- Alternate Fairytales
Rewriting well known fairytales is a popular genre, and one obvious twist is to change the preferences of the characters involved. There are some very well-written stories around lesbian storytale heroines. There's a round-up of Lesbian Fairytale Fiction here.
Read all the fairytale book reviews by tag.
- Fantasy
Whether a magical world or simply an alternate reality, fantasy has a long and marvellous history, Some of this history includes lesbians. Some of these lesbians are fairies, others are mages and others are simply ordinary people in a strange world.
Read all the fantasy book reviews by tag.
- Science Fiction
The mirror sister of fantasy, sometimes science fiction psi is almost indistinguishable from magical mind reading, and sometimes fantastical worlds are only found in space. The technology based genre of science fiction has its own share of lesbian writers, whether set in a future society, or just a twist on today's world.
Read all the science fiction book reviews by tag.
Book Lists: Quick lists of lesbian books by genre, topic, Award, etcetera.
Book Lists: Quick lists of lesbian books by genre, topic, Award, etcetera.
- If you're after specifically YA fiction, check out the list of Lesbian Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction Books
- The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are specifically for GLBTQ fantasy, scifi and horror, and you can check out a list of the lesbian winners and finalists here.
- Other fantasy & scifi-themed book lists include:
Good Lesbian Fantasy and Sci-Fi Authors and Their Books
Authors listed alphabetically, by last name. Link leads to all reviews tagged under that author.
Diemer, Sarah (a.k.a. Bishop, Elora)
Some summaries of notable authors that we have reviewed:
L-J. Baker is a newly emerging author from New Zealand who writes very engaging magical romances, such as the fairy-romance Broken Wings, the delightfully romantic medieval Lady Knight
, and the lively and highly recommended Adijan and Her Genie. So far, many of her characters feature mental or physical disabilities.
L-J. Baker is a newly emerging author from New Zealand who writes very engaging magical romances, such as the fairy-romance Broken Wings, the delightfully romantic medieval Lady Knight
, and the lively and highly recommended Adijan and Her Genie. So far, many of her characters feature mental or physical disabilities.- About L-J Baker and her writing
- Review of Broken Wings
- Review of Lady Knight
- Review of Adijan and Her Genie
- Review of Promises, Promises
Nicola Griffith is a very good lesbian author, who has written two highly recommended lesbian scifi books - Ammonite and Slow River. She also edited the Bending the Landscape anthologies. Ammonite is one of the classics of lesbian science fiction, with an entire planet colonised only by women. Slow River is about a girl discovering herself in a futuristic society, surviving corporations, kidnap, and real life. She also writes a crime-mystery series following a Norwegian ex-cop, Blue Place, Stay and Always
- Read the reviews of Ammonite and Slow River
- The Bending the Landscape series includes a science fiction anthology, which is the first book reviewed here.
- See all reviews of Nicola Griffith's books
Tanya Huff is a lesbian author who mostly writes about men. She's written vampires, urban fantasy, 'traditional' fantasy and science fiction. Some of her books are fantastic, others are not so great. I've reviewed all the potentially sapphic series in one go - specifically, The Keeper's Chronicles and Valor Confederation.
Malinda Lo is another newly published author who specialises in young adult fairytale based fantasy, with lesbian heroines. her first novel, Ash, is a young adult lesbian version of Cinderella, which nominated for (and won) several awards. Following young Aisling, it's very much a fairytale and suitable for teens. The sequel, Huntress, is set in the same world and a sort of distant prequel - and an even better book.
Laurie J. Marks is a consistent writer of subversive fantasy that turns gender roles and sexual norms upside down. Her best known work is the Elemental Logic series; an intriguing series about war and intrigue, a country invaded, a powerful and terrifyingly addictive drug, and the rare elementals - people born with Fire, Water, Earth or Air magic. The rarest of the rare are (as I can recall), the Earth elementals, who represent their countries. Karis is Shaftali G'deon - but begins the story hopelessly ensnared by a deadly drug, used to keep Shaftal under control...
The books of the Elemental Logic
series, in order, so far are Fire Logic, Earth Logic, Water Logic and the as yet unpublished Air Logic.
series, in order, so far are Fire Logic, Earth Logic, Water Logic and the as yet unpublished Air Logic.- Read an overview of the Elemental Logic world
- Read the review of Fire Logic
- Read the review of Earth Logic
- Read the review of The Moonbane Mage
Gill McKnight mainly writes erotic fantasy-romances. So magic and werewolves and two women in love.
Elizabeth Moon writes books about soldiers and space travel, usually with strong female characters, and lesbian subtext. Her most famous book, and one that is (rightfully) considered a classic in lesbian fantasy is The Deed of Pakesennarion. The science fiction book Sassinak is another name that comes up a lot.
- Read the review of The Deed of Paksennarion
- Read the review of Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon
- All reviews about Elizabeth Moon
Terry Pratchett is generally LGBT friendly, but he only wrote one really gay-themed story. While not specifically a lesbian story, Pratchett's theme for Monstrous Regiment was Don't Ask Don't Tell. Most of the book focuses on cross-dressing, and certain female characters are very clearly in a relationship, but with typical Pratchett subtlety and layering, it may take several readings to notice everything.
Merry Shannon has written what looks like the first in a series of fantasy books called Legends of Ithyria. Sword of the Guardian
is a highly rated novel about a fantasy kingdom and assassins, following the growing love of a princess and the person hired to protect her. And eventually, her highness has to learn that her bodyguard is a lady... Marry Shannon's second book is about pirates, but hopefully there'll be more fantasy in future.
- For a better idea of what's in store, you should read the full review of Monstrous Regiment.
Merry Shannon has written what looks like the first in a series of fantasy books called Legends of Ithyria. Sword of the Guardian
is a highly rated novel about a fantasy kingdom and assassins, following the growing love of a princess and the person hired to protect her. And eventually, her highness has to learn that her bodyguard is a lady... Marry Shannon's second book is about pirates, but hopefully there'll be more fantasy in future.Chris Anne Wolfe was a fairly notable and well loved lesbian author. Sadly, she died of cancer in 1997, but her writing lives on. She is best known for her Amazons of Aggar books, but has written a couple of others, including a powerful and romantic retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story.
- Read the review of Roses & Thorns : Beauty and the Beast Retold
- Read the review of Shadows of Aggar
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