Gay Characters in Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror

Updated 6/09

Science Fiction:

Carnival by Elizabeth Bear
In this enjoyable, thought-provoking science fiction adventure, interspace ambassadors Vincent Katherinessen and Michelangelo Kusanagi-Jones have been sent by the Old Earth Colonial Coalition to the renegade planet of New Amazonia, a planet where women rule and men are kept as worker bees and house breeders. Because Old Earth treats its women as subservient, they have no female ambassadors, but Angelo and Vincent are gay—or "gentle"—and though they are shunned by the dictatorial government they serve, they're the only negotiators acceptable to the Amazonian rulers. The two men arrive ostensibly to return stolen art, a show of goodwill that will hopefully reopen long-stalled diplomacy between the two governments. In truth, they have been sent in an effort to secure, by any means necessary, the secret to the mysterious power source that runs Amazonia.

The Heritage of Hastur by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Nominated for a Hugo Award and described as "Bradley's best [Darkover] novel" by Locus, The Heritage of Hastur tells the complex and compelling tale of the early life of Regis Hastur, Darkover's greatest monarch. It also spins the terrifying and heartbreaking story of those who sought to control the deadly Sharra Matrix and of how Lew Alton met and lost his greatest love, Marjorie Scott. The most dangerous magical implement on all of Darkover was the infamous, legendary Sharra Matrix. The Sharra Matrix had been exiled offworld in the protective custody of Comyn Lord Lew Alton. But when Lew was called back to Darkover to contest his rights, he had no choice but to bring this dangerous matrix back with him. Once the Sharra Matrix was back, her flaming image spread far and wide, setting in motion events which would change the lands, the seven Domains and the future of Darkover forever.

Songmaster by Orson Scott Card
Kidnapped at an early age, the young singer Ansset has been raised in isolation at the mystical retreat called the Songhouse. His life has been filled with music, and having only songs for companions, he develops a voice that is unlike any heard before. Ansset's voice is both a blessing and a curse, for the young Songbird can reflect all the hopes and fears his audience feels and, by magnifying their emotions, use his voice to heal – or to destroy. When it is discovered that his is the voice that the Emperor has waited decades for, Ansset is summoned to the Imperial Palace on Old Earth. Many fates rest in Ansset's hands, and his songs will soon be put to the test: either to salve the troubled conscience of a conqueror, or drive him, and the universe, into mad chaos.

Daughters of an Emerald Dusk by Katherine V. Forrest
For newcomers and faded memories, Forrest provides highlights of the backstory: the departure of 4,144 members of the sisterhood Unity to make a home away from an Earth ravaged by resource depletion and violence in the 21st century, and the establishment of a colony in Death Valley by the remaining 2,011 members. Now the heroines of Amber Noon journey by space shuttle to the Unity colonists' new home on the planet Maternas and reunite with their birth family for the first time in the six years since the colonizers set out. The compelling tale unfolds via first-person accounts in the journals of Minerva, Olympia and Joss, and includes piercingly poignant reunions, a wrenching leave-taking and a suspenseful return to the ultimate mother.

Jumping Off the Planet by David Gerrold
Twenty-first-century Earth is desperately overcrowded, and Charles Dingillian's father offers his three sons a trip to the moon. Actually, he is kidnapping the boys from their mother – and couriering key data in an illegal financial transaction. He is also a wimp, Charles' mother is bisexual, and Charles' older brother is gay. Oh – and the younger one is an obnoxious brat. Clearly we're not in Heinlein's Kansas. But cut through all the characterization-by-dysfunctionality and a genuinely powerful coming-of-age story remains, with characters as sympathetic as they are bizarre and a vividly depicted future society.

Slow River by Nicola Griffith
Born into a bioengineering family made wealthy by cleaning up after humanity, Lore leads a life of privilege and power. Riches don't bring happiness, though, and the van de Oest family hides its share of dark secrets. Lore is kidnapped, but escapes from her captors when she realizes her family isn't going to pay the ransom. Naked, alone and wounded, she is saved by the brutally street-smart Spanner, who teaches Lore to survive by exploiting the Net's (and human) weaknesses. To learn to trust, though, Lore must face her demons, one by one, until she can begin again.

