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Swords of the Rainbow
Swords of the Rainbow: Gay and Lesbian Fantasy Adventures
The richest vein of authors writing today--including Dorothy Allison, Samuel R. Delany, and Tanya Huff--is tapped in this remarkable collection of fantasy, sword and sorcery, and science fiction tales on lesbian and gay themes.
The richest vein of authors writing today--including Dorothy Allison, Samuel R. Delany, and Tanya Huff--is tapped in this remarkable collection of fantasy, sword and sorcery, and science fiction tales on lesbian and gay themes.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 13, 2017
Fantasy – the very word suggests unfettered imagination, limitless possibilities. All too often, however, it merely presages an endless repetition of identical fantasies. Amnesiac princes named Jared or Jharet or Gharad, all with evil, usurping twins and…
No, thanks.
Swords of the Rainbow provides a bright reminder of everything that once seemed promising about the genre. Escapist fare unbound by traditional mores? Is it surprising that queer writers would be attracted?
“The Tale of Small Sarg,” an excerpt from one of Samuel R. Delany’s Neveryon books, reprises many of that estimable author’s major preoccupations: the gradual restructuring of human consciousness known as civilization; the effect of the development of commerce on early cultures; and, of course, slave boys. Delany remains a master, his dazzling wordplay as allusive as ever, but if a Delany story does provide the anthology with a definite literary cachet, it also sets the bar awfully high. What’s astonishing is not that some of the selections appear simplistic in contrast to Delany’s formidable complexity, but that so many do not.
For instance, Jewelle Gomez offers a new entry to her The Gilda Stories. Her heroine – an African-American lesbian vampire – appears here in a blending of genres: horror, science fiction, and sword & sorcery. In “Houston” (pronounced like the Manhattan street, not the city), Gilda displays the oxymoronic longevity of the undead as she survives technology itself, emerging from her grave to do battle in a post-apocalyptic wilderness. Actually, many of these tales are set either in a distant future or some alternative reality, and the fact that others appear to be taking place during a historical period that defies identification is ameliorated by the recurrent suggestion that they may not necessarily be occurring on this planet (which nicely obviates the need for any convincing grasp of period detail). One of the more evocative of these trans-dimensional tales is “Ounces” by Dorothy Allison, a tensely Byzantine account of vicious female pirates and male slaves, thoroughly medieval in flavor while replete with high-tech weaponry.
But not all the plots have steel at their hearts. A. J. Potter’s “Birthmarked” and Jean Stewart’s “The Queer Avenger” add effective touches of humor and glamour. “Swan’s Braid” by Tanya Huff, about a thieving wench who becomes smitten with a warrior woman, proves deliciously romantic. And Mel Keegan’s “Breakheart” – though it does feature a bloody showdown in the snow – mostly concerns the passions of a fallen lord and his devoted slave boy.
Again with the slave boys.
Virtually all the selections boast potently homoerotic aspects (to the point where it becomes difficult to imagine how the various mythical kingdoms maintain their base populations). Gnomes and dragon riders and fabulous quests, even a couple of queer shapeshifters coupling in a sylvan glen – what’s wrong with a little escapism? Swords of the Rainbow offers a trip to fabled lands where love and valor still conquer all – an important reminder of innocent virtues, all the hot sex notwithstanding.
No, thanks.
Swords of the Rainbow provides a bright reminder of everything that once seemed promising about the genre. Escapist fare unbound by traditional mores? Is it surprising that queer writers would be attracted?
“The Tale of Small Sarg,” an excerpt from one of Samuel R. Delany’s Neveryon books, reprises many of that estimable author’s major preoccupations: the gradual restructuring of human consciousness known as civilization; the effect of the development of commerce on early cultures; and, of course, slave boys. Delany remains a master, his dazzling wordplay as allusive as ever, but if a Delany story does provide the anthology with a definite literary cachet, it also sets the bar awfully high. What’s astonishing is not that some of the selections appear simplistic in contrast to Delany’s formidable complexity, but that so many do not.
For instance, Jewelle Gomez offers a new entry to her The Gilda Stories. Her heroine – an African-American lesbian vampire – appears here in a blending of genres: horror, science fiction, and sword & sorcery. In “Houston” (pronounced like the Manhattan street, not the city), Gilda displays the oxymoronic longevity of the undead as she survives technology itself, emerging from her grave to do battle in a post-apocalyptic wilderness. Actually, many of these tales are set either in a distant future or some alternative reality, and the fact that others appear to be taking place during a historical period that defies identification is ameliorated by the recurrent suggestion that they may not necessarily be occurring on this planet (which nicely obviates the need for any convincing grasp of period detail). One of the more evocative of these trans-dimensional tales is “Ounces” by Dorothy Allison, a tensely Byzantine account of vicious female pirates and male slaves, thoroughly medieval in flavor while replete with high-tech weaponry.
