Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction

by Brit Mandelo

Overview

“…will inspire writers, delight and satisfy readers who are already familiar with fluid gender identities, and leave newly enlightened readers determined to make the world more welcoming.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Speculative fiction is the literature of questions, of challenges and imagination, and what better to question than the ways in which gender and sexuality have been rigidly defined, partitioned off, put in little boxes? These seventeen stories explore the ways in which identity can go beyond binary—from space colonies to small college towns, from angels to androids, and from a magical past to other worlds entirely, the authors in this collection have brought to life wonderful tales starring people who proudly define (and redefine) their own genders, sexualities, identities, and so much else in between.

Extraordinary stories by Keyan Bowes, Kelley Eskridge, Tobi Hill-Meyer, Nalo Hopkinson, Claire Humphrey, Sarah Kanning, Keffy R. M. Kehrli, Ellen Kushner, Richard Larson, Terra LeMay, Liu Wen Zhuang, Sandra McDonald, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Delia Sherman, Katherine Sparrow, Sonya Taaffe, Catherynne M. Valente

Product Details

BN ID:	2940033271542
Publisher:	Lethe Press, Inc.
Publication date:	06/02/2012
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	359 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Brit Mandelo (britmandelo.com) is a writer, critic, and occasional editor whose primary fields of interest are speculative fiction and queer literature, especially when the two coincide. Her work—fiction, nonfiction, poetry; she wears a lot of hats—has been featured in magazines such as Clarkesworld, Tor.com, and Ideomancer. She also writes regularly for Tor.com and has several long-running column series there, including Queering SFF, a mix of criticism, editorials, and reviews on LGBTQI speculative fiction. When not writing, she is a perpetual student and is working up to an eventual (hopefully) PhD. She is a Louisville native and lives there with her partner in an apartment that doesn’t have room for all the books.

Table of Contents

''Sea of Cortez'' by Sandra McDonald

''Eye of the Storm'' by Kelley Eskridge

"Fisherman'' by Nalo Hopkinson

''Pirate Solutions'' by Katie Sparrow

''A Wild and a Wicked Youth'' by Ellen Kushner

''Prosperine When it Sizzles'' by Tansy Roberts

''The Faery Cony-Catcher'' by Delia Sherman

''Palimpsest'' by Catherynne M. Valente

''Another Coming'' by Sonya Taaffe

''Bleaker Collegiate Presents an All-Female Production of Waiting for Godot'' by Claire Humphrey

''The Ghost Party'' by Richard Larson

''Bonehouse'' by Keffy R. M. Kehrli

''Sex with Ghosts'' by Sarah Kanning

''Spoiling Veena'' by Keyan Bowes

''Self-Reflection'' by Tobi Hill-Meyer

''The Metamorphosis Bud'' by Liu Wen Zhuang

''Schrodinger's Pussy'' by Terra LeMay

Editorial Reviews

Mandelo’s introduction explains, “Non-binary identities and expressions are often marginalized; our voices are silenced, our identities are effaced, and our stories go untold.” Defying that trend of oppression, the narrative voices of these 17 stories are loud and strong. “Fisherman” by Nalo Hopkinson, a deeply intimate story about a “mannish woman” visiting a brothel, questions notions of socially acceptable relationships. Sandra McDonald’s poignant “Sea of Cortez” explores covert sexuality on board a navy ship during WWII. “Schrödinger’s Pussy” by Terra LeMay is a love letter of sorts that illuminates what it means to be human, regardless of gender or sexual preference. These and other stellar stories from Catherynne M. Valente, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, and Tansy Rayner Roberts will inspire writers, delight and satisfy readers who are already familiar with fluid gender identities, and leave newly enlightened readers determined to make the world more welcoming. (May)

Publishers Weekly

''Mandelo's introduction explains, 'Non-binary identities and expressions are often marginalized; our voices are silenced, our identities are effaced, and our stories go untold.' Defying that trend of oppression, the narrative voices of these 17 stories are loud and strong. ''Fisherman'' by Nalo Hopkinson, a deeply intimate story about a 'mannish woman' visiting a brothel, questions notions of socially acceptable relationships. Sandra McDonald's poignant ''Sea of Cortez'' explores covert sexuality on board a navy ship during WWII. ''Schrodinger's Pussy'' by Terra LeMay is a love letter of sorts that illuminates what it means to be human, regardless of gender or sexual preference. These and other stellar stories from Catherynne M. Valente, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, and Tansy Rayner Roberts will inspire writers, delight and satisfy readers who are already familiar with fluid gender identities, and leave newly enlightened readers determined to make the world more welcoming.'' --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Some of these pieces are truly strange. Some are delicious romps. But in the end this is the rarest of anthologies: the sum is greater than its parts. Read it. Read it all.'' --Nicola Griffith, multiple award-winning author and editor

From the Publisher