Qspec Sampler 2007

by Don Sakers (Editor)

A celebration of queer speculative fiction. In these pages are writers from across the spectrum of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror. We have big names and small, much-published veterans and promising beginners, Lammy and Spectrum Award nominees and winners, past Gaylaxicon Guests of Honor, and fresh new names. Within these covers are science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction; essays, short stories, and excerpts from longer works; drama, erotica, and comedy. All brought to you by QSpec, a consortium of writers of queer speculative fiction. Includes pieces by Antonio Ruffini, Billie Aul, Brian Frank, Caro Soles, Catherine Lundoff, Don Sakers, Joel A. Nichols, L-J Baker, Laura J. Underwood, Lawrence Schimel, Melissa Scott, and Selina Rosen.

132 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Don Sakers was launched the same month as Sputnik One, so it was perhaps inevitable that he should become a science fiction writer. A Navy brat by birth, he spent his childhood in such far-off lands as Japan, Scotland, Hawaii, and California. In California, rather like a latter-day Mowgli, he was raised by dogs.

As a writer and editor, he has explored the thoughts of sapient trees (The Leaves of October), brought ghosts to life (Carmen Miranda's Ghost is Haunting Space Station Three, Baen 1989), and beaten the "Cold Equations" scenario ("The Cold Solution," Analog 7/91, voted best short story of the year.)

Sakers is a member of the CoastLine SF Writers Group. He has taught sf-writing through Howard Community College.

In 2009, Don took up the position of book reviewer for Analog Science Ficiton & Fact, where he writes the "Reference Library" column in every issue.

In his day job, Don works for the Public Library.

Don lives at Meerkat Meade in suburban Baltimore with his spouse, costumer Thomas Atkinson.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd,of course, love to rate this higher seeing as I'm a contributor to it, but I found that formatting errors and issues with the presentation really took away from the work. The stories are generally worth reading but it's a struggle to get through. Here's hoping they get to do another edition and clean up the problems with this one. :-(

[Joel Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a story in here, so it's cheating to review it. But check it out!