Today’s theme is queer space operas! If you like epic settings and a whole lot of personal drama in your sci-fi reads, these are the books for you.
Here on Earth, unfortunately, we’re seeing a lot of anti-trans and generally anti-LGBTQ backlash to the progress we’ve made. One target right now is drag story time and other drag performances. There are many ways to fight back, including attending events and counterprotesting the protestors, voting, contacting your representatives, and much more, but another option is supporting the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.
Looking for fascinating stories, informed takes, useful advice, and more from experts in the world of books and reading? Subscribe to Book Riot’s newest newsletter, The Deep Dive, to get exclusive content delivered to your inbox. Subscribe and choose your membership level today at bookriot.substack.com
Bookish Goods
Bi Pride Planet Cross Stitch Pattern by Mathysphere
Since today’s theme is queer space operas, I had to go with a spacey bookish good. This one is for the crafters! There are 14 different pride designs to choose from. $5
New Releases
Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee (Queer Fiction)
Ranita Atwater is a queer Black woman finishing a four-year sentence for drug possession. She’s been sober for three years and is eager to get out and regain custody of both of her kids. But navigating the outside world isn’t simple, and she has to find where this new version of herself fits into it. This is being compared to Jesmyn Ward and Yaa Gyasi!
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (F/F Space Opera)
Kyr has been trained since birth to avenge the murder of the planet Earth. She is a skilled fighter, just waiting for her time to strike. Then she’s assigned to the Nursery instead, to produce babies, and her brother is given a deadly mission. Kyr is not going to give up her destiny as the sword of a dead planet so easily, so she teams up with an imprisoned alien and her brother’s rebellious friend to fulfill her destiny — and discovers the universe is very different from what she’s been taught.
Small Joys by Elvin James Mensah (Queer Fiction)
One or Several Deserts by Carter St Hogan (Queer Short Stories)
Falling For the Mark by Dominique Davis (F/F Romance)
Pascal and The Forger by Avril Ashton (M/M Romance)
A Thief in the Night by KJ Charles (M/M Historical Romance)
Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall (Queer Historical Romance)
Tell Me How it Ends by Quinton Li (Lesbian and Aro/Ace Cozy Fantasy)
Snow Fairy by Tomo Serizawa (BL Manga)
For more new releases, check out our New Books newsletter!
Riot Recommendations
Some Desperate Glory has got me thinking about queer space operas, so here are a few more to dive into!
Once & Future by A. R. Capetta and Cori McCarthy
This is a YA sci-fi/fantasy/dystopian genre mash up retelling of Arthurian legends, with a queer teenage girl Arthur. Ari, as the 42nd reincarnation of Arthur, is destined to save humanity against a totalitarian corporate government with the help of a teenage Merlin — though the previous incarnations haven’t always lived up this destiny. This duology is packed full of queer supporting characters, too!
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
Buckle up for an epic military space opera that will throw you in the deep end and let you sink or swim. The people in this world are governed by ruling classes that operate on a strict calendar system, which launches wars and consigns anyone who opposes it to death. Cheris is a soldier who has to redeem herself from a tactical blunder by taking advice from the undead tactician Jedao. Simple enough, right…?
Looking for more? Check out Book Riot’s 8 of the Best Queer Space Opera Books and Autostraddle’s 8 Great Space Operas with Queer Women and Non-Binary Main Characters.
All the Links Fit to Click
Here are the finalists for the Triangle Awards
Kids’ Book Illustrator Mitchell Watley Charged Over Terroristic Anti-Trans Notes. He’s also been dropped by his publisher.
Trailblazing trans DC Comics writer Rachel Pollack dies aged 77
Casey Plett was interviewed at Shelf Awareness.
The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro is getting exclusive Barnes & Noble and Rainbow Crate editions
Rosewater by Liv Little was reviewed at The Guardian
That’s it for me this week! Until next time, you can find me at my sapphic book blog, the Lesbrary. You can also hear me on All the Books or you can read my Book Riot posts.
Happy reading!
Danika