Pride Month may be over, but the time is always right for a good book.
I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember, with a particular affinity for science fiction and fantasy stories. I was enamored by the world-building and imagination of it all — by the idea that, at least on paper, a world can exist greater and more interesting than the one we’ve got.
But as I got a bit older, I began to wonder why so many writers could conceptualize a place with magic, aliens, space travel, and all the wonders therein, but not queer people. These stories were rich with fire-breathing dragons, Martians, elves, giants, and time travelers, but scarce were the gay men, the lesbians, the trans folks, and the gender diverse. Where did people like me fit into the stories we liked best? Did we fit in at all?
Some may still be licking the Harry-Potter-shaped wounds inflicted by J.K. Rowling’s transphobia, but the titular septology is hardly the end-all-be-all of fantasy writing. Recent years have seen a boom of queer-focused genre fiction, written by queer writers who center the identities of their protagonists in ways that feel authentic and refreshing. Here’s a small selection of some of the best of the best — swing by the Carnegie Library, check them out on the Libby app, or pick up a copy for yourself at one of Pittsburgh’s indie bookshops.
‘A Memory Called Empire,’ Arkady Martine
I’ve since cited this book, which took home the Hugo Award in 2020, as the one that got me reading again. Martine’s 2019 debut is a sapphic space opera following Mahit Dzmare, the newly-appointed ambassador the the omniscient Teixcalaanli Empire, as she adapts to her political post while simultaneously investigating the death of her predecessor and navigating the interplanetary politics of an empire on the brink of war.
In an interview with NPR, Martine — who holds a Ph.D. in medieval Byzantine, global, and comparative history — said she borrowed themes from the Mongol steppe empire, but also from American cultural imperialism.
“[Teixcalaan] is not just a military power — it’s a pervasive cultural one,” she told NPR following the book’s release. “Unavoidable, like McDonald’s and Hollywood movies.”
Part of a duology, with a sequel called ‘A Desolation Called Peace,’ this book appeals to fans of traditional science fiction as well as murder mysteries, linguistic studies, and power politics. And if all that doesn’t sell you on it, maybe the slow-burn Sapphic will-they-won’t-they or a surprising bisexual throuple will do the trick.
‘Cemetery Boys,’ Aiden Thomas
‘Cemetery Boys’ is a 2020 paranormal romance that blends queer culture, Latinx culture, and fantasy themes into one neatly wrapped YA gem. It focuses on a teenage trans boy named Yadriel, whose family has a unique gift: They can speak to the dead. In an effort to prove his masculinity, Yadriel tries to summon the spirit of his recently deceased cousin, but instead, he summons Julian Diaz, a classmate who can’t remember how, exactly, he died. The last thing Yadriel expects is to fall in love with a ghost.
This is a sweet and entirely unique book. It tackles mature subjects like death and legacy in a way that’s tactful enough for younger readers, but real enough to ring true to an adult audience, too.
Rumor has it that a sequel is set to release sometime in the fall, so keep an eye out for that, as well.
‘A Strange and Stubborn Endurance,’ Foz Meadows
Publisher’s Weekly called this 2022 high fantasy novel “a delicate meditation on trauma, loyalty, and trust.” It’s at once heartwarming and heartbreaking, with elements of homecoming and hope contrasted with a deep thread of betrayal and loss for its protagonists.
Vel, a minor royal who comes from the repressed and deeply religious nation of Ralia, is slated to marry a girl from the slightly-more-open-minded Tithena via an arranged marriage. But when his preference for men comes to light and causes a rift between Vel and his family, the Titheni envoy proposes a new plan: He ought to marry his fiance’s brother instead.
This is not a light read. It comes with quite a few heavy trigger warnings for topics of sexual violence and suicidal thoughts. But it also boasts ambitious world-building and political rivalries, along with a deeply intriguing murder plot that keeps you guessing. The novel itself ends on a high note, but the sequel, ‘All the Hidden Paths,’ offers an expanded look into Vel and Cae’s tentative romance, and a whole new murder plot to boot.
Even though this book and no light summer read, difficult subjects are addressed with clandestiny and grace. And, for as much as it’s about trauma and the way it impacts its characters, it’s also a story about exactly what the title suggests — the strange and stubborn endurance that drives us to heal.
‘Winter’s Orbit,’ Everina Maxwell
Another arranged marriage story, but this time, it’s in space.
Maxwell’s 2021 space opera follows Prince Kiem, a fun-loving wild child and textbook family disappointment, as he finds himself betrothed to his late cousin’s widower, a flustery academic named Jainan. The marriage, he’s told, is purely political, designed to soothe diplomatic relations between Kiem’s planet, Iskat, and Jainan’s planet, Thea.
But as the Iskat Empire’s governing treaty nears renewal, the newlyweds find that not everyone wants their arrangement to work out. Indeed, there are more sinister forces at work, and it turns out that Kiem’s much-lauded cousin was not the model prince — or husband — he had claimed to have been.
Maxwell’s wit and humor shine through in this book, and laugh-out-loud one-liners are juxtaposed with moments of genuine heart. One minute, you want to grab Kiem and Jainan by the shoulders and tell them to just communicate with each other, for God’s sake, and the next minute, you just want to give them a hug. More than anything, you find yourself rooting for their budding romance, and wondering what secrets its detractors are trying to keep.
‘Light from Uncommon Stars,’ by Ryka Aoki
Shizuka Satomi, a violin teacher, made a deal with the devil. She needs to secure the souls of seven young prodigies to escape damnation, and she’s currently six for six. Enter Katrina Nguyen, a young transgender runaway and, more importantly to Satomi, a talented musician. In a blurb, ‘Winter’s Orbit’ author Everina Maxwell called Aoki’s 2022 sci-fi spectacle “a story that sparkles with magic and music and joy,” and that sums it up quite well. This is a book that’s literally hard to put down. You keep thinking about it, wanting more, and wondering if the jaded virtuoso will actually fall in love with a retired starship captain over donuts
