Queereaders discussion

This is for discussion of Science Fiction only. There will be a separate folder for Fantasy. Titles do not have to be exclusively LGBT.

C.J. Cherryh is one of my all-time favorite writers and her series, The Foreigner Universe, is a special experience for lovers of exquisite world-building and complex charaterization and plots.

Released on 5 April 2011, was the 12th book in the series, "Betrayer." I've been waiting for what seems like forever, though it's only been a year or so.

I haven't bought my copy yet, I will tonight IF I finish my coursework today. I told myself no rewards until I take care of necessities.

I really enjoyed Heavy Time (Company Wars, #1), Hellburner, and Downbelow Station. I believe they are the first three books in the Company Wars series.

Have you read Cyteen?

I've read all of C.J's books, and actually am a little on the obsessive side of it. I collect multiple copies of each book as often as possible so that I can have all covers available, except perhaps the newer ones. They don't appeal to me as much as the unique drawings for DAW editions.

Although I love her science fiction as well, I would say I am a deeper fan of her fantasies, like the Fortress series, the Morgaine books, The Faded Sun Trilogy, though the last two are combinations of both.

Anyone else read any of Elizabeth Lynn's books likeA Different Light?

I read it and loved it when it first came out and reread it maybe five or seven years ago and was very pleased to find it aged well.

I read it about four years ago and don't remember a whole lot, but I remember liking how relationships were portrayed and the fact that bisexuality wasn't such a big deal. I haveThe Sardonyx Net around somewhere and need to read that too.

I remember I liked The Sardonyx Net when I read it in the early 80's, but I remember nothing about it. I guess it's time to reread it!

@#^%@&- damned dialup. I wrote a masterpiece about Cherryh yesterday and lost it due to an "unknown error" short for your connection is too slow.

She is my all time favorite SFF author. Betrayer came on Wednesday and will be next up. I'm in love with Bren [sigh].

I'm excited about the new Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction collection that Brit Mandelo edited.

Kernos wrote: She is my all time favorite SFF author."

I was so in love with her. So many years ago. I think I need to revisit.

Just finished This Universe of Men by Greg Logan It's not bad for a single author short story sci-fi anthology. Check out my full review for more details http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

You guys are reading some really interesting stuff! Most of the SF I'm reading these days is YA. Paolo Bacigalupi's stuff in both YA (Ship Breaker, The Drowned Cities) and adult (The Wind-Up Girl) is top notch.

Sarah Pi wrote: "I'm excited about the new Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction collection that Brit Mandelo edited."

Philip José Farmer explored fluid sexuality, generally aliens with humans in his early works.

@j. Agreed about Bacigalupi's novels. I've enjoyed them all.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but if anyone's interested in scifi/dystopian gay fiction with d/s themes, the Administration Series by Manna Francis is amazing.

I have Mind Fuck, but have not read it yet. The description sounds like modern American politics :-( What does d/s mean?

Hm, it didn't really remind me of American politics... For one thing, in this society torture is the approved method of interrogation. And the author is British, so I don't think it's meant to be a commentary. Also, it more a crime novel than about politics, though that does crop up more as the series goes on.

The sex is Dom/sub. Or maybe it's more S&M. I don't know, pain and control are big components.

So that's not everyone's thing, but the series is really very good.

CJ Cherryh is great. I've only read Cyteen, Regenesis(Loved it) and may have read Downbelow Station - don't remember, but one complaint I have is that her books are extremely long. Judging by the reviews on Amazon, many people are put off by that.

I've not heard that complaint before. If I am enjoying a book, the longer the better. And CJ Cherryh is an all time favorite author.

Sarah Pi wrote: "I'm excited about the new Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction collection that Brit Mandelo edited."

You just made my night! I was looking for new sci-fi like this and lo and behold! Your post happened to fall into my lap :) Thanks!

I love C.J. Cherryh too.

For exciting military sf with strong female characters, I also suggest David Weber.

I just read Cherryh's newest, book #14 in the Foreigner series, Protector. And re-read The Faded Sun series>/a>, part of the Alliance-Union Universe. She never disappoints!

