What do you think?
Rate this book
Best Bi Short Stories
Best Bi Short Stories is the first book of its kind, a literary anthology bringing together the very finest representations of bisexuality in fiction. The bisexuality of characters, like in real people, can be invisible to readers unless explicitly brought to their attention. Invisibility leads to underrepresentation, and on bookstore shelves that has certainly been true. Best Bi Short Stories hopes to change that by presenting the very best quality, cast in a bold light. With an all-star author lineup ranging from Katherine Forrest to Jane Rule, Ann Herendeen to Jan Steckel, and curated by longtime bi activist Sheela Lambert, Best Bi Short Stories encompasses several genres. The authors are a diverse group, as well, and Lambert sought representation across age groups, cultures, ethnicities and sexualities in both the authors and stories, demonstrating the richness of bi experience. Best Bi Short Stories contains the following stories: Dual Citizenship by Storm Grant Alone, As Always by Jenny Corvette Companions by Kate Durre Pennies in the Well by Rob Barton The Decision by Ammy Achenbach Coyote Takes a Trip by Deborah Miranda The Lottery by Florence Ivy Angels Dance by James Williams The Idiom of Orchids by Camille Thomas Mother Knows Best by Charles Bright ..".Leave a Light on for Ya" by Gretchen Turner Dragon's Daughter by Cecilia Tan Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen Challenger Deep by Kathleen Bradean Mr. Greene by Ours M. Hugh Art Making by Kate Evans Friends and Neighbours by Jacqueline Applebee Memory Lane by Sheela Lambert Naked in the World by Geer Austin Alex the Dragon by Jan Steckel Face to Face by J.R. Yussuf Xessex by Katherine Forrest Inland Passage by Jane Rule
258 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2014
7 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 6, 2014
I'm so glad I got to read an ARC of this! What a great book of little bi stories. So many queer and genderqueer romances that filled my heart with joy. Some of the stories are stronger than others, but that happens in all anthologies. Oddly, one of my top favourites was the shortest of all. Each story takes the reader on a different journey, and there is no need to have read any other novel by the authors included in the book. Some books were a little dirty, some were more romantic, and some were sad and lonesome. All were queer, and all were lovely, and all will be read by me again.
October 28, 2019
A mixed bag as almost all anthologies are, and some of these are more vignettes than stories proper, but I enjoyed most of them. (I did skip a few that didn't grab me). There's a fair amount of diversity, a decent amount of bi men and trans rep which is great, and a definite avoidance of the usual tropes of love triangles and cheaters (more POC would have been great though and with the caveat I skipped about 3-4 pieces, no trans women). Favs include older women in love on a ship in 1985 (by Jane Rule set in the Pacific Northwest, including some brief side content about Indigenous people that is pretty terrible!), Chinese American fantasy, a trans man coming out and saying goodbye to his dad in Guam, and an old guy befriending his bi boi neighbour.
September 30, 2014
*Free copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was hit and miss; about half the stories were thoughtful, deep, and affecting, and the other half less-than-inspiring. A wide variety of genres, ranging from magical realism, science-fiction, historical and contemporary. They told tales of love, lust, and heartbreak; some had humor and mythology, some had thrills and eroticism, and some, unfortunately, with nothing at all: a couple stories were so short and one dimensional they seemed amateurish as a part of this anthology, particularly Achenbach's The Decision and Yussuf's Face to Face.
Conversely a few were phenomenal, like Tan's Dragon's Daughter, bringing together Chinese folklore and a luscious forbidden-love story; Bradean's Challenger Deep, a gender-challenging story in a young man's moment of grief; and Williams' Angels Dance, a paranormal horror story with a twist.
All in all I enjoyed this book, and very much appreciated the bisexual exposure. Bisexual characters as rich and varied as these are treat to discover, and I've now found a handful of authors I will follow in the future. Though the short stories will not appeal to every person, I'd still recommended this anthology for those few stories that will undoubtedly shine above the rest.
This book was hit and miss; about half the stories were thoughtful, deep, and affecting, and the other half less-than-inspiring. A wide variety of genres, ranging from magical realism, science-fiction, historical and contemporary. They told tales of love, lust, and heartbreak; some had humor and mythology, some had thrills and eroticism, and some, unfortunately, with nothing at all: a couple stories were so short and one dimensional they seemed amateurish as a part of this anthology, particularly Achenbach's The Decision and Yussuf's Face to Face.
