rec: Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kirstein

[mindstalk]

Good series, though hard to describe interestingly without spoiling part of the key fun. If you trust my taste, take my word that it's a well-deserved cult following, albeit out of paper print. Available as ebooks at the usual sources, or as DRM-free epub or PDF via https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/RosemaryKirstein
I just found the above link and bought the series.

If you're in the Boston area, both BPL and Minuteman seem to have access to every book except the first one, which is only $2.99 as an ebook, vs. $5.99 for the rest.

Non-spoiler hooks: female author, female protagonist, other female lead characters, people being smart, people applying the scientific method in a fantasy, interesting fantasy and non-human life.

Drawback: series has been dangling for a while. It is hoped she'll be able to finish with more sales and less cancer, and I think the books contain interesting stories as it is, but if you don't want to wait for the mysteries to be explained then this isn't for you.

http://www.rosemarykirstein.com/the-books/ has the author blurbs.
http://www.rosemarykirstein.com/free-reads/ has free first chapters (online or download), as does Smashwords.

James Nicoll reviews the series, albeit with some spoilers.
http://james-nicoll.livejournal.com/4909464.html
http://james-nicoll.livejournal.com/4915863.html
http://james-nicoll.livejournal.com/4927018.html
http://james-nicoll.livejournal.com/4938359.html