Carl Sagan, Contact (1985)

The film version of Carl Sagan’s science fiction novel, Contact (1997), seems to divide people into “love it” and “hate it” camps. Personally, I love it: it’s elegant, has an imaginative story and, of course, stars Jodie Foster as Dr Eleanor Arroway, so I was looking forward to reading the novel on which it was based.
From: https://purpleprosearchive.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/carl-sagan-contact-1985/

After all, the two authors who led me most strongly into my deep and abiding love of sci fi were Anne McCaffrey (and The Ship Who Sang) in particular, and everything by Ursula Le Guin.
Also:
Emma Bull. She writes both fantasy and science fiction, and is one of my favorite writers ever.
And just for fun, check out Shadow Unit. (Shadowunit.org). The website is an ongoing story by several writers-most female-and resembles a paranormal CSI. Emma Bull, Will Shetterly, Evizabeth Bear, Sarah Monette, Amanda Downum, and others.
From: https://godardsletterboxes.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/100-sci-fi-women-63-dr-eleanor-arroway/