The Immortals by Tracy Hickman
The year is 2010. The V-CIDS virus, once thought to be a cure for AIDS, has mutated into an even deadlier disease and is ravaging the United States. While scientists struggle to find a cure, victims are rounded up and isolated in government camps. Their numbers increase at a staggering rate, and the camp officials treat the victims like so much cordwood to be shipped to local crematoria. Outside the camps, paranoia and homophobia run rampant. Michael Barris, an outspoken TV executive, bucks the paralyzing fear and seeks to visit his estranged son at one of the camps. Once inside, he, too, becomes a prisoner and his efforts to deal with his own feelings as well as the overwhelming lack of humanity and compassion that he witnesses make this a powerful, disturbing and depressing story.

Spin Control by Chris Moriarty
Arkady, an entomologist assigned to a terraforming project with his fellow clone, Arkasha, comes into possession of two pieces of information: one very valuable, the other very damaging. The pair also fall in love. Then Arkasha is kidnapped, and Arkady must travel to Earth and sell his knowledge to the highest bidder to rescue her. Through Arkady's bewildered eyes, the reader discovers a future world where America is a rogue nation and the most precious commodities are water and the ability to bear children.

The Dark Beyond the Stars by Frank M. Robinson
Sparrow is a crew member on the Astron, a multigenerational ship sent from earth on an unavailing, 2,000-year search for other life-bearing worlds. On the last planet, Seti IV, Sparrow fell off a cliff and nearly died, losing his memory in the process. While recovering in sick bay, and also while back on the job, he is beset by more accidents. Eventually he decides that someone is trying to kill him. Trying to find out who and why, Sparrow is plunged into an ever-deepening mystery; nobody will discuss his past with him, the computer has restricted his data, and the little he does discover about his history leads only to further secrets. The technical and social aspects of a centuries-long voyage are ingenious and clearly depicted.

Fantasy:

The First Stone by Mark Anthony
The Pale King has been defeated, his legions decimated. The Dark God Mohg has been destroyed. And the evil corporation Duratek has been disbanded, foiled in its efforts to strip-mine the world of Eldh. And for our heroes, three years have passed in relative peace. But only relative, because every one of them know in their hearts that their duties are not yet ended. For perihelion approaches, as the two worlds continue to grow nearer. And bad things are coming in its wake. As Grace goes in search of Travis, and Travis goes in search of his kidnapped daughter, all the threads of fate begin to pull together, revealing ancient mysteries on both worlds and connections within connections that carry all the way back through time. With both worlds increasingly wracked by tempests and earthquakes, and a palpable sense of hopelessness and despair, and with magic sputtering and dying around them, can our heroes patch together the missing pieces of the puzzle before all of life is annihilated?

Shapers of Darkness by David B. Coe
Magical conspiracies run rampant in book four of Coe's Winds of the Forelands series (Rules of Ascension, etc.). Young Tavis of Curgh, judged a traitor by his former friends thanks to the evil Qirsi mastermind known as the Weaver, has joined forces with the mysterious Qirsi shaper Grinsa jal Arriet in a desperate quest to uncover the Weaver's true identity. Meanwhile, the Weaver's agents skillfully manipulate the lords of the Forelands, splintering formerly stable alliances and stirring up distrust and civil unrest. Fearing treachery within his own ranks, the Weaver has ordered the spy Keziah to murder his former agent, Cresenne ja Terba, now Grinsa's lover. Little does the Weaver know, Keziah has already turned on him and joined others determined to defeat the Qirsi wizard.

Kirith Kirin by Jim Grimsley
In a land ravaged by the rule of the usurper known as the Blue Queen, a young boy fulfills his destiny by entering the service of Kirith Kirin, who seeks to reclaim his rightful throne. Jessex grows strong in his magical studies and fighting skills, finding both companionship and love in the company of the man he serves and discovering his crucial role in the battle against the evil that overshadows his land. Mainstream novelist and playwright Grimsley (My Drowning) crafts an elegant tale of love, war and magic in the epic fantasy tradition. Also try The Ordinary

The Gumshoe, the Witch, and the Virtual Corpse by Keith Hartman
Welcome to 21st century Atlanta. During your stay, depending on your tastes, you can cruise gay midtown or check out the Reverend-Senator Stonewall's headquarters at Freedom Plaza or attend a sky-clad Wiccan sabbat. Avoid the courthouse, where the Cherokee have turned out in full war-paint to renegotiate a 19th-century land deal. Also stay away from all cemeteries, at least until the police find out why someone is disinterring and crucifying corpses. As you can tell, this is a lively novel, full of intricate plotting and engaging off-beat characters. Among the latter are a gay detective, a Wiccan family, an ambitious televangelist with an eye on the White House, an artist whose medium is flesh and blood, a Cherokee drag queen—and then there's poor Benji, who would just like to make it to his 15th birthday, assuming the MIBS don't get him first or his Baptist parents don't ground him for life because his new girlfriend is a witch.