But not all the plots have steel at their hearts. A. J. Potter’s “Birthmarked” and Jean Stewart’s “The Queer Avenger” add effective touches of humor and glamour. “Swan’s Braid” by Tanya Huff, about a thieving wench who becomes smitten with a warrior woman, proves deliciously romantic. And Mel Keegan’s “Breakheart” – though it does feature a bloody showdown in the snow – mostly concerns the passions of a fallen lord and his devoted slave boy.
Again with the slave boys.
Virtually all the selections boast potently homoerotic aspects (to the point where it becomes difficult to imagine how the various mythical kingdoms maintain their base populations). Gnomes and dragon riders and fabulous quests, even a couple of queer shapeshifters coupling in a sylvan glen – what’s wrong with a little escapism? Swords of the Rainbow offers a trip to fabled lands where love and valor still conquer all – an important reminder of innocent virtues, all the hot sex notwithstanding.
March 12, 2012
No, every story in this anthology is not a winner, but the overall quality is very good. And when Swords of the Rainbow was released back in...er...Olden Times, there were literally TWO gay spec fiction anthologies to choose from. That's how much times have changed! We're spoiled for choice these days.
I discovered the work of both Mel Keegan and Tanya Huff through Swords -- their stories are two of my favorites -- and for that alone I will always be very fond of this anthology.
I discovered the work of both Mel Keegan and Tanya Huff through Swords -- their stories are two of my favorites -- and for that alone I will always be very fond of this anthology.
February 17, 2022
3.5 stars
March 23, 2023
I must admit that the first few stories I read (which doesn't mean the first stories in the anthology) were a disappointment and I feared I had bought a collection that married poor gay characters and narrative to some second rate sf/fantasy settings. Fortunately I kept reading and found some wonderful gems from Dorothy Allison (an excerpt from a novel never finished - unfortunately) Samuel Delaney, Stan Leventhal, Lauren Wright Douglas and many more. I must mention Lawrence Schimel's Heart of Stone which combines all the agony and treachery of unrequited first love/lust with humour to make a marvellous story. Also Breakheart by Mel Keegan which, after over a dozen years of forgetfulness, reminded me just how fun and well written his early historical novels were and how much I still remembered of them with great fondness.
So for me this anthology was a great pleasure and certainly justified my faith in Eric Garber (who I'd only known as Andrew Holleran) as an editor. I neither regret reading or purchasing this anthology.
So for me this anthology was a great pleasure and certainly justified my faith in Eric Garber (who I'd only known as Andrew Holleran) as an editor. I neither regret reading or purchasing this anthology.
June 29, 2024
The first two stories felt like someone poorly documenting their own personal midnight fantasies. They were mostly just excuses for sex scenes. But the third story, Swan's Braid, does a lot in a small space, building a convincing fantasy setting and having several distinct characters in a very short period. So it's unven, like all these Alyson queer genre-focused anthologies, of which I've read 5 or so now.
The prevalent master/slave dynamic makes it almost impossible for me to enjoy some of these stories. The female-forward stories are about liberation and feminism, the male ones are often about bondage and subservience. Highlights include Jim provenzeno's Canopy of Green, about two childhood lovers who reunite as space Rangers; Swan's Braid by Tanya Huff, about a clever thief and a brigad of mercenaries; and Healer by Carrie Richardson, about a retired soldier and a magical healer.
Some stories were almost good but too short, biting off too much without enough room to breath. The ones with grown adults pairing with underage teens/kids were a hard pass. And too many stories wanted me to believe in full-on, unflinching, life-risking love developing within the span of a few pages.
The prevalent master/slave dynamic makes it almost impossible for me to enjoy some of these stories. The female-forward stories are about liberation and feminism, the male ones are often about bondage and subservience. Highlights include Jim provenzeno's Canopy of Green, about two childhood lovers who reunite as space Rangers; Swan's Braid by Tanya Huff, about a clever thief and a brigad of mercenaries; and Healer by Carrie Richardson, about a retired soldier and a magical healer.
