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Discussion: Becoming Invisible

Mindy Kahling

Have y’all seen that Mindy kahling commercial where people never seem to se her, so she decides she’s actually invisible? It got me thinking – what if you really could be invisible? This is one of those old movie tropes that we hardly ever see anymore. So what if you became invisible through no fault of your own? What would you do with that double edged gift? And how might you go about making themselves ‘visible’ again? Join the discussion

News: What People In 1900 Thought The Year 2000 Would Look Like

There are few things as fascinating as seeing what people in the past dreamed about the future. “France in the Year 2000” is one example. The series of paintings, made by Jean-Marc Côté and other French artists in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1910, shows artist depictions of what life might look like in the year 2000. The first series of images were printed and enclosed in cigarette and cigar boxes around the time of the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, according to the Public Domain Review, then later turned into postcards. See the full story at The Washington Post

Announcement: Dragon’s Eye, by Lexi Ander

Dragon's Eye

QSFer Lexi Ander has a new fantasy book out: In the wake of birth and betrayal, Ushna takes the God Ashur to Tristan in a last desperate bid to save Tristan’s life—and is helpless to do anything but watch as Ashur instead buries him in a grave. Though he has no desire to go on living, having now lost Brian and Tristan, Ushna has no choice. Not only do their children need him, the mysterious Simurgh has come out of hiding and forces him to continue on—for there is much to do and little time to do it, especially with … Read more

Discussion: Your Identity, Reflected

Today’s topic comes from QSFer BA Brock: Sometimes it’s easier for me to read trans stories, when the worlds are fantasy. I’ve read several fantasy stories recently, where the characters have struck me as trans, but in the context of the book, there were no trans people. I love this ability of fantasy, to explore heavy current social issues, in a setting other than our reality. It allows me to let go of the minutia (did the author get it exactly right?), and at the same time still experience the pain and joy of my identity. I’d imagine these stories … Read more

Announcement: Purpose, by Andrew Q. Gordon

Purpose

QSFer Andrew Q. Gordon has a re-release paranormal book out: Forty years ago the Spirit of Vengeance—a Purpose—took William Morgan as its host, demanding he avenge the innocent by killing the guilty. Since then Will has retreated behind Gar, a façade he uses to avoid dealing with what he’s become. Cold, impassive, and devoid of emotion, Gar goes about his life alone—until his tidy, orderly world is upended when he meets Ryan, a broken young man cast out by his family. Spurred to action for reasons he can’t understand, Gar saves Ryan from death and finds himself confronted by his … Read more

Discussion: Celebrating the Anti-Hero

Lord Foul's Bane

An anti-hero is a flawed hero, and therefore, much more interesting then the more traditional heroes. They can be working on the side of good, but with a tragic flaw, or a horrible past, or for reasons that are selfish and not entirely ‘pure’.” One of my favorite anti-heroes in speculative fiction is Thomas Covenant, a man so wounded physically and spiritually by his leprosy that he lashes out and starts a chain of events that changes a world. So how about you? Who are your favorite anti-heroes in speculative fiction (LGBT or mainstream) and why? As a reader, do … Read more

Announcement: Skip Trace, by Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen

Skip Trace

QSFers Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen has a new sci fi book out in their Chaos Station series: Zander Anatolius has been revived from the fatal effects of the super-soldier program, but now he has to face his estranged family and tell a story few would believe. With his lover and the crew of the Chaos at his side, Zander returns home to a media frenzy, threats from the military and pressure to join the family business. Felix Ingesson still struggles with the horror of believing Zander dead. And no matter how strong their emotional connection is, Felix feels out … Read more

Me Me Monday

Welcome to ME ME MONDAY at our FB discussion group – your chance to pop in and tell us about your latest success. Have a new book or short story coming out? Let us know. Just sell something? Let us know so we can cheer you on. HOW IT WORKS: I’ll pin this topic to the top of our FB discussion page for the day. –Please post your announcement as a separate post, so I can also share it over to our FB page (as opposed to this discussion group). –If you want, send me your book announcement info at … Read more

Announcement: The Wrecking Faerie – A Charm School Novella, by Elizabeth Watasin

Wrecking Faerie

QSFer Elizabeth Watasin has a new fantasy book out: The Twilight World: where monsters and magical people meet. Teen witch Bunny has a perfectly wicked girlfriend in vampire biker Dean, until a dark faerie comes along. Can Bunny resist Fairer Than’s charms? And when she does, what will Fairer Than do about it? Paranormal romance, fantasy, comedy. LGBT YA. ON the very edges of the unknown lies the Twilight World, where the town of Little Salem teems with hot rods, ghouls, and devil girls. Meet magical witch girl Bunny, a good teen witch happily attending Haunt High, drinking milkshakes at … Read more

Discussion: Dirty Worlds

Sewage Treatment

Today’s tpic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: How dirty is your fantasy world? I remember being fascinated by “Ever After” starring Drew Berrymore, and “The 13th Warrior” starring Antonio Banderas because the worlds depicted were rather filthy. I’m not asking if you get scatalogical, but do you address issues like urban infrastructure, farm waste management, and societal health issues, or do you hand wave it and stick with the story and characters?