Best Bisexual/Transgender Sci-Fi / Fantasy
And the Rainbow Award goes to:
1) Aleksandr Voinov - Incursion
This was a great Sci-Fi adventure story, realistic as far as those things can go, and it merged many elements to a harmonic whole. Most of all, though, this was a beautiful enemies-to-lovers story and yes, a romance too. -Feliz
Voinov’s worlds are not for the faint of heart. -Jamie
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (July 7, 2012)
Amazon Kindle: Incursion
When the local authorities ask Kyle Juenger to hunt a shape-shifting Glyrinny spy, he can’t refuse. After all, he can use the reward to replace his paralyzed legs with cyberware, and maybe even to return to his home planet. Besides, he hates the morphs-those invasive, brain-eating monstrosities whose weapons cost him his legs. Kyle’s best lead is the Scorpion, a mercenary ship armed to the teeth. Grimm, the Scorpion’s pilot and captain, fascinates Kyle. He’s everything Kyle lost with his legs, and he’s from the same home world. He’s also of the warrior caste-half priest, half savior. But Grimm’s been twisted by life as a merc, and Kyle’s stuck undercover as a criminal on the run. That doesn’t stop Grimm from coming on to Kyle, or from insisting he’s more than the sum of his past and his useless legs. But Kyle has other concerns-like tracking a dangerous morph who could be wearing anyone’s face. And as if things weren’t complicated enough, Kyle can’t tell if Grimm is part of the solution . . . or part of the problem.
2) Michelle Moore & Reesa Herberth - The Slipstream Con
I like this book very much. At first glance I expected it to be a routine ménage sci-fi adventure. And it’s all those things, but done with a deft touch to the material; I found myself staying anchored in the story and not speculating ahead. The authors took a relaxed approach to the pacing - not forcing the action, or using heavy foreshadowing to make their points, but also not allowing the story to lag or wander off. -Linda E.
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609284437
ISBN-13: 978-1609284435
Amazon: The Slipstream Con
Is love the biggest con of them all? A Ylendrian Empire story. For three years, Kellen Frey has led bounty hunters Tal and Vanya on a merry chase, evading capture with flair and style. Now, just when they finally have their pet project-and object of their mutual fantasies-cornered, the elusive con artist turns the tables and gives himself up. A sudden attack of conscience, perhaps? Tal and Vanya know better. Their suspicions are confirmed when a crime lord comes dangerously close to killing them all, and the rapidly sickening thief is forced to confess the truth-he’s been accidentally dosed with a highly illegal form of nanotechnology. If Kellen can’t get his hands on another dose, he’s finished. The problem is, the only thief who’s ever broken in to Slipstream Labs is his ex-girlfriend, and she’s allergic to bounty hunters. As he does his best to play both sides, he struggles with his growing desire to be more than a prisoner to Tal and Vanya. Without trust, they won’t survive long. The clock is ticking as they race to uncover a conspiracy that spans the Ylendrian Empire.
3-tie) Rae Gee - Mars on the Rise
At first I didn’t think I would like this story I had never read steampunk before. And I found it a little weird but this book moved me to tears - even for the character I didn’t like. So in my opinion this was a very good book - I sure the hell hope there will be a book two as this book left you needing to know more and find out what happened. -Norma
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Torquere Press (April 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1610403053
ISBN-13: 978-1610403054
Amazon: Mars on the Rise
A storyteller steps off a pier and into a world of steampunk oddities, fearsome weapons, and a dangerous man. Promised fame and fortune by the country's largest weapons manufacturer, Cedo gratefully falls into the arms of Erus Veetu. Dark, dangerous and with nothing to lose, Erus shows him that Svenfur isn't all Cedo thought it was. For beneath the streets is a dark, gas lit world of slavery, human sacrifice ,and deadly machines. With the machines waging war in the East, can Cedo stop the country's deadliest man from bringing it to the shores of England? Or is he too late to penetrate the cold exterior of his Master and halt the cogs and gears of progress? Set in a Victorian world of sex, drugs and steampower, Mars on the Rise tells is a dark, gritty story of what happens when our dreams come true. Whether we want them to or not.
Belinda McBride - The Bacchi
Every time I read a Belinda McBride story I am shocked by how very, very good it is. I go in expecting great things... and Belinda surprises me by bringing a book full of characters that are even more alluring than I expected. -Cherie
Publisher: Loose Id LLC (July 30, 2012)
Amazon Kindle: The Bacchi
The Bacchi Lefi Dhrahn lives a life of luxury and decadence, but is tortured by memories of a lost love. He survives the pain by surrounding himself with sex, beauty, and all forms of self-indulgence. When he meets the alluring Inspector Afton Teris, Lefi believes the detective will make a very nice addition to his string of conquests. Afton Teris is a Valoran hermaphrodite, and like all members of his species, is stern, cerebral and disapproves of the frivolous prostitute. Afton orients as a male, but the beautiful Lefi Dhrahn stirs him sexually, making him question everything he knows about himself. To further confuse his emotions, Afton finds himself tempted by the forbidden pleasures surrounding the Bacchi. When a kidnapping ring strikes close to home, the two go undercover on a brothel barge to investigate a slavery operation. There, Lefi is confronted by painful memories from his past, while Afton is faced with a horror that threatens his future, and perhaps his very life. Their survival lies with one another, but only if Lefi can set aside his pain and listen to his heart.
Honorable Mention:
5) Brit Mandelo - Beyond Binary
This anthology is well put together. Each story compliments the others. The writing styles of all the authors is superb. -April O.
A solid anthology. -Stacia
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Lethe Press (May 5, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590210050
ISBN-13: 978-1590210055
Amazon: Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction
This journal is friends only. This entry was originally posted at http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/3373436.html. If you are not friends on this journal, Please comment there using OpenID.
