Gay science fiction writers
LGBTQ Science Fiction Writers
A large number of well-liked science fiction writers have identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ). Many of the themes in science fiction novels themselves originate from the life experiences of the LGBTQ community. These include escapism, marginalization, sexual desire, super-intelligence, feminism, deviant desires, and more. After all, the imagined worlds of science fiction includes worlds that are different than our own and often include minority aspects of sexual desire.
It is believed that the very first science fiction writer in history, the Greek writer Lucian ( AD), was also the first gay writer in history. Perhaps the most famous science fiction writer of all time is gay writer Arthur C. Clarke, the author of the book A Space Odyssey.
Similar to Lucian, many of the LGBTQ science fiction writers are also academics and teach courses on gender issues, race, and sexual diversity. Several are important leaders in the feminist community and hold used science fiction as a means to e
Queer Speculative Fiction
Queens of Noise
In Queens of Noise, Mixi fronts the Mangy Rats, a motley found family of queers, crust punks and werecoyotes. Mixi and their band know they're gonna win the Battle of the Bands final showdown, no matter what it takes. But to make that happen, they'll also have to contend with poser goths, murderous chickens, and a bullshit corporate takeover ruining the best bar in town.
Glitter + Ashes
What does hope look like when everything is lost? Now, more than ever, we need to revel in the bright spots amidst the darkness. The twenty-three stories (and two poems) contained here, as well as the roleplaying game Dream Askew by Avery Alder, imagine queer community in myriad futures interrupted by collapse.
The Scapegracers
Who knew that balancing human interaction with supernatural peril could be so complicated? Rich with the urgency of feral youth, The Scapegracers explores growing up and complex female friendship with all the rage of a teenage girl. It subverts the trope of competitive mean girls and instead portrays a mercil
The Best Queer Science Fiction and Fantasy
How do you think about queer science fiction and fantasy?
There have been gay authors writing science fiction and fantasy almost since the genre started, but in recent years we’ve seen this massive flowering of queer representation in mainstream science fiction and fantasy.
We didn’t invent it in the last few years, but it has certainly been mainstreamed. For people like me, that’s amazing because science fiction and fantasy are my home genres. This is what I grew up writing, so to see myself and my friends represented is just incredible. I feel really fortunate to be alive and reading right now.
The first queer science fiction novel that you’ve chosen to recommend is Emily Tesh’s Some Desperate Glory. Can you please introduce us to this work?
Ironically, this may be the one where queerness is most central to it, and yet, of all of these books, it’s the furthest away from romance. It’s a good place to start.
Some Desperate Glory is a science fiction book that has been compared to Ender’s Game. It is about what happens after
Favorite LGBTQIA characters in Science Fiction and Fantasy (Pride)
Before We Travel is a progressive blog that believes in LGBTQIA rights as well as encouraging both gay, straight, or otherwise to contain them in their stories. However, more so, it&#;s good to recognize the characters that we love who just so occur to fall under one of these labels. So, here are the five favorite LGBTQIA characters of each reviewer here on staff.
Steve Westenra&#;s Picks
As a queer writer myself, I was very excited when this blog topic came up! I could load a book with favourites but decided to limit myself to queer characters written by queer authors and who are confirmed on or off-page to be queer (with one exception). As a reader, I tend to prefer queer characters who aren&#;t perfect, and who aren&#;t written to conform to straight expectations or desires. Some works by straight authors are included in my honourable mentions.
- Jana Beil (Sapphic character, The Company Daughters by Samantha Rajaram)&#; It was a toss-up for me over whether to choose Jana or her partner Sontje for this o