I'm a queer guy who loves speculative fiction. That hasn't been easy. The Disney villains of my childhood were all some kind of horrible LGBTQIAP+ stereotype (Ursula from The Little Mermaid literally modeled after a drag queen. Gaston, the muscle queen. Jafar, the effeminate manipulator...the list goes on and on). I recently watched the first season of Vox slack-jawed: the only queer representation was an effeminate, over-weight, makeup-ed, middle-aged queen lusting after a much younger straight character. Like many writers in the last few years, I'm trying to re-imagine speculative fiction with an array of LGBTQIAP+ characters in my upcoming contemporary epic fantasy YA book These Precious Stones.
Summer school, a cute boy, and overbearing Armenian parents―what’s a guy to do?
Alek Khederian was looking forward to a relaxing summer. But when his parents announce that he’ll be attending summer school in order to bring up his grades, Alek is sure this experience will be just as hellish as his freshman year of high school. But he never could’ve predicted that he’d meet someone like Ethan.
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I agreed to do this list because I wanted to promote April’s book so much. Seriously. If I could recommend it in every slot I would. Trans superhero dealing with her rage and powers in an alternative USA where superheroes are real? Yes, please. The writing is like so good that sometimes I type chapters of this book as a warm-up (and writing procrastination technique). I re-read it as a treat to myself as a way of surviving the pandemic.
I encountered Darcie on the Cerebro podcast (a homo and his friends discuss the X-Men) and I was so taken by her insights, smarts, and obvious understanding of what makes a story tick. Elatsoe delivered on every one of those promises. Not only do you learn a ton about indigenous mythology, but the complexity and profundity of the world make it a must-read. Images so vividly depicted you can see why she’s such a good comic book writer also.
This is one of those books where you’re like – the premise couldn’t possibly be as good as the execution. And yet it is. The dystopic world in which Sid has to take the punishment for all of Knox’s behavior is so rich and dark and delicious it resonates as a class critique of our own world without even having to try. It’s a knock-out debut, and I can’t wait to jump into London’s Black Wings Beating, which is next on my Kindle.
You gotta give props to Flewelling, who wrote a fantasy series with queer male protags in 1996! Just imagine – before Will & Grace, before Queer as Folk, before gay marriage was even a thing, she had the courage to write this deeply moving spy espionage fantasy book and the relationship between the noble rogue Seregil and his mentee/lover Alec was basically what I used as a model for every romantic relationship in my life. Also, the protag in my first two books was named Alek. Coincidence? I think not.
Great Gatsby told through the POV of Jordan Baker, a queer, adopted Asian magician? Seriously, if I could’ve come up with this premise and written it, I would’ve. This is the kind of magical debut novel that makes you feel hopeful about how old stories can be repurposed in the most fascinating of ways, creating a dialogue between the classical and the contemporary that makes the world feel like a wonderful place.
5,215 authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about the Apache, nobility, and superheros.
We think you will like Trick of the Light, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast, and Rubyfruit Jungle if you like this list.
From Casey's list on LGBTQ fantasy and science fiction.
An urban-fantasy about superheroes...and how horrible they are. This story is about the “villains,” not the goodie goodie “heroes” who do nothing but leave disaster and death in their wake. This is a fun read, packed with an intriguing relationship, thoughtful social questions, and an interesting world. It may be short, but it’s super sweet.
From Melody's list on sci-fi that will melt your heart.
This steampunk retelling of Beauty and the Beast has a delightfully dark humor perfect for gothic romance. Our heroine, Lucy, accepts her cousin Kate’s invitation to visit, a strange request for a newlywed who should be in the throes of wedded bliss, but Kate fears she’s being poisoned. When Lucy arrives, however, there is much more to contend with than her ailing cousin: the house is haunted, her in-laws are rude, and the man of the house—Kate’s new brother-in-law, Lord Miles—is rumored to have murdered both his sister and his late wife. But Lucy is accustomed to solving other people’s problems, and Lord Miles’ problems in particular turn out to be an absolute pleasure for the reader as Lucy attempts to solve them. I can’t wait to read this book a second time—the mark of a truly fantastic story.
From Carren's list on lesbianism and married women who love women.
Rubyfruit Jungle is one of the first American novels to deal openly with lesbianism. I identified with this book and a great many other women did too as it has become a classic of LGBT literature. I could feel Molly Bolt's torment. This tale of courage and survival against all odds helped me to realize and accept that I was a lesbian.
