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Genres

Wolves and Werewolves

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Thought we’d cycle back to a popular topic in paranormal circles. Werewolves go way back in popular mythology, but like many other creatures, they have evolved from night terrors to responsible members of society – see Teen Wolf, True Blood, Twilight, and others. So let’s try to separate myth from, well, myth. And throw in a little nature too. How do our modern-day werewolves differ from “traditional” wolf shifters out of fairy tales? How about from the werewolves of the thirties and forties, or sixties and seventies? From “real” wolves? And how would you freshen up the werewolf myth to … Read more

Announcement: Prosperity, by Alexis Hall

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Alexis Hall has a new steampunk book out called Prosperity: A breathtaking tale of passion and adventure in the untamed skies! Prosperity, 1863: a lawless skytown where varlets, chancers, and ne’er-do-wells risk everything to chase a fortune in the clouds, and where a Gaslight guttersnipe named Piccadilly is about to cheat the wrong man. This mistake will endanger his life . . . and his heart. Thrill! As our hero battles dreadful kraken above Prosperity. Gasp! As the miracles of clockwork engineering allow a dead man to wreak his vengeance upon the living. Marvel! At the aerial escapades of the … Read more

Paying Markets for LGBT Fiction

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Today’s topic is from QSFer Bob Hole: “Paying markets we may not have heard of, especially short stories.” There are so many great publishers out there doing journals and anthologies and novellas and full-length novels in LGBT genres. I’d nominate the new MCB Quarterly from our own Angel Martinez and friends. So what other great paying venues do y’all know about for LGBT work?

Announcement: Precious Metals, by L.A. Witt

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L.A. Witt has a new steampunk book releasing today: For Constable Paul Benson of the North-West Mounted Police, monotony is a blessing. As a provision inspector below the Chilkoot Pass during the Klondike Gold Rush, he’s seen miserable conditions and gold fever turn civilized prospectors into madmen. Joseph Starling is on his way to the Klondike to find the men who savagely beat him, murdered his eldest brother, and stole their mining machine. They’ll kill his youngest brother if Joseph doesn’t operate the machine for them—it won’t work without him. With time running out, Joseph must purchase an expensive ticket … Read more

Lesbian Colony on Mars?

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Andrew Sullivan makes the case for women on Mars. I can already see the lesbian plot bunnies proliferating: Last year, Kate Greene and five teammates simulated living conditions on Mars for a NASA-funded project (the experiment actually took place on a volcano in Hawaii). What she noticed while collecting and managing data: Week in and week out, the three female crew members expended less than half the calories of the three male crew members. Less than half! We were all exercising roughly the same amount–at least 45 minutes a day for five consecutive days a week–but our metabolic furnaces were … Read more

Mirror, Mirror

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Our topic today comes from QSFer Rebecca Cohen: “I do like parallel dimensions and alternative universes.” Oooh, me too. I still remember that Star Trek episode, Mirror Mirror, where everyone had an evil version of themselves in an alternate universe. Or the Phantom Zone from the Superman comics. Or the paths of the Silfen in Peter Hamilton’s Commonwealth series. So how about you? What are some of your favorite “alternate Earth / parallel dimension” stories? And how could we use them to explore LGBT life?

Announcement: Untouchable, by LV Lloyd

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QSFer LV Lloyd has a new sci fi book out: Untouchable is a story about two men, Alan Stewart, First Lieutenant on the space ship Qatar and Captain Robin Lang of the Huan Police Force. Stewart and Lang have been best friends since their days in the Space Academy, despite the fact that Stewart is gay and Lang has a wife and son, Max. However Max is growing up and their friendship is threatened when Lang believes Stewart has designs on his son. When Max, now an adult and a recent recruit to the Qatar, is assaulted in a gay … Read more

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

Announcement: Down Under, by Tam Ames

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QSFer Tam Ames has a new sci fi novel out: The year 2089 finds Australia split between east and west, with a wall to ensure the east stays safe. College student Aiden Taylor is traveling from Perth to Sydney to see Men at Work, who have been revived after cryogenic freezing. Regrettably, only days into his trip, his moped is stolen—and then he meets a naked man from the east. The man turns out to be Matthew King, who offers Aiden a ride—no strings attached—all the way to Sydney. When another attack occurs the following night, Aiden discovers Matthew’s impossible … 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