Some stories were almost good but too short, biting off too much without enough room to breath. The ones with grown adults pairing with underage teens/kids were a hard pass. And too many stories wanted me to believe in full-on, unflinching, life-risking love developing within the span of a few pages.
June 6, 2023
Hit-or-miss, but with more hits than misses. Since it's a collection from the 90s and explicitly states it's focusing on "gay & lesbian" SFF (as opposed to the entire queer spectrum) I didn't go in expecting it to blow my mind, and it didn't, but I enjoyed myself. A majority of the stories have erotic moments peppered through them which were also hit-or-miss. Curious detail it that a notable amount of the lesbian stories centered around thieves and a notable amount of the gay stories centered around...slaves? Favorites: "Swan's Braid", "Healer", "Houston"
July 3, 2024
Swords of the Rainbow is a '90s multi-author anthology of gay and lesbian fantasy stories. A lot of these are your more typical sword and sorcery type fair. They follow thieves, or princes, or healers, travelling to a village or enemy encampment and sexy times ensue. It's fun.
There are a few exceptions to the "sword and sorcery" motif: The Queer Avenger by Jean Stewart is an urban fantasy featuring reincarnation, Houston by Jewelle Gomez follows a vampire in a dystopian future, A Canopy of Green by Jim Provenzano mixes fantasy and space opera elements, and Ounces by Dorothy Allison is too grim and odd to fall neatly into the "sword and sorcery" category.
One of my favorite stories in this collection was Roses for the Prince by Mark Shepherd, in which a young man apprenticing to the local wizard steals a magical tome to perform a love spell. A beautiful prince has caught his eye - but the prince is awfully mysterious and everyone warns the main character to stay away from him.
Breakheart by Mel Keegan was another that really stood out to me - set in an isolated community, following a young man who has been put into indentured servitude for seven years after being caught stealing in the city. In a short number of pages, I really cared about the main character and thought the world was well drawn and interesting.
Swan's Braid by Tanya Huff was a very sweet story in which a girl who is desperate to join the Thieves' Guild is tasked with retrieving the braid of the beautiful mercenary warrior who has just freed their city from bandits. The only problem is, she has a huge crush on her! I thought this one was a lot of fun.
There are a few exceptions to the "sword and sorcery" motif: The Queer Avenger by Jean Stewart is an urban fantasy featuring reincarnation, Houston by Jewelle Gomez follows a vampire in a dystopian future, A Canopy of Green by Jim Provenzano mixes fantasy and space opera elements, and Ounces by Dorothy Allison is too grim and odd to fall neatly into the "sword and sorcery" category.
One of my favorite stories in this collection was Roses for the Prince by Mark Shepherd, in which a young man apprenticing to the local wizard steals a magical tome to perform a love spell. A beautiful prince has caught his eye - but the prince is awfully mysterious and everyone warns the main character to stay away from him.
Breakheart by Mel Keegan was another that really stood out to me - set in an isolated community, following a young man who has been put into indentured servitude for seven years after being caught stealing in the city. In a short number of pages, I really cared about the main character and thought the world was well drawn and interesting.
Swan's Braid by Tanya Huff was a very sweet story in which a girl who is desperate to join the Thieves' Guild is tasked with retrieving the braid of the beautiful mercenary warrior who has just freed their city from bandits. The only problem is, she has a huge crush on her! I thought this one was a lot of fun.
March 17, 2013
SlashReaders: Alright honestly most of the stories in here were not that great. I wasn't overly impressed by most of them. There were however a few exceptional stories in it.
I wasn't disappointed by Mel Keegan's story which is the whole reason I bought the book. It was definitely one of the better ones in there as I would expect from him.
However most of the others left much to be desired. So if you're a nut case like me or just looking for a quick short story read it's not a bad book but if you're looking for good stuff I wouldn't bother with it.
I wasn't disappointed by Mel Keegan's story which is the whole reason I bought the book. It was definitely one of the better ones in there as I would expect from him.
However most of the others left much to be desired. So if you're a nut case like me or just looking for a quick short story read it's not a bad book but if you're looking for good stuff I wouldn't bother with it.
November 16, 2008
If a quarter or half star were available, that's what this book would get from me. Swords of the Rainbow ~12/30/07 This was a repetitive piece of crap! Each story told the same story—boringly—about how a gay boy or lesbian either through magic or science found their true love. Oh! Don’t forget the fucking! Yuck! Did I say this was dreck!
April 12, 2012
Not all the stories were of the same calibre and that's the reason I'm giving it 3 stars. Don't let that put you off reading it though. All in all it was a very enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews