Some of the most exciting LGBTQ+ collections lately are those coming out in speculative fiction. In the face of the extreme actions being taken across the country and beyond to suppress and censor queer voices and works, sometimes it's in genres that already imagine different futures and worlds where queer creativity and imagination can flourish. This month we're adding two new anthologies to the library focused both on boosting and highlighting LGBTQ+ experiences and authors.
We'll begin with It Gets Even Better: Stories of Queer Possibility, edited by Isabela Oliveira and Jed Sabin, which seeks to imagine futures and worlds where queerness isn't defined by tragedy. Where characters are able to reach for acceptance, connection, and expression. Though some of the stories can be grim in places, the collection as a whole focuses on joy, triumph, and queer defiance in the face of those seeking queer erasure and suppression. From the publisher:
"These stories are about identity, relationships, and community. They're about hope, acceptance, affirmation, and joy. And most of all, in a time when uncertainty feels inescapable and overwhelming, they're about taking one another by the hand and choosing together to embrace the unknown. The possibilities are endless. This anthology is full of uplifting, affirming short stories about queer possibility by an outstanding lineup of speculative fiction authors including Charlie Jane Anders, Zen Cho, Amy Griswold, Nibedita Sen, Merc Fenn Wolfmoor, and S.L. Huang."
Next up is We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021, edited by L.D. Lewis and Charles Payseur, the second in a series of anthologies seeking to find the best LGBTQ+ short fiction from across the publishing world. Like the first volume, which is already in our collection, this anthology brings together a cross-section of queer expression, including stories that inspire, warn, and hit right in the feels. From the publisher:
"This second volume in Neon Hemlock's yearly series celebrating the wonder and breadth of queer speculative fiction contains stories of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and many spaces in between. Edited by LD Lewis and series editor Charles Payseur. Enjoy stories from C.L. Clark, H. Pueyo, Aliette de Bodard, Watson Neith, Sam J. Miller, Laurel Beckley, Alexandra Seidel, LA Knight, Bogi Takács, Fargo Tbakhi, Ann LeBlanc, Cheri Kamei, Sharang Biswas, Jen Brown & Shingai Njeri Kagunda."
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