I just came back from the CHLA conference, and because the movie is coming out, there was a lot of talk about Ender's Game. Some people were calling it YA SF, some called it Children's SF. What do you guys think--is it a YA book, or Children's?

I'd consider Ender's Game adult fiction for the ethical/moral questions it asks (and the rest of the series). YAs would enjoy it more superficially. I don't think a lot of children would other than the more advance child readers.

I expect the movie will be teen oriented.

About the movie— Orson Scott Card, Anti-Gay Author, Responds To 'Ender's Game' Boycott Campaign

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07...

Kernos wrote: "About the movie— Orson Scott Card, Anti-Gay Author, Responds To 'Ender's Game' Boycott Campaign

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07..."

So he is asking for tolerance now that money is involved? *raises eyebrow*

Cory Doctorow whom I respect wrote on his blog about ahy he's not supporting the boycott. It's something to think about:

http://boingboing.net/2013/07/09/why-...

I respect Cory Doctorow, too. But I'm not going to see Orson Scott Card's movie. I'm not going to picket it, either. I don't want my money going in NOM's pockets. I'm certainly not blacklisting it, though. It annoys me that Doctorow seems to use boycott and blacklist interchangeably.

I'll see Ender, but only when I can buy a used DVD.

I hated the book, so I've no plans to see the movie.

I agree with Julia, boycott and blacklist seems to be two different things. Boycott is just letting our money talk and it is a form of activism. I've been a vegetarian for over three years so you could say I've been boycotting meat for that amount of time (for various reasons). No one is saying Card shouldn't be hired but that those who do not agree that their money (or at least a percentage of it) ending up in NOMs pocket should have a choice about how they spend their money. A call for boycott seems to be just an informational campaign so that consumers can make an informed decision.

I look at it this way. It's my money and if I choose not to spend it on/at places like chick-fil-a or Cracker Barrel or Ender's Game because I don't like their stance on issues that matter to me, it's my choice. Call it a boycott if you will.

I've posted the first three chapters of my upcoming scifi novel Sons of Taldra at Goodreads and plan to slowly post six more. The cast is racially diverse and largely gay. Please see what you think.

The people of Valchondria face danger from one of their protectors and from an alien race of shapeshifters.

Sons of Taldra, Chapter 1 Draft

Sons of Taldra, Chapter 2 Draft

Sons of Taldra, Chapter 3 Draft

2013's best in LGBT sci fi should include The Stars Change by Mary Anne Mohanraj, Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block, and The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson.

Hey, guess what! Bisexual Books Tumblr blog just published my guest review of Mary Anne Mohanraj's sci fi novel at http://bisexual-books.tumblr.com/

It's about twice the length of my Goodreads review.

I can't be objective because I read them first years ago when I was young, and they were an outlet for me in my confusion but I just loved the Saga of the Renunciates series by Marion Zimmer Bradley (The Shattered Chain,Thendara House, and City of Sorcery).

I like MZB, but have not read this series. Thanks for the heads-up.

I just picked this up from the library, haven't read it yet, but since it hasn't been mentioned here I will, The Stone Gods by Jeanette Winterson.

Kernos wrote: "I like MZB, but have not read this series. Thanks for the heads-up."

My pleasure Kernos! The Renunciates saga centers around the story of the Free Amazons of Darkover. Several lesbian characters and relationships plus, for me, a great story.

So far my favorite MZB books have been the incomparable The Catch Trap and The Mists of Avalon.

I found The Saga of the Renunciates in 1 volume for a song :-)

Kernos wrote: "So far my favorite MZB books have been the incomparable The Catch Trap and The Mists of Avalon.

I found The Saga of the Renunciates in 1 volume for a song :-)"

I loved The Mists of Avalon as well! The Saga of the Renunciates isn't quite as well crafted as that, but it's one of those series that despite its flaws I just love reading. Hope you enjoy it! I hadn't heard of The Catch Trap - now I have a new book to read too :)

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/books/...