Storm Warning by Mercedes Lackey
In the face of a growing threat from the mysterious and powerful Eastern Empire, the lands of Valdemar and Karse attempt to form an alliance despite old prejudices and misunderstandings. Readers familiar with the author's previous Valdemar series will enjoy the return of favorite characters, while a vivid assortment of new protagonists continues to expand the wealth of cultures present in one of fantasy's most intriguing universes. Also try Magic’s Pawn and Magic’s Price.

The Wild Swans by Peg Kerr
A uniquely evocative novel of two eras, two outcasts, two journeys...from the old world, England, 1689: Banished from her father's house, Lady Eliza Grey's one wish is to find her long-lost brothers. She does, only to discover them enslaved by a strange and terrible magic. Now, caught in a fairy tale turned real, she vows to break the spell and free those she loves – even though her loyalty may cost Eliza her life...to a new world, New York, 1981: Banished from his father's house, Elias Latham's one wish is to find acceptance. He does, only to discover his new family and friends falling prey to a dreadful and mysterious plague. Now, caught in a nightmare turned real, Elias vows to stand beside those he loves – even though his faithfulness may cost him his life...Two struggles. Two curses. Two tales. One truth.

Horror:

Sacrament by Clive Barker
Living and dying, we feed the fire. Will Rabjohns, perhaps the most famous wildlife photographer in the world, has made his reputation chronicling the fates of endangered species. But after a terrible accident, Will is left in a coma. And in its depths, he revisits the wildernesses of his youth and relives his life with a mysterious couple who have influenced his life as an artist and a man. When Will awakens, he sets out on a journey of self-discovery – one where he will penetrate the ultimate mystery and finally unlock the secret of his destiny. Also try Galilee.

Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
It is the story of a lost soul, a boy named Nothing, who was born of a vampire and is searching for his true family. But he dimly understands that joining his vampire brothers will cost him more of his humanity than he wants to give up. A mysterious, caring psychic named Ghost tries to save him from his fate, and, because Nothing loves this man, he must choose to preserve his own humanity in order to save Ghost's life. The book is graphic in its presentation of kinky sex mixed with vampirism and murder, but nonetheless compelling.

Fledgling by Octavia Butler
Shori, a 53-year-old vampire who appears to be a prepubescent girl, awakes alone in a forest, badly burned and scarred, with no memory of what has happened to her. She wanders to a road, from where she is picked up by young Wright Hamlin, whom she bites once she realizes she is a vampire. Wright shelters her, and the two begin a relationship, but Shori is drawn to the site of the fire that burned her. When she and Wright are attacked at the site, she learns of an older vampire, Iosif, who may have the answers she seeks. But when she meets Iosif, she learns that he is her father and that he, too, is in the dark as to who burned the enclave in which Shori and her mothers and sisters were living. When Iosif's enclave meets a similar fate, Shori and Wright flee, determined to track down the people responsible for destroying Shori's family.

Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice
In a remote room in a large city, a young reporter sits face-to-face with his most astonishing subject: a onetime New Orleans gentleman plantation owner who, in vividly terrifying and haunting detail, recalls his centuries of extraordinary life – beginning with his initiation into the ranks of the living dead at the hands of the sinister, sensual vampire Lestat.

Merrick by Anne Rice
Into this exotic New Orleans realm comes David Talbot, hero, storyteller, adventurer, almost mortal vampire, visitor from another dark realm. It is he who recounts the beautiful, unconquerable witch Merrick's haunting tale—a tale that takes us from the New Orleans of the past and present to the jungles of Guatemala, from the Mayan ruins of a century ago to ancient civilizations not yet explored.

Tale of the Body Thief by Anne Rice
Returning to Lestat as the main character, the fourth in the Vampire Chronicles series finds Lestat impulsive and careless in the pursuit of what he wants: a serial killer in Southern Florida. Lestat is surrounded by mortals in this tale, and a new worthy counterpoint character to Lestat is introduced, Raglan James. James is a vampire hunter, and a formidable adversary for Lestat. James offers Lestat the opportunity to switch bodies temporarily with a young mortal. Against Louis' advice, Lestat accepts and discovers he hates everything about being human. He also finds that James has disappeared with Lestat's powerful vampire body. Louis refuses to help Lestat become a vampire again, and he turns to another mortal to help him trick James into switching souls, and giving up Lestat's body.