Well, I've read two trilogies and two standalone books by Friedman.
The
Coldfire trilogy has a touch of Sci-fi in that people from earth have crashlanded and colonized a planet where "the fae" is a force of nature, bringing your imagination to life (bad and good, though the issue of the series is that it's increasingly bad).
The
Magister trilogy is about a woman who discovers why "only men" become magisters. Both men and women can be born witches, but using their magic also uses up their life force. Magisters however don't use up their lives and are instead immortal. This woman gets involved in events that also makes the magisters understand what sets them apart from other humans. I really enjoyed this series.
In Conquest Born is sci-fi, where humans have populated space and diversified into new distinct cultures with different ideals and different agendas. From what I remember there was a lot of warmongering
This Alien Shore is another sci-fi story set in space. A bit of brainware, hackers... Coorporations all wanting to control intergalactic trade, that sort of thing
Of the two standalones I think I preferred this one.
Checking her website (
www.csfriedman.com/) In Conquest born has a sequel "200 years later". (Oh and she's also working on a new trilogy! Yay!)
Regarding Bujold, yes I did read the Spirit Ring.
I think she's published some short story collections or such that I haven't read but other than that I've probably read everything. I always have to compare any lists with my bookcase 'cause I can't keep track in my head. Not of the Vorkosigan series anyway