Dates! Volume 2

Dates! #2

by Zora Gilbert (Editor), Cat Parra (Editor), A. D'Amico (Contributor)

Dates! An Anthology of Queer Historical Fiction Stories, #2

DATES is an anthology of queer historical fiction. In this exciting second volume, themed around the idea of progress, travel in time as far back as a drinking contest in Mesopotamia during Hammurabi's reign, or as recently as a small highway town in late-1950s USA.

Featuring the talents of 35 creators in 17 comics, 18 full-color illustrations, and 2 short prose stories, this 268-page, perfect-bound paperback book tells the story of queer people making change in their lives and their communities, throughout time and across the world.

Logo by Leigh Luna

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Queer, Anthologies, LGBT, Historical Fiction, Romance

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2017

Reviews

[charlotte, · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rep: male and female bi characters, gay characters, lesbian characters, male and female trans characters, non-white characters

there were fewer stories in this one than the first that stood out to me like !!!! but the overall quality was higher

[Mandy Szewczuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I loved the variety in culture and presentation, gender and sexuality. And happy endings! Delighted to have all happy endings, all kinds of happy. However, the quality of the writing/ art was up and down, with many stories feeling truncated rather than short. Still, a lovely little volume!

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll go look for Volume 1 for sure. so happy this exists & that I got it over the weekend at a books fest! 'no tragic endings' right there on the back, thank YOU. more of this, please. I'm very pleased.

my favourites: Wildflower Knights, Reflections of a Glassmaker, Kantha, Willow Marsh, Flowers in the Wind, La Estudiante, & Dolores & the Dollfaces, but really, I love them all. I'M SAD THAT THE COVER ITSELF ISN'T A STORY. I want that one! it's definitely why I even spotted this and picked it up in the first place because I was browsing so, so many books that day.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the first volume, a treasure trove of historical fiction comics and stories featuring queer characters. Best part...no tragedies!

There are three entries in this volume I really enjoyed, meaning I reread them many times.

‘Thaw’ by Kate Wellenstein is really sweet and the few illustrations by Juliana Pinho to accompany the prose are adorable as well.

‘Willow Marsh’ by Fydor Pavlov and M.McFerren is simply gorgeous. I fantasize about living in that time period so the artwork for this story is like viewing a waking dream.

‘Dolores and the Doll faces’ should totally be a show! Another great story and artwork that just lovingly shows off the time period.

Very excited for the release of volume 3!!!

Once again, thank you Cat Parra & Zora Gilbert!

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume really upped the writing game. I felt like there was a wider variety of stories and while some were more engaging than others, I really loved getting exposed to different time periods and cultures. The stories that stood out the most to me were The Ibex Tattoo by Gwen C. Katz and Flowers in the Wind by A. D'Amico. I loved the storytelling in Tattoo being the narrator and the vivid imagery that was written. Flowers literally had me crying at the end. I love Japanese culture so much, and the poem at the end was so moving--love, love, love it. I highly recommend this!

[Yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This queer historical art anthology was uplifting and beautiful. It has about 19 short comics and 13 standalone illustrations, most of it in black and white.

The stories chosen range from war time longing to domestic companionship. The vast majority focus on PoC through the ages and social status. They all represent personnal or community archivements, personnal wins with echoes still now.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 1 may have been a little wobbly, but Volume 2 stands on firmer ground. While not every story was perfect, the majority of them were polished. I felt more drawn in by this collection, and the art styles were more fine-tuned.

If you like queer historical fiction, graphic novels, and happy endings: read this book.

[emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! More substantial than the first in every way, with longer and better put together stories. Lots of genuinely lovely art and an abundance of illustrations. Good stuff.
I was going to lost my favorite stories, but I liked all of them! This volume is much more polished and impressive than the first one and I would confidently recommend it to just about anyone.

[Nushu Shri · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely group of very short and sweet stories that are perfect for a 5-minute read when you have time! I liked this anthology better than the first volume, honestly, because the stories in this volume seemed to include a little more plot before the ending. I also liked how both comics and and short fiction pieces were included.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked best about this was the diversity: characters who are ace, non-binary, trans, intersex, gay, lesbian, bisexual. Different cultures and time periods are represented. I liked this one better than volume 1!

I skipped the prose story.

[Aydin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorites:
- Wildflower Knights by Grace Park
- Attaulah and the Curse by Saf Davidson & Ahmara Smith
- Kantha by Effie Lee

But the hottest character was the pirate captain in "An Honest Living" by Erica Chan, and my favorite art was by Fyodor Pavlov for "Willow Marsh."

[Sara I · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology focuses on small, important acts spanning history and cultures. Delightful and absolutely needed and it was lovely to see such representation in such a beautiful variety of art styles.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet stories and artwork, spanning so many different time periods and settings. My only quibble is the variation in quality and length - some pieces ended really abruptly, for example. But overall, a really lovely read.

[Sanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of stories and several art styles. I'm so glad I backed this on Kickstarter.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this volume as well! Absolutely stunning work, and with such variety too! Heartfelt, fun, and gorgeous overall. Onto volume three!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kristyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Much. Diversity! I loved it.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really hit a groove with this one, so many good stories

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...

[Aian · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the range of queer & trans stories being shared!

realized i'm sorta meh about historical fiction but still appreciated reading this

[norah melden (death by tbr) · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this at a comic arts fest, worth every penny!!!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS IS QUEER HISTORICAL FICTION WHERE NOBODY DIES AND EVERYONE GETS A HAPPY ENDING.

*ahem*

so yeaaah these are anthologies of comics and some short fiction that's all historical, all queer, and all happy. I mean, there's conflict and problems and stuff, but nobody dies. It's not tragic. Everyone gets to be happy. And yeah, the quality is a little uneven and the stories are occasionally either confusing or hard to follow, but it's queer historical fiction where nobody dies and everybody gets a happy ending. I cried a lot. It's great.

[C.S. Malerich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first edition, this anthology is sweet and uplifting. I was impressed with the even wider breadth of geographic settings, historical periods, and families (biological and otherwise). The artwork seems to have been kicked up a notch. Particular stand out for me: "Ink Blot."

I include content warnings for myself, to aid me in my library job when I make recommendations.

CW: Sexual Themes, Explicit Sexual Content, War, Violence, Death/Illness, Religion, Left-Wing Politics

[Kristīne Vītola]

QPR and an asexual character (Arimas) in "the Ibex tattoo" by Gwen C. Katz
https://gwenckatz.com/books-and-games/
http://astorymostqueer.mischiefmedia....