Intergalactic Women's Day

After pointing out the scarcity of female writers on Star Wars: Rebels a couple days ago--the series had only one, Nicole Duboc, who wrote two and a half episodes (the series finale also had Lucasfilm producer Kiri Hart credited alongside five male writers)--I thought to-day, being International Women's Day, would be a good time to assemble a list of outstanding episodes from various Sci-Fi/Fantasy series written by women. Here are four, listed chronologically:

Star Trek, "The Enterprise Incident" by D.C. Fontana

Even the original Star Trek series had more female writers than Rebels, among them one of the best of any gender, D.C. Fontana. She wrote several episodes and worked on Next Generation as well. "The Enterprise Incident", a third season episode of the Original Series, also featured one of the best female characters on the series. The Romulan Commander played by Joanne Linville was essential, coming off as a capable and cagey rival for the Enterprise crew in an episode that defined many aspects of the Romulans as a people for the Original Series and its descendants.

Doctor Who, Englightenment by Barbara Clegg

This 1983 story was the first Doctor Who serial since 1966's The Ark to have a credited female writer and the first to have a woman as the sole credited writer. It was also directed by a woman, Fiona Cumming, who took Barbara Clegg's keen scripts about an interstellar boat race between omnipotent alien aristocrats and gave them some of the most memorably fantastical visuals from the series' history.

Farscape, "A Clockwork Nebari" by Lily Taylor

Lily Taylor's second season script brought a satisfying expansion on the backstory for series' favourite, Chiana (Gigi Edgley). We learn how she and her brother escaped from their homeworld's oppressive system of behavioural modification (thus the title's reference to A Clockwork Orange). Filled with Farscape's usual visual splendour and amazing practical effects, this episode was an excellent showcase for the series' most fascinating species and one of its best characters.

Star Wars Clone Wars, the Dathomir arc by Katie Lucas

There's no mystery about how George's daughter, Katie, got a job working on Clone Wars but she did more than hold her own among the other writers. Taking the world established in the old Expanded Universe novel The Courtship of Princess Leia, Katie Lucas gave audiences a great origin story for the popular character, Asajj Ventress, by creating one of Clone Wars', and the Star Wars universe's, most memorable places and cultures. It's a shame Ventress doesn't seem to be around anymore but, then again, maybe it wouldn't be the same without Katie Lucas around writing for her anyway.

Twitter Sonnet #1091

In limits red the body bounds a ghost.
Horizon's tree presents a brocc'li great.
A forest pooled to pour a paper host.
With cherry limbs a spider laces bait.
In stocking minds a footless shape ascends.
Unlikely moons absorb the sun and Earth.
The fire text in forests late appends.
A fading ship in iron halls was birthed.
Unchosen lamps discreetly lead the lost.
A swaying branch amassed a soil path.
Above, some walls of leaves were lightly tossed.
As rocket crews would take a sonic bath.
Rerouted veins deploy the ore to Oz.
The toughest clouds are really made of gauze.