Conversely a few were phenomenal, like Tan's Dragon's Daughter, bringing together Chinese folklore and a luscious forbidden-love story; Bradean's Challenger Deep, a gender-challenging story in a young man's moment of grief; and Williams' Angels Dance, a paranormal horror story with a twist.
All in all I enjoyed this book, and very much appreciated the bisexual exposure. Bisexual characters as rich and varied as these are treat to discover, and I've now found a handful of authors I will follow in the future. Though the short stories will not appeal to every person, I'd still recommended this anthology for those few stories that will undoubtedly shine above the rest.
dnf
August 21, 2015ending up DNF'ing around 30% - honestly, while 2 of the stories I read were ok, I have a hard time classing the rest as stories, they were more like vingnettes and didn't work for me
September 18, 2014
So I finished this and it was a pretty decent collection. I especially liked the story of the dragons daughter and would like to read more by that author.
July 6, 2014
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, & The Unread:
I tend to find anthologies a little hit and miss, and generally pick them up only when I recognise more than one of the authors as someone whose short stories I’ve read and enjoyed before. This time, however, it was the theme that attracted me; the bisexual experience is one that gets neglected in fiction compared to the slightly greater representation of characters who act bisexually in ménage stories (generally, in my reading experience, without any engagement with the wider bisexual community) or whose bisexuality is a step on the way to a complete change of identity. Plus, we sometimes get bisexual characters in the background, offering words of wisdom to the protagonists. In this anthology, though, each story’s central characters are in the main very much rooted in their bisexual identities, or are getting there by the end of the story. While not all stories were precisely to my taste, there were some definite stand-outs and no total flops.
The anthology opens with Storm Grant’s Dual Citizenship, which may very well have been inspired by Due South fandom back in the day, but is nevertheless a delightful story of life in the time of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in its own right – and also laugh-out-loud funny at times. So yes, some of the stories in here have been around for a while, but they’re all very well worth reading in the present day. As well as showcasing bisexual characters, this book also covers diversity in a lot of its other forms. There’s a great racial and cultural mix, as well as a number of stories dealing with gender beyond the binary.
Coyote Takes a Trip by Deborah Miranda is another title that is familiar to me, although I don’t remember where I came across it before, and it’s also another that merits multiple reads, dealing as it does with sexual, gender and racial minorities in the US through the eyes of a long-term drifter. Conversely Cecelia Tan’s Dragon’s Daughter gives us a modern retelling of old Chinese legends through as experienced by an Asian-American adoptee who discovers she has unusual talents, and then has to undo the mistake she made in the course of that realisation.
Not all the stories are romances: Alone, As Always by Jenny Corvette would fit well in an anthology of classic domestic suspense stories I read recently, while Charles Bright’s Mother Knows Best is about a different experience of death. Kathleen Bradean’s Challenger Deep also deals with death in that it’s a tale about paying last respects to a beloved family member, but offers up the possibility for a happier story in the future as the protagonist makes discoveries about their gender and sexuality.
All in all, this is a splendid book to either read in one sitting or dip into from time to time and almost all the stories are ones I’d want to reread repeatedly in print. I think there’s enough in the anthology to satisfy most readers, so I’d recommend giving the whole a chance, even if not all the stories appeal on first glance.
I tend to find anthologies a little hit and miss, and generally pick them up only when I recognise more than one of the authors as someone whose short stories I’ve read and enjoyed before. This time, however, it was the theme that attracted me; the bisexual experience is one that gets neglected in fiction compared to the slightly greater representation of characters who act bisexually in ménage stories (generally, in my reading experience, without any engagement with the wider bisexual community) or whose bisexuality is a step on the way to a complete change of identity. Plus, we sometimes get bisexual characters in the background, offering words of wisdom to the protagonists. In this anthology, though, each story’s central characters are in the main very much rooted in their bisexual identities, or are getting there by the end of the story. While not all stories were precisely to my taste, there were some definite stand-outs and no total flops.
The anthology opens with Storm Grant’s Dual Citizenship, which may very well have been inspired by Due South fandom back in the day, but is nevertheless a delightful story of life in the time of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in its own right – and also laugh-out-loud funny at times. So yes, some of the stories in here have been around for a while, but they’re all very well worth reading in the present day. As well as showcasing bisexual characters, this book also covers diversity in a lot of its other forms. There’s a great racial and cultural mix, as well as a number of stories dealing with gender beyond the binary.