A short science fiction story by Alexander Chee.

Greg wrote: "I can't be objective because I read them first years ago when I was young, and they were an outlet for me in my confusion but I just loved the Saga of the Renunciates series by Marion Zimmer Bradle..."

Marion Zimmer Bradley was my first introduction to queer fiction. I loved many of the Darkover books, including the Renunciates series and The Heritage of Hastur.

Susinok wrote: "Greg wrote: "I can't be objective because I read them first years ago when I was young, and they were an outlet for me in my confusion but I just loved the Saga of the Renunciates series by Marion ..."

Yeah, Marion Zimmer Bradley is great.

MZB also sexually abused her children, which exceeds "your fave is problematic" status. I don't think her work can have a place in the feminist sci fi canon.

Levi wrote: "MZB also sexually abused her children, which exceeds "your fave is problematic" status. I don't think her work can have a place in the feminist sci fi canon."

Evidence?

Levi, I was unaware of that. Thank you for making me aware. Kernos, there's actually a lot of evidence online that MZBs daughter accused her (after her mother was dead) of molesting her from the ages of three to twelve. There's also some disturbing testimony at http://www.sff.net/people/stephen.gol... by MZB in a deposition about her ex-husband's ephebephilia (sexual preference for young teenagers). She says that a 14- or 15-year-old boy was old enough to consent to sex with her then-30-year-old husband.

A few years back, when I was reviewing books rather than writing them, I reviewed the first LGBT themed sci-fi novel by then debut author Michael Offut, 'Slipstream'. Though I'm not generally a sci-fi fan, I enjoyed the book. After reading the incredibly lengthy tome that it was - with the requisite cliff hanger to urge me to buy book 2 - I was left with several unanswered questions that I felt the text just didn't address. I contacted Michael Offut and got quite the education in the ways of traditional publishing.

Offut's original submission for 'Slipstream' approached 150,000 words. His publisher made him cut the work to 100,000 and eliminate a lot of what was felt to be unnecessary detail. Some of those details were where my unanswered questions lay. Michael promised that book 2 "Oculus" (published in 2012) would deliver some answers and it did. It also led to another cliffhanger.

Offut's work is well worth a read if you're an LGBT fiction and sci-fi fan. Unfortunately, book 3 in the series hasn't been released as the author has changed focus to another LGBT/fantasy series. Hopefully he'll finish the third and supposedly final installment soon.

Just linking to the book Anne discusses: Slipstream by Michael Offutt

Is it very YA, Anne? That can put me off.
I wonder whether the publisher is also responsible for the cliffhangers. I do not like them. Stories like these just make me wish I could read the author's original work...

Levi and Jan, I've been away for a while and didn't see your comments until now. Since then, I saw an article about the whole abuse controversy surrounding Marion Zimmer Bradley. I'd had no idea about any of it when I posted. I don't know how much of it is true, but at the absolute minimum, she had incredibly bad judgement to the point of culpability. Quite likely, it was much worse than that. The evidence is quite damning, especially some of her own statements in court. I can't believe some of the things she said - just awful. Much as I've enjoyed some of her books in the past, I was incredibly disturbed, and for my own part, I don't think I could enjoy her books in quite the same way anymore.

I'm Benson C. Satterfield and my new book just came out (10/15/18)

Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFWM36N

In the darkness of space there’s a planet whose name is synonymous with death. Tales from long ago speak of a plague that kills young and old, a killer of brutal efficiency. The planet Surrey may be the undoing of newly recruited Special Judiciary Agent Riley.

Just a few months after Vanessa’s betrayal, Riley is sent to a space station in orbit of Surrey. Someone has been dipping into the armory and making a killing on the black market. With an unwanted guest in tow Riley has to track down who on the station is the arms dealer, but an unscheduled trip down to the plague-ridden planet turns her investigation into a fight for survival.

Can Riley make it off the planet before contracting the plague? How does this all tie into the missing weapons? It’s a race against time to answer these questions and more in this action packed continuation of Riley’s saga to find herself.