'Harry Potter' alternatives: Trans-inclusive fantasy and sci-fi books
This summer, consider some fantasy and sci-fi novels by and about transgender and nonbinary people
Gwen Aviles
Gwen Aviles
Sarah Gailey’s 2019 noir urban fantasy tells the story of Ivy Gamble, a detective who always felt uncomfortable with her magical powers. After a murder occurs at the school where her estranged twin sister teaches, Ivy’s magic is put to the test as she sets out to uncover the identity of the murderer and forge a stronger relationship with her sibling.
Kacen Callender’s “Queen of the Conquered” is the first novel in their “Islands of Blood and Storm” series. The novel centers on Sigourney Rose, the only survivor after her family is killed by colonizers. Rose is determined to reclaim her family’s island and plans to use her supernatural ability of manipulating others’ minds to do so.
A National Book Award finalist, “Pet” chronicles the relationship between Jam, a transgender teen, and her best friend, Redemption, a mythical creature who’s come to protect her from a monster that no one else in the novel seems able to admit exists.
After Jack Bishop participates in an epilepsy clinical trial, he emerges in a different body, that of a girl named Jacqueline from a previous era. At first Jack believes he’s hallucinating. When realizes he’s not, he has to learn how to navigate these two identities and time periods, both to discover who he really is and save his town.
After a science experiment gone awry, 13-year-old Felix becomes fused with an alien who takes residence inside of him. “Felix Yz” is written as Feliz’s secret blog, during which he describes his journey to a medical procedure that will separate the alien from his body.
“Maiden, Mother, Crone” bills itself as the first anthology of fantasy short stories written entirely by trans femme authors. The anthology includes contributions from Alexa Fae McDaniel, Lilah Sturges, Kylie Ariel Bemis, Kai Cheng Thom and more.
This collection of LGBTQ+ historical fiction offers seventeen short stories with centering queer characters — including a reimagining of the classic Little Red Riding Hood story — that features a transgender soldier, and a story about two girls bonding over a shared grief sparked by Kurt Cobain’s death and falling in love.
Eric Olafson has left his planet to pursue his dreams of becoming a Starship captain, but he gets kidnapped along the way. As he tries to escape, he discovers a new mission: reconciling conflict between the different planets of the galaxy.
In this coming-of-age tale, a teen inherits the mantle of the superhero, Dreadnought, which endows her with superpowers that will come in handy as she fights transphobic villains.