Coyote Takes a Trip by Deborah Miranda is another title that is familiar to me, although I don’t remember where I came across it before, and it’s also another that merits multiple reads, dealing as it does with sexual, gender and racial minorities in the US through the eyes of a long-term drifter. Conversely Cecelia Tan’s Dragon’s Daughter gives us a modern retelling of old Chinese legends through as experienced by an Asian-American adoptee who discovers she has unusual talents, and then has to undo the mistake she made in the course of that realisation.
Not all the stories are romances: Alone, As Always by Jenny Corvette would fit well in an anthology of classic domestic suspense stories I read recently, while Charles Bright’s Mother Knows Best is about a different experience of death. Kathleen Bradean’s Challenger Deep also deals with death in that it’s a tale about paying last respects to a beloved family member, but offers up the possibility for a happier story in the future as the protagonist makes discoveries about their gender and sexuality.
All in all, this is a splendid book to either read in one sitting or dip into from time to time and almost all the stories are ones I’d want to reread repeatedly in print. I think there’s enough in the anthology to satisfy most readers, so I’d recommend giving the whole a chance, even if not all the stories appeal on first glance.
August 19, 2014
It is difficult to write about an anthology of short stories for two reasons. One I think since you are reading a number of different authors with a number of different styles you run the risk of letting one or two shape how you feel about the whole anthology. Two the nature of short story collections/anthology is that they lend themselves to being put down and picked up like a snack - something for when you are feeling peck-ish but might not want the full meal of a novel. So if you feel that is what I am doing here stop reading ;). First off let me say how I excited I am about an anthology of this nature. I have not had a chance to read to read many bi stories and these were absolutely amazing. There is such a wide variety of genres here and such a varied way of looking at gender and sexuality. And yet they all work so well together, complimenting each others strengths and weakness making this anthology wonderfully full. I often found myself going to read one story and staying for three or four more. There were times when I found myself wondering if would better be labeled best queer short stories since many of them dealt more with gender fluidity than bisexualism which was intriguing and might be a tad more all encompassing. I loved that as the editor mentioned in the preface of the book - these authors and stories showed more than just the stereotypical side of bisexuality (although on that note it would have been nice to have a few more male authors included although that just might not be who’s writing right now). I am so excited to read more from these authors!
November 29, 2014
I received a free kindle copy of Best Bi Short Stories-Bisexual Fiction compiled by Sheela Lambert published by Circlet Press in exchange for a fair review.
I gave it four stars. It is an eclectic compilation of all age groups & it is widely spread geographically. It is good reading for those interested in LGBT stories.
Best Bi Short Stories contains the following stories:
Dual Citizenship by Storm Grant
Alone, As Always by Jenny Corvette
Companions by Kate Durre
Pennies in the Well by Rob Barton
The Decision by Ammy Achenbach
Coyote Takes a Trip by Deborah Miranda
The Lottery by Florence Ivy
Angels Dance by James Williams
The Idiom of Orchids by Camille Thomas
Mother Knows Best by Charles Bright
“…Leave a Light on for Ya” by Gretchen Turner
Dragon’s Daughter by Cecilia Tan
Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen
Challenger Deep by Kathleen Bradean
Mr. Greene by Ours M. Hugh
Art Making by Kate Evans
Friends and Neighbours by Jacqueline Applebee
Memory Lane by Sheela Lambert
Naked in the World by Geer Austin
Alex the Dragon by Jan Steckel
Face to Face by J.R. Yussuf
Xessex by Katherine Forrest
Inland Passage by Jane Rule
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K...
I gave it four stars. It is an eclectic compilation of all age groups & it is widely spread geographically. It is good reading for those interested in LGBT stories.
