Kicking off 31 queer SFF books, 31 years, 31 days tomorrow! Some classics, some hidden gems, some is flawed/dated stuff I still think is worth reading. All I'd give at least a high B. Will post a comment, a blurb, publication info, SFF award noms, original & recent covers, & link to buy if in print.
Comments
https://bsky.app/profile/dreddieclark.bsky.social/post/3kw6cbwgc7p2t
1993: In The Garden of Dead Cars by Sybil Claiborne
Grim post mutated-HIV apocalyptic story of a society in which authoritarian govt criminalises sex. Slightly dated but still well written, interesting social speculation.
(very out of print)
Surreal modern day fantasy where middle aged woman lives breaks out of midlife crisis by turning into a young, horny gay man. *Not* the queerest thing about the book. Holds up surprisingly well to a 2025 re-read.
https://openroadmedia.com/ebook/larque-on-the-wing/9781453248461
The mythic LA of Block’s Weetzie Bat books is something special; surreal, fantastic, oddly grounded. This, the story of Dirk’s early life, was 1 of the 1st gay-centred YA novels I read. Admirably unafraid to challenge.
https://www.harpercollins.com/products/baby-be-bop-francesca-lia-block?variant=32115088228386
Scott spent the 90s filling midlists w/ great queer SF; this is 1 of my faves. Mix of cyberpunk (digital ecology) & far-future space opera (asteroid mining & space pirates) w/ all-queer leads. Badly underread.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1396431
Mythic queered British history. The militant gender neutrality messes w/ expectations more than you might expect (for me more than the widespread bisexuality) & political & religious fantasy shenanigans v well done.
https://astrapublishinghouse.com/product/the-stone-prince-9781101666494/
It's a pity Fiona Patton stopped publishing.
Brilliant SF worldbuilding and a really interesting exploration of gender, fluidity, & queerness in the person of its main character, Janna/Jan. McHugh’s oeuvre isn’t large, but all of it is excellent, & this is one of her best.
(*shamefully* out of print)