Books For Pride Month
By Jeff Baker
Just in time for Pride Month (which is why I’m posting this early!) I’m selecting several of my favorite LGBT-themed books to dip into for June. And I acknowlege I’ve probably talked about these in this space before. Most of them should be readily available to read online, to order online or find at your new or used bookstore. And the bulk of them are short-story collections or anthologies. (Full disclosure; I know some of these authors and I’m actually mentioned in a story introduction in one of the books!)
In no particular order:
“Speculative Shorts” by Cait Gordon
Gordon says she writes “character-driven speculative fiction” and that is well represented in this collection. Speaking of representation, characters of various disabilities are represented as well as characters on the LGBT spectrum. Favorite line? “Have y’ever conversed with an irate eel? Would make a sailor blush, the curses out of their mouth.” (from “Ranger Of the Sea.”)
“The Distant Hills and Other Stories” by Kaje Harper
Harper’s weekly flash fiction stories (at Kajes Conversation Corner https://www.facebook.com/groups/208207893795147 on Facebook) are a must-read for me. And they are worth it. There’s a lot of romance here, some sci-fi, a few laughs, some chills and apealing, realistically-drawn characters. Even when they encounter zombie raccoons…
“Fear Itself” by James K. Moran
Canadian author Moran presents a bevy of fantasy/horror stories with definate Canadian themes, like a sea serpent in a Canadian river. Again a book blending humor and horror.
“Am I Blue?” Edited by Marion Dane Butler
One of the oldest items on this list and one of the earliest LGBT YA anthologies. Most of the stories (by a wide variety of authors) are more or less serious but the title story (by Bruce Coville) is a whimsical fantasy. Imagine it as a clever and funny Afterschool Special.
“Strawberries And Other Erotic Fruits” by Jerry L. Wheeler
As the title implies, many of the stories in this fun collection drift into erotica. As Wheeler’s introduction states, he is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Off-the-wall and sometimes sexy and macabre tales that are as yummy as strawberries.
“We’re Here,” Series edited by Charles Payseur.
The current “Best Of the Year” series of “Queer Speculative Fiction,” with various editors and Payseur as series editor. Best-of-the-year story collections are often a mixed bag and this bag is well worth dipping into.
“Androids and Aliens” by J. Scott Coatsworth.
(Again, full disclousure, Scott is a good friend of mine.)
One of several collections Scott has published of his own short fiction and it is another perfect read for Pride Month (or any month.) I’m mentioning this one because it has my favorite of Scott’s stories: “Shit City.”
“The Man From C.A.M.P.” by Victor J. Banis
The other oldest book in this grouping is this 2008 omnibus edition (from ManLoveRomancePress) of three 1960s novels about Gay superspy Jackie Holmes from the 1960s. Cashing in on the James Bond craze (think Man From UNCLE or Get Smart) Banis’ funny Gay riffs on the spy genre were originally paperbacks sold discreetly and including scenes added to pad the length. The omnibus has the edited versions and an introduction by the author.
“Dogs Don’t Break Hearts” by ‘Nathan Burgoine
An utterly charming YA romance novel full of memorable and realistically-drawn cannine and human characters. Like the other authors listed here, Burgoine is a master of his craft.
Happy reading!
Jeff Baker writes about reading and writing sci-fi, fantasy and horror and other sundry matters on or around the thirteenth of every month, and sometimes earlier. He has published over forty full-length stories in various markets and has read who-knows-how-many books. He posts weekly fiction on his blog https://authorjeffbaker.com/ and wastes time on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ , Blue Sky https://bsky.app/profile/jeffbakerauthor.bsky.social and Mastodon https://mastodon.otherworldsink.com/@MikeMayak (as “Mike Mayak.”)