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Genres

Announcement: Mon Trois, by Michael Mandrake

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Mon Trois

QSFer Michael Mandrake has a new paranormal book out: One final test for Ryland Durand… Ryland Durand has slayed his vampire father Gren’s killer, overcome his own fears of being in the public eye, and currently seeks to further his writing career by putting his work in print. Now however, he faces yet another challenge; convincing Dale Mooney and Ryder to be his eternal lovers. Ryder has been at his right hand since day one, but feels Dale Mooney is infringing on their close relationship spanning over three centuries. Ryder asks for Valios’ assistance to get Dale Mooney out of … Read more

Serious vs. Humorous Sci Fi, Fantasy and Paranormal

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Pill Bugs of Time large

Today’s topic was inspired by Angel: I’d say most speculative fiction is deadly-serious – in sci fi, will this planet continue to support us? Will we get to the stars? In fantasy, will we be able to defeat the evil-warlock and save the damsel (hey, what’s the male version of damsel?) in distress? In paranormal, will the wolves or vampires win the fight for world domination? But sometimes I want something a little lighter. :) So how about you? Do you like your spec fic deadly serious, as a writer or reader? Or are you more of a Hitchhiker’s Guide … Read more

Announcement: Discovery, QSF’s Second Annual Flash Fiction Contest

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Discovery

Queer Sci Fi has a new speculative fiction anthology out: It’s hard to tell a story in just 300 words. But somehow we inspired more than a hundred writers to give it a try, with some amazing results collected here for your pleasure. The rules are simple enough. Write a complete story—either sci fi, fantasy, or paranormal. Make sure it has LGBT characters and/or an LGBT vibe. And do it all with just 300 words. The stories in this volume run the gamut, from platypus shifters to alien slug monsters, from carnival horror stories to haunting stories of ships with … Read more

The Sci of Scifi: Integrating LGBT Characters

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I wish there wasn’t a gay fiction category. There are many reasons people read and write fiction of any genre with gay characters. My favorite type of story is not the one where the focus is on a character being gay. I love the story where the main character(s) just happen to be gay. Being gay shouldn’t be considered a character flaw so it stands to reason it shouldn’t be what defines a character. I think it’s great when a book/TV show/movie has characters that also happen to be gay. Their sexual orientation doesn’t need to be the story line. The … Read more

Announcement: Iron and Ether, by Gus Li

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Iron and Ether

DSPP author and QSFer Gus Li has a new Fantasy book out: Sasha was born to, and has always defined himself by, the secret assassins’ Order of the Crimson Scythe. He chose the love of Yarrow L’Estrella and Duncan Purefroy over his duty to his clan, forfeiting his last mission and allowing Prince Garith to live. Now, the order—previously Sasha’s family—has branded him a traitor. He’s marked, and that means the brethren of the Crimson Scythe won’t stop until Sasha is dead. Garith’s twin kingdoms balance on the brink of war, and all three men have reasons to help the … Read more

ARTICLE: New Sesotho-named dinosaur from South Africa

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Discovery is perhaps my favorite element of SciFi writing. So when we discover something NEW about our environment, a whole new realm of possible story ideas peeks out from behind the prehistoric fern fronds. I love that this article shines a light on an environment that paleo-research has not traditionally been funded to explore. New Sesotho-named dinosaur from South Africa South African and Argentinian palaeontologists have discovered a new 200-million-year-old dinosaur from South Africa, and named it Sefapanosaurus, from the Sesotho word “sefapano.” See the full article here

Announcement: Deep Plunge, by Rory Ni Coileain

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Deep Plunge

QSFer Rory Ni Coileain has a new Fantasy book out: More than two thousand years ago, the healer Lochlann Doran was the first Fae to leave the Realm after the Sundering of the Fae and human worlds. After centuries of wandering the human world, seeking his SoulShare, he has spent all his magick, and lost all his hope. Garrett Templar is the star pole dancer at Purgatory, the hottest gay nightclub in Washington, D.C. If his past hadn’t taught him the futility of hope, his present surely would; HIV-positive since age 18, his illness has suddenly and inexplicably mutated into … Read more

Discussion: Are We Over Shifters?

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Today’s discussion topic comes from QSFer Jenn Burke: “Are stories of shifters overdone? What are your favourite/least favourite aspects about this trope? How would could it be refreshed?” Shifters saw a rapid rise to prominence in the paranormal genre in the last ten years, riding the popularity of Twilight and True Blood along with vampires. Suddenly everything was about shifters – wolf shifters, cat shifters, even one of my all0time favorites, cuttlefish shifters. But the tide seems to be receding now, and many are predicting the demise of the sub-genre. But is everyone wrong? Are we due for a resurgence … Read more

NEWS: Stonewall Inn Declared NYC Landmark

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This may not be SciFi, but it’s so incredibly important to the LGBTQ world. BREAKING: Stonewall Inn Declared NYC Landmark New York City’s landmarks commission today voted to grant official status to the Stonewall Inn, the Greenwich Village bar often credited as the birthplace of the modern LGBT rights movement. The vote was unanimous, according to the Associated Press. This marks the first time any site in New York City has been designated a landmark because of its significance in LGBT history. See the full article here

Announcement: Wounded, Vol. 1, by Amy Lane

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Wounded

DSP Publications author and QSFer Amy Lane has a new Fantasy book out: Cory fled the foothills to deal with the pain of losing Adrian, and Green watched her go. Separately, they could easily grieve themselves to death, but when an old enemy of Green’s brings them back together, they can no longer hide from their grief—or their love for each other. But Cory’s grieving has cut her off from the emotional stability that’s the source of her power, and Green’s worry for her has left them both weak. Cory’s strength comes from love, and she finds that when she’s … Read more