries, buy me books, talk  to me about anything book related... and never got a console as a teenager which, lets be honest, is great for reading time. So thanks mum. 

With that, one we go. 

Isana Codex Alera - Jim Butcher

Devoted, loving, and sometimes overbearing, Auntie Isana is a powerful healer who at first looks she'll be nothing more than than a kindly, sometimes stern mentor. Then Isana's heroism thrusts her into the limelight away from her family and she forges her own arc in which she's willing to endure whatever comes in order to forge the alliances needed to protect them. 

Lovyan Deverry Cycle - Katherine Kerr

The wonderful thing about Lovyan is she's willing to be very, very blunt with her boys when they're behaving like oafs, which is frequent with the feuding Rhodry and Rhys. Not that this stops her from loving them or trying to do her best by them, but her best includes chivvying them into proper behaviour as well as support. It's also an approach she takes as a noble lady who rules her own lands; I'm not sure Lovyan is the mother I'd pick for myself, but she is probably the one who'd ensure I had the most success.

Narcoya Empire Trilogy - Raymond E. Feist & Janny Wurts

Mara's own mother is one of the many sacrifices to storytelling but in her place, the Ruling Lady of the Acoma get her mother's nanny (who also performed the same for Mara). Forthright, kind and shrewd, Narcoya is the guide without which the Acoma would be obliterated. Also, while she's quite sensibly worried about getting killed, she's impulsively brave in do or die situations. Bonus marks for urging Mara to hire a prostitute so her hormones don't make stupid decisions for her.

Françoise Dominions of the Fallen - Aliette de Bodard

Mothers don't always get the most meaningful of choices in fantasy. Françoise does. It's not just about how best to ensure the security of her unborn child; it's about weighing that against the security of her lover, against her own security, against her freedom from and her freedom to. Françoise never stops making those choices and when things change, she simply chooses again. There's just something wonderfully indomitable about her.

Merela Karn The Wounded Kingdoms - RJ Barker

Yes, apparently Merela is on every list now. Merela may only be the foster-mother to Girton Clubfoot and the weight of just how maternal her influence doesn't become fully clear until the end of the series, but nevertheless, no lifelong killer was ever so emotionally healthy. And that's testament to Merela's love and patience. Also really good at teaching people how to kill, which may not be a traditional maternal skill but it seems ever more important with the Fimbul Winter approaching.

Cregga Rose Eyes Redwall - Brian Jacques

The Redwall series could honestly contribute all nine entries for this article and perhaps part of the reason I side-eye at the weird lack of parents in a lot of fantasy. I went with Cregga though because she was the central maternal figure in quite a few books as the Badger Mother of Redwall, and seemed lovely in that role. I also went with her because we originally saw her as a mad berserker general willing to do pretty much anything to give some vermin a good hiding. And was still scary as hell as the Badger Mother.

Ysandre Kushiel's Legacy - Jacqueline Carey

Coulda been Phedre, but she was a little too saintly. Ysandre by contrast is flawed, unable to forget the past and always having to balance being a mother with being a queen. Sometimes she makes some bad decisions there. But the bad decisions make her an interesting character and she never stops trying to find a way to square what she wants with what her children wants.

Maev Ring Rigante Series - David Gemmell

Finally, Auntie Maev. Domineering, sometimes acerbic, occasionally manipulative, Maev's not the easiest woman in the world but my gods she's one to walk the mountains with. She's extremely intelligent, brave, never lacking in compassion in the big things, and raises Kaelin single handedly to become a fine young man despite the stress of living in a conquered society.