Best Bi Short Stories contains the following stories:
Dual Citizenship by Storm Grant
Alone, As Always by Jenny Corvette
Companions by Kate Durre
Pennies in the Well by Rob Barton
The Decision by Ammy Achenbach
Coyote Takes a Trip by Deborah Miranda
The Lottery by Florence Ivy
Angels Dance by James Williams
The Idiom of Orchids by Camille Thomas
Mother Knows Best by Charles Bright
“…Leave a Light on for Ya” by Gretchen Turner
Dragon’s Daughter by Cecilia Tan
Pride/Prejudice by Ann Herendeen
Challenger Deep by Kathleen Bradean
Mr. Greene by Ours M. Hugh
Art Making by Kate Evans
Friends and Neighbours by Jacqueline Applebee
Memory Lane by Sheela Lambert
Naked in the World by Geer Austin
Alex the Dragon by Jan Steckel
Face to Face by J.R. Yussuf
Xessex by Katherine Forrest
Inland Passage by Jane Rule
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K...
July 5, 2014
Really lovely collection of stories. Deep variety of narrators. I especially loved Face to Face by JR Yussuf and Challenger Deep by Kathleen Bradean.
December 6, 2015
2014 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
February 5, 2016
This collection of 23 short stories in a number of genres and themes features bi-sexual characters that go well beyond the stereotypes.
June 27, 2021
There were a lot of different short stories of various genres included in this collection, but I am sad to say that they were definitely NOT the best of anything.... in any case, I cannot imagine this is the best bi authors can do, and I am quite disappointed how this collection turned out.
Frankly, most of the stories included here were not particularly well-written, and the bi rep is very one-dimensional and revolves around sex a lot, thus supporting a lot of harmful bi stereotypes, which I just cannot make myself accept.
To be fair, a few of these stories were really good and I enojoyed reading them, but, unfortunately, the great majority was just not worth my while...
Frankly, most of the stories included here were not particularly well-written, and the bi rep is very one-dimensional and revolves around sex a lot, thus supporting a lot of harmful bi stereotypes, which I just cannot make myself accept.
To be fair, a few of these stories were really good and I enojoyed reading them, but, unfortunately, the great majority was just not worth my while...
January 7, 2021
Some of the stories were great, some didn’t hold my attention.
June 15, 2021
DNF
I can't anymore, a lot of the stories are very badly written and can't get myself to continue anymore
I can't anymore, a lot of the stories are very badly written and can't get myself to continue anymore
September 11, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
August 1, 2014
Galley copy provided free of charge by NetGalley in exchange for review.
This book features a wide variety of short stories featuring bi characters. They are all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, in time periods ranging from historical (Civil War and earlier) to the 1960s to contemporary and futuristic settings. Some of the stories left me wondering "What just happened here?", as I was uncertain if the character was hallucinating or dreaming or having a psychotic episode. Most refreshingly, these stories focused less on eroticism and more on getting inside the head and relationships of bi characters. Each character seemed to defy the demand of society that they identify as gay or straight by embracing their nature.
My only complaint: that there weren't more stories. Many of these would have expanded quite well to be fully developed on their own as a book (especially the one set during the Civil War). A truly marvelous addition to an under-served and oft-ignored demographic of the GLBTQ community.
This book features a wide variety of short stories featuring bi characters. They are all ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, in time periods ranging from historical (Civil War and earlier) to the 1960s to contemporary and futuristic settings. Some of the stories left me wondering "What just happened here?", as I was uncertain if the character was hallucinating or dreaming or having a psychotic episode. Most refreshingly, these stories focused less on eroticism and more on getting inside the head and relationships of bi characters. Each character seemed to defy the demand of society that they identify as gay or straight by embracing their nature.
My only complaint: that there weren't more stories. Many of these would have expanded quite well to be fully developed on their own as a book (especially the one set during the Civil War). A truly marvelous addition to an under-served and oft-ignored demographic of the GLBTQ community.
October 16, 2014
Full disclosure: My story "Alex the Dragon" is included in this volume. As with many anthologies, the quality of the writing in this one is highly variable. However, it is still a groundbreaking collection and badly needed. My favorite story was Cecilia Tan's very fine "Dragon's Daughter." I very much hope editor Sheela Lambert follows up her magnificent achievement with an anthology of bi poetry.
Want to read
July 24, 2014I got an ARC of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2017
A couple strong stories but the majority are under developed.
May 1, 2019
An interesting exploration of characters who are normally stereotyped, or more often ignored. The large amount of stories ensures that there will be something for every reader, and if you do not like a story, simply skip it. I enjoyed reading a few at a time, and putting it down. With short stories such as these I find that is best. Good for when you have a few minutes, but will be other wise occupied soon.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews