Edge of the World: An Anthology of Queer Travel Writing

by Alden Jones (Editor)

The first inclusive LGBTQ+ travel anthology, Edge of the World explores what it means to be a queer person moving through the world.

These lively essays by luminary writers offer a queer perspective on how people experience other cultures and how other cultures receive queer people. This anthology of essays includes the perspectives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and trans American authors from multiple ethnic identities, showcasing the travel writing of both established and emerging authors ac ross a wide age spectrum to address these central questions. Contributors include Alexander Chee, Edmund White, Daisy Hernández, Putsata Reang, Bani Amor, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Garrard Conley, Nicole Shawan Junior, Raluca Albu, Genevieve Hudson, Zoë Sprankle, and Calvin Gimpelevich. Their essays take the reader to different areas of the world including Spain, Ukraine, Florida, Cuba, New York City, Ecuador, Cambodia, Russia, Senegal, Berlin, Paris, and more.

Genres: Travel, Queer, Nonfiction, Essays, LGBT, Anthologies, Queer Lit

228 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

Alden Jones is the editor of the anthology of LGBTQ+ travel essays Edge of the World, featuring work by Edmund White, Putsata Reang, Nicole Shawan Junior, Alexander Chee, and others. She is the author, most recently, of The Wanting Was a Wilderness, a hybrid work of memoir and literary criticism and a Lambda Literary Award nominee. Her first book, The Blind Masseuse, was longlisted for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award. Her story collection, Unaccompanied Minors, won the New American Fiction Prize and the Lascaux Book Prize. She teaches creative writing at Emerson College and the Newport MFA.

Reviews

[Campbell Idol · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection by exceptional writers. Alden Jones’ introduction was sharp, intuitive, and beautifully encompassing. Essays by Alexander Chee, Edmund White, Garrard Conley, and Nicole Shawan Junior stood out distinctly with their lavish prose and thoughtful examinations of global queerness. Such a unique book, but the subject also feels so innate to LGBT lives—it couldn’t have come at a better time.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of travel writing. Hearing how other people discover new places and encounter different peoples and cultures has always filled me with a desire for my own travels and adventures.

This anthology is filled with many wonderfully written travelogues, and share perspectives that I could never experience myself. If travel writing brings me new ideas and perspectives, this anthology took it to a new level.

[Leah Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I went into this expecting the wrong thing, but I was excited to read about the queer experiences of travelling internationally, not just to neighbouring US states... A very mixed bag; a few were excellent, others not so much.

[Alanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leer Edge of the World fue una experiencia que me dejó inspirado y reflexivo. Esta antología reúne distintos relatos queer situados en contextos completamente diversos: desde el sur de Estados Unidos hasta Rusia, pasando por México, países africanos y exsoviéticos. Es una especie de mapa emocional del mundo queer, contado desde voces que rara vez aparecen con esta claridad y honestidad.

Cada historia tiene un estilo único, lo que le da mucha riqueza al conjunto. Algunas son más íntimas, otras muy políticas, pero en todas hay un sentido de búsqueda, de resistencia y de descubrimiento. Me gustó mucho ver cómo se entrecruzan las experiencias individuales con los contextos sociales, culturales y políticos de cada país. Te hace pensar: “Wow, todo esto pasa allá afuera… y está siendo contado”.

De los relatos, el que más me tocó fue el de una mujer africana (no recuerdo el nombre del texto) que emigró a Estados Unidos tras una guerra, y luego regresó a su país, donde conoció a un chico con quien tuvo un breve romance, a pesar de estar en proceso de divorcio con su esposa. Me pareció muy poderoso cómo esa historia terminó en una amistad profunda, incluso en un lugar donde ser queer todavía está rodeado de resistencia. Fue una historia de ternura, de posibilidades, de autenticidad.

También me gustó mucho uno de los relatos finales —creo que fue el último— sobre una persona tejana que asiste a la marcha queer en Mérida, México. Ese relato me llenó de alegría. Fue lindo ver un espacio en México que se siente libre, no tan vigilado ni juzgado como otras partes del mundo. Me dieron muchas ganas de estar ahí. Contrasta fuertemente con los relatos de Rusia o Texas, donde el entorno es mucho más hostil.

Este libro lo leí por el Desafío Queer de Goodreads, y me alegro de haberlo hecho. No suelo leer mucho ensayo o relatos de no ficción, y aunque no es mi género favorito (a veces me cuesta conectar), esta lectura me pareció valiosa. Me gustó mucho poder asomarme a estas vidas reales, con sus matices y particularidades. Es un recordatorio de que lo queer no es un solo lugar, un solo idioma o una sola lucha. Es un mundo entero, lleno de historias que merecen ser escuchadas.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot praise this collection enough! Emotionally raw, honest, and beautiful, Alden Jones has brought together such a stunning collection of essays by queer writers such as Alexander Chee, Sara Orozco, and Zöe Sprankle, all who confront their queer identities across the world. This collection is one I wish I’d had when I was younger and struggling with my own sexuality, unsure of who I was and where I could go. The answer lies in the pages of this book. As Alden Jones writes in her essay, “We Find Each Other: A Prelude”:

“Queer communities do not generally form at home. More often, queerness sends us searching. And we find each other. That is what we do.”

By far one of my favorite books of the year. So brilliant and moving!!

[Leanna Florez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection is everything a queer person needs right now. It has diverse perspectives from so many different people in the queer community. The stories of hope, loss, home, escapism, and self-reflection can resonate with every queer person, no matter where they are. As a collection, the stories are perfectly placed and encapsulate what it means to exist as a queer person in today’s world while shedding history on what it was like in the past. Highly recommend!

Top 5 favorite essays (in no order):
“La Cubana” by Daisy Hernández
“Myth Maker” by Genevieve Hudson
“Kicking Back in Key West” by Edmund White (rest in peace)
“Towards a Fight” by Alex Marzano-Lesnevich
“The Proudest Texan in Mérida” by KB Brookins

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

edge of the world is a collection of short stories written by queer people detailing how they went about finding their place in the world.

Their journeys take the reader to Russia, Mexico, Cambodia and the U.S. as well as other countries.

Fifteen authors will take you on various travels in a way that will make you think and feel.

My favorite stories are “Lessons in Digging and Planting “ by Sara Orozco, “The Proudest Texan in Merida” by KB Brookins and “A Journey Through Motherhood and the Motherland “ by Nicole Shawan Junior. All the stories are well written and I found them enlightening. I recommend this book.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I told myself I was in love."
There's something for everyone in this book. I found myself, as I read, returning over and over to this line from the opening of Alexander Chee's essay. So many times in this life we find ourselves collecting and believing these transient feelings as if they're the last and only we'll ever feel. Only through broadening our horizons, visiting the world, can we understand the universality of our lives, and gain certainty that we'll be in love again and again.
This is a book about love, and travel, and the world. I can't wait to read it again.

[Olly Mogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A properly interesting read. Its a bit americo-centric, and I'm not entirely sure St Petersburg counts as "east of Europe" but that feels petty because this is a beautiful collection of memories, experiences, and theories.

I love that two different authors mentioned the same quote about Queerness being an ideality.

Some of the essays were filled with glimpses of a former relationship fondly remembered, some are complicated by the conflicts of identity and belonging. All of it was enjoyable to dive into.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are an experienced traveler or an armchair explorer, this book will change how you see the world. From Key West to Mexico, New Orleans to Amsterdam, Ohio to Cambodia and many other places, Alden Jones has pulled together an outstanding family of contributing writers who provide unforgettable portraits of what it’s like to not only travel but live as queer people. At times humorous, heartfelt, and heart wrenching, they reinforced my belief that beautiful moments of humanity still exist throughout the world. I loved it.

[Matt Albren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s tough to sum this book up because it was genuinely one of the most moving and thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. Being queer and traveling are such uniquely intertwined concepts that this book explores from SO many different perspectives. I laughed while reading and I teared up moments later. This book has so much to offer. Totally totally worthwhile!! I can’t wait to reread it (again).

[Caraline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! And so perfect for this time of year. You get to travel through the world with this story and experience the multifaceted lives and writing styles of different queer authors at the same time. It’s nuanced, candid, insightful and makes you wanna go to a pride parade in a different country or state. 10/10 !!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit that I read this quite quickly in the end as Libby was about to snatch it from my still reading eyes. However, having said that, I found this to be a fascinating read. There are so many ways to be queer, ways to be accepted, or not. Travelling to other places seemed to help these queer people accept themselves more deeply but in different ways.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, thoughtful, moving writing from an array of voices exploring spots around the globe.

[Maia Cataldo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. You will have an unquenchable hankering to travel after reading this book!!

[Natalie Prieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inventive, beautifully written pieces in this anthology are thought-provoking, moving and will leave you looking at the world in new ways. I cannot recommend this gorgeous book enough!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful, illuminating, and heartfelt. A must-read for any adventurer!

[Anna Wyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stores

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of queer travel stories. I’d like to read more anthologies of queer travel.

[Mary Tharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed traveling to the different states.

[Dru · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Gone is the day and age of lesbian only travel books or gay male travel books. This Queer Anthropology shows the nuances of queer traveling and how they are all interconnected.

[Megan McCarthy-Biank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jones cleverly chose and structured the stories for Edge of the World. The collection is filled with powerful voices and experiences. While most accounts have elements of a broken heart or forbidden love, the resilience demonstrated in these stories is inspiring. While a couple stories were underwhelming, I appreciate the opportunity to see the world through queer eyes.

In-depth book review: https://cantinabookclub.com/review/ed...

Podcast interview with Alden Jones:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
YouTube: https://youtu.be/B2WJq43_dsY?si=BN2r1...