Sponsored by our Summer Reading Pack Giveaway courtesy of Harlequin.com.
We’re giving away a Summer Reading Pack courtesy of Harlequin.com. The prize pack which includes the following titles: Sunrise on Half Moon Bay by Robyn Carr, The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne, The Summer of Sunshine and Margot by Susan Mallery, Heartbreaker by B.J. Daniels, Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan.
Well, this has sure been a week, hasn’t it? But we did it, shipmates! We made it to Friday. Drink some water. Stretch. Unclench your jaw. It’s Alex, with some news and important (if difficult) essays, and then a bunch of books by trans and nonbinary authors for your perusal.
Something that brought me a lot of joy this week: if I haven’t mentioned it recently, I’m a dedicated player of the game Destiny. The look forward to the coming content gave me happy chills. And started my Tuesday this week in an exciting way.
Looking for non-book things you can do to help in the quest for justice? blacklivesmatter.card.co
News and Views
I’m not going to get into Those Statements by She Who Shall Not Be Named, because I’m sad and angry and frankly? Incredibly tired. But here are a few things worth reading:
- Book Riot’s succinct statement.
- Kacen Callender (author of Queen of the Conquered) shares their deeply personal story over at Them.
- Gabrielle Bellot writes about transphobia and growing up with Harry Potter.
- All around good human Daniel Radcliffe responds over at the Trevor Project.
- Tamora Pierce was a balm to my soul today.
Bogi Takács has done a twitter thread of books by Black intersex authors.
The finalists for this year’s Sturgeon Award have been announced.
New short story from K.M. Szpara: We’re Here, We’re Here
E. Catherine Tobler wrote a short story about a gay fashion vampire: True in His Fashion
Charlie Jane Anders on: Everything is broken! What do I write about?
Soulstar (third book in the series C.L. Polk started with Witchmark) has a cover and I want it now!
Also, A Desolation Called Peace (sequel to A Memory Called Empire) has a cover and it’s gorgeous! (full disclosure: Arkady and I share an agent.)
Bill & Ted Face the Music has a first trailer now.
On Book Riot
This week’s SFF Yeah! is about Black women in SFF.
How A Wrinkle in Time got me through depression.
Give Me More Sirens in Fantasy
Enter before the end of the month and you could win a 1-year subscription to Audible or a $250 Barnes and Noble gift card.
Free Association Friday: Trans and Nonbinary SFF Showcase
For reasons that should be obvious, I want to shine a spotlight on books written by trans and non-binary authors. Here’s a selection that’s just the tip of the rainbow iceberg. (And don’t forget Kacen, to whom I linked above!)
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas – A trans boy named Yadriel accidentally summons the wrong ghost when he attempts to prove he’s a real Brujo… and then the ghost won’t leave.
Ardulum by J.S. Fields – Neek ekes out a living piloting a dilapidated transport, but her dreams are haunted by a traveling planet, Ardulum, which visited her people long ago and brought them art and technology before vanishing.
No Man of Woman Born by Ana Mardoll – A collection of short stories in which trans and nonbinary character subvert gendered prophecies.
Automaton by D.J. Goodman – In the near future, the creator of the first robot indistinguishable from a human discovers that some are willing to kill her over her creation. In the far future, an automaton discovers a human wandering in the woods… something that should be impossible because humans have been extinct for 300 years.
She of the Fallen Stars by Dane Figueroa Edidi – All you need to know is that it’s space opera, and there are trans space pirates.
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi – A trans girl tries to figure out how to stop monsters that no one will admit exist, aided by a terrifying creature who came from one of her mother’s paintings.
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee – Best, silliest summary: “Two ghosts have an argument about daylight savings time. Billions die.” (But make it space opera.)
A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe by Alex White – Treasure hunters in a race to find the greatest war ship the galaxy has ever seen, which has long been missing.
The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion by Margaret Killjoy – A young woman investigating her best friend’s suicide traces him to a community of squatters watched over by a protector spirit… just as the spirit begins to turn on its summoners.
Stealing Thunder by Alina Boyden – A former crown prince leaves behind her royal life–and hateful father–to become a dancer and thief. But when she crosses paths with a prince of another kingdom, she loses her heart and finds herself embroiled in dangerous politics again.
Love after the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction edited by Joshua Whitehead – An anthology of utopian speculative stories by Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous writers.
Spellhacker by M.K. England – After a plague released by an earthquake devestates kills thousands and makes magic a commodity controlled by a nasty corporation, Diz and her friends make their living stealing and reselling it. And this is going to be the last heist they ever have to do…
See you, space pirates. You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.