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Fantasy

Announcement: No Light in August, by R.L. Robinson & Pedro Elefante

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QSFer RL Robinson has a book of short stories out: From depression era America, to fantasy worlds similar and yet different from our own. Journey into the realm of the Yellow King. As There are many roads to Carcosa, which one will you take? Featuring eight short stories and two novelettes inspired by the King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers, as well as Lovecraftian elements, ‘No Light in August’ also includes illustrations by Brazilian comic artist Pedro Elefante. Excerpt Whent looked up, startled from his cleaning work as three men banged the door open and strode into the tap … Read more

Where Do I Submit My Non-Romance Story?

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Today’s topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: “who are the best publishers to submit gay sci-fi to? My work is not particularly romantic, but the protagonists are gay.” Hmmmm, I think we’re at the beginning of a potential expansion of LGBT stories in speculative fiction (hence this blog) that do not rely on romance as the principle plot driver. I’ve said for a while that I want to see more LGBT stories in sci fi and fantasy, especially, that are driven by the genre and not the romance. Not that there can’t be some romance or relationship included. I’d … Read more

Review: Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders

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Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders by Samuel R. Delany reviewed by J. Comer As a fan of Samuel R. Delany’s works and as a teacher who has assigned one of his memoirs to classes, I was pleased to see this novel. Readers may know of his Dhalgren, Delany’s 1973 novel, or of Stars in My Pockets Like Grains of Sand, a story which affected me deeply. As his earlier work did, this novel challenges its readers. Readers of Delany may well be familiar with pornography, and perhaps with the strange “anti-pornography” which Delany invented in works such … Read more

Announcement: A Call to Arms, by Shiriluna Nott and SaJa H.

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QSFer Shiraluna Nott has a new Fantasy out with Saja H.: War is brewing on the eastern border of Arden. The shaky truce between Arden and the neighboring realm of Shiraz has all but dissolved, and both sides are building their forces for battle. But in the quiet farming community of Willowdale, the rumors of war are the least of young Gibben Nemesio’s concerns. With both parents dead and two younger brothers to care for, Gib doesn’t have time to focus on anything besides keeping food on the table. Everything changes the day he receives a conscription notice and must … Read more

Announcement: Prince of Faith, by Belinda McBride

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QSFer Belinda McBride has a new book out today, the third in her Uncommon Whore Fantasy series: Held captive in a whorehouse, Markus Dayspring wakes every morning with a thirst for revenge, and collapses every night with a prayer for strength. He lives on in spite of deadly addictions and a crippling, shameful secret. When he’s rescued by a man from his past, his reawakened love threatens to crush his damaged soul. Caius also has a secret, one that could ultimately kill him. But his vow to rescue Markus is stronger than guilt, fear and even his loyalty to King … Read more

World Building Tricks and Tools

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Today’s topic comes from QSFer Jim Comer Conlangs: “World building.” We’ve talked about this before, but it’s one of my favorites – especially for sci fi or fantasy. Today I wanna break it down a little. As a whole, this generally means creating a convincing, immersive experience – when it’s done well, you feel like you are inside the author’s world, and no matter how strange or futuristic (or fantastic), it works. Some of my favorite sci fi and fantasy worlds for their immersive qualities are (in no particular order) Majipoor, Pern, Middle Earth, Dune, The Land, and Shannara (ok, … Read more

Weird Westerns

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Today’s topic comes from QSFer Cynthia Ward: “LGBT Weird Westerns? I would think Weird Western fantasies of any subgenre would cover a lot of WW territory? (supernatural horror, dark fantasy, urban fantasy, magic realism, occult, high fantasy, steampunk fantasy, fantastic bizarro, fantastique, fairytale, fantasy surrealism, etc).” OK, I’m game. One of my favorite underrated sci fi movies of the last ten years was Cowboys and Aliens. I was hooked from the moment I heard the titles, and I may have been the only one, but I thought the movie was awesome. Then, of course, there’s Firefly, the ultimate Western in space, … Read more

Announcement: Seidman, by James Erich

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QSFer James Erich has a re-release – an historic YA Fantasy novel out: In Viking Age Iceland, where boys are expected to grow into strong farmers and skilled warriors, there is little place for a sickly twelve-year-old boy like Kol until he catches the eye of a seið-woman—a sorceress—and becomes her apprentice. Kol travels to the sorceress’s home, where her grandson, Thorbrand, takes Kol under his wing. Before long Kol discovers something else about himself that is different—something else that sets him apart as unmanly: Kol has fallen in love with another boy. But the world is changing in ways that threaten those … Read more

Turning History Gay

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Today is Fantasy day on the blog and at the QSF discussions page on Facebook. Today I’m in an Arthurian mood. The King Arthur legend was put together from a series of historical facts and stories at a certain point in time, so it’s not really accurate to call it “history”. Nevertheless, it’s historical in that it does reflect a certain point in time in what’s now the UK. But what if Arthur had been gay, and had betrayed Guinevere with Lancelot instead of the other way around? We have a rich tradition of Fantasy novels based on history (or … Read more

Announcement: Take to the Sky, by Gregory Jonathan Scott

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Hello Everyone! Check out the beautiful cover below for Take To The Sky by Gregory Jonathan Scott. Today is the Official Release Day. Description An angelic romance that’s Powerful, Suspenseful, Sexy, Uniquely Erotic, and Romantic. In a secret Michigan Laboratory, an experiment developed a superior creation that was anticipated but not expected. He was the ultimate conception, a core life-being merged with avian. He was born with a gift, a rare one; the ability to fly. His wings instinctively brought out the urge in him to fly, and Kellan’s need to be free became his obsession. When the dark, swirling clouds … Read more