1) Aleksandr Voinov - Incursion
This was a great Sci-Fi adventure story, realistic as far as those things can go, and it merged many elements to a harmonic whole. Most of all, though, this was a beautiful enemies-to-lovers story and yes, a romance too. -Feliz
Voinov’s worlds are not for the faint of heart. -Jamie
Publisher: Riptide Publishing (July 7, 2012)
Amazon Kindle: Incursion
When the local authorities ask Kyle Juenger to hunt a shape-shifting Glyrinny spy, he can’t refuse. After all, he can use the reward to replace his paralyzed legs with cyberware, and maybe even to return to his home planet. Besides, he hates the morphs-those invasive, brain-eating monstrosities whose weapons cost him his legs. Kyle’s best lead is the Scorpion, a mercenary ship armed to the teeth. Grimm, the Scorpion’s pilot and captain, fascinates Kyle. He’s everything Kyle lost with his legs, and he’s from the same home world. He’s also of the warrior caste-half priest, half savior. But Grimm’s been twisted by life as a merc, and Kyle’s stuck undercover as a criminal on the run. That doesn’t stop Grimm from coming on to Kyle, or from insisting he’s more than the sum of his past and his useless legs. But Kyle has other concerns-like tracking a dangerous morph who could be wearing anyone’s face. And as if things weren’t complicated enough, Kyle can’t tell if Grimm is part of the solution . . . or part of the problem.
2) Michelle Moore & Reesa Herberth - The Slipstream Con
I like this book very much. At first glance I expected it to be a routine ménage sci-fi adventure. And it’s all those things, but done with a deft touch to the material; I found myself staying anchored in the story and not speculating ahead. The authors took a relaxed approach to the pacing - not forcing the action, or using heavy foreshadowing to make their points, but also not allowing the story to lag or wander off. -Linda E.
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (March 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1609284437
ISBN-13: 978-1609284435
Amazon: The Slipstream Con
Is love the biggest con of them all? A Ylendrian Empire story. For three years, Kellen Frey has led bounty hunters Tal and Vanya on a merry chase, evading capture with flair and style. Now, just when they finally have their pet project-and object of their mutual fantasies-cornered, the elusive con artist turns the tables and gives himself up. A sudden attack of conscience, perhaps? Tal and Vanya know better. Their suspicions are confirmed when a crime lord comes dangerously close to killing them all, and the rapidly sickening thief is forced to confess the truth-he’s been accidentally dosed with a highly illegal form of nanotechnology. If Kellen can’t get his hands on another dose, he’s finished. The problem is, the only thief who’s ever broken in to Slipstream Labs is his ex-girlfriend, and she’s allergic to bounty hunters. As he does his best to play both sides, he struggles with his growing desire to be more than a prisoner to Tal and Vanya. Without trust, they won’t survive long. The clock is ticking as they race to uncover a conspiracy that spans the Ylendrian Empire.
3-tie) Rae Gee - Mars on the Rise
At first I didn’t think I would like this story I had never read steampunk before. And I found it a little weird but this book moved me to tears - even for the character I didn’t like. So in my opinion this was a very good book - I sure the hell hope there will be a book two as this book left you needing to know more and find out what happened. -Norma
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Torquere Press (April 25, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1610403053
ISBN-13: 978-1610403054
Amazon: Mars on the Rise
A storyteller steps off a pier and into a world of steampunk oddities, fearsome weapons, and a dangerous man. Promised fame and fortune by the country's largest weapons manufacturer, Cedo gratefully falls into the arms of Erus Veetu. Dark, dangerous and with nothing to lose, Erus shows him that Svenfur isn't all Cedo thought it was. For beneath the streets is a dark, gas lit world of slavery, human sacrifice ,and deadly machines. With the machines waging war in the East, can Cedo stop the country's deadliest man from bringing it to the shores of England? Or is he too late to penetrate the cold exterior of his Master and halt the cogs and gears of progress? Set in a Victorian world of sex, drugs and steampower, Mars on the Rise tells is a dark, gritty story of what happens when our dreams come true. Whether we want them to or not.
Belinda McBride - The Bacchi
Every time I read a Belinda McBride story I am shocked by how very, very good it is. I go in expecting great things... and Belinda surprises me by bringing a book full of characters that are even more alluring than I expected. -Cherie
Publisher: Loose Id LLC (July 30, 2012)
Amazon Kindle: The Bacchi
The Bacchi Lefi Dhrahn lives a life of luxury and decadence, but is tortured by memories of a lost love. He survives the pain by surrounding himself with sex, beauty, and all forms of self-indulgence. When he meets the alluring Inspector Afton Teris, Lefi believes the detective will make a very nice addition to his string of conquests. Afton Teris is a Valoran hermaphrodite, and like all members of his species, is stern, cerebral and disapproves of the frivolous prostitute. Afton orients as a male, but the beautiful Lefi Dhrahn stirs him sexually, making him question everything he knows about himself. To further confuse his emotions, Afton finds himself tempted by the forbidden pleasures surrounding the Bacchi. When a kidnapping ring strikes close to home, the two go undercover on a brothel barge to investigate a slavery operation. There, Lefi is confronted by painful memories from his past, while Afton is faced with a horror that threatens his future, and perhaps his very life. Their survival lies with one another, but only if Lefi can set aside his pain and listen to his heart.
Honorable Mention:
5) Brit Mandelo - Beyond Binary
This anthology is well put together. Each story compliments the others. The writing styles of all the authors is superb. -April O.
A solid anthology. -Stacia
Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Lethe Press (May 5, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1590210050
ISBN-13: 978-1590210055
Amazon: Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction
This journal is friends only. This entry was originally posted at http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwidth.org/3373436.html. If you are not friends on this journal, Please comment there using OpenID.