I'm not trying to start an argument or anything I'm just curious as to how a gay protagonist would have a different 'day to day' than a hetrosexual one? Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture here.
As for suggestions. There are tons of Japanese manga which have the main character being gay, or coming to terms with homosexuality (most are of the smut fanservice variety for ladies, but I'm told there are some with good serious stories). I can ask my friend who's really into that stuff if you're even a little interested.
well mosaic, try and think of it as if all strapping adventurous men in the books you read were gay. sometimes it is nice to be able to relate to the main character and be a bit thrilled by his romantic actions. instead of the main character being stricken by the maidenly qualities of a woman, you get to read about him loving the width of a man's shoulders, or the strength of his hands.
just doesn't do it for ya. same deal, it's normal for homosexuals to want to read about romantic things they can go 'yes that is good' to, instead of a bountiful bosom and curvaceous hips.
Oh, I don't usually read books for the romantic parts, but I see where you are coming from. I mean I liked reading Harry Potter but all that cho chang crap was boring. I just needed another persons point of view to understand what the difference is.
HachfaceNot the Minister Farrakhan you're thinking ofDammit, Shepard!Registered Userregular
edited January 2010
Unfortunately the "just happens to be gay" part is the hard part. In our society, writing a novel with a gay main character is still an unavoidably political thing to do, no matter how hard the author tries to make it apolitical. To some extent, any novel with a gay protagonist is going to be called a "gay novel."
I'm not trying to start an argument or anything I'm just curious as to how a gay protagonist would have a different 'day to day' than a hetrosexual one? Maybe I'm not seeing the big picture here.
As for suggestions. There are tons of Japanese manga which have the main character being gay, or coming to terms with homosexuality (most are of the smut fanservice variety for ladies, but I'm told there are some with good serious stories). I can ask my friend who's really into that stuff if you're even a little interested.
Yea, Im not looking for Shonen-ai or Yaoi. At all. I find it disgusting actually, since its written for a female audience, and carries the Seme Uke stereotypes, which are both highly innaccurate to most homosexual males, and is also a bastardization of homosexual themes IMO.
And again. The issue comes up. "Whats the point of a gay protagonist?"
I guess there isnt one. I guess there should be no gay characters, since their lives are no different than straight ones, and you can tell a good story without gaying it all up and stuff.
Unfortunately the "just happens to be gay" part is the hard part. In our society, writing a novel with a gay main character is still an unavoidably political thing to do, no matter how hard the author tries to make it apolitical. To some extent, any novel with a gay protagonist is going to be called a "gay novel."
yeah, the nightrunner series doesn't focus on it, or even mention it on the flap or anything, so it is kind of amusing/sad to read reviews of it with people saying 'i liked it until i got to the parts where gay stuff was hinted at/happened.'
come on, you stupid people.
Belruel on
0
HachfaceNot the Minister Farrakhan you're thinking ofDammit, Shepard!Registered Userregular
I'm not saying there shouldn't be gay characters. I have gay friends and their lives are no different from my straight lives other than the fact that he likes to be with a man instead of a woman.
I think there's just some part of it I'm not seeing, I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on though.
I'm not saying there shouldn't be gay characters. I have gay friends and their lives are no different from my straight lives other than the fact that he likes to be with a man instead of a woman.
I think there's just some part of it I'm not seeing, I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on though.
They must live a wonderful life. I for one dont live such an existence. Muchly why im looking for a book with a gay protagonist. Im looking for a fantasy to escape my reality.
Cause my reality is, i live in a homophobic west texas city, with little to no prospects for normal life as a gay person.
Ive never been able to show affection to a SO in public without being ridiculed, or threatened by the public. I have no rights as far as marriage is concerned.
I have had to quit 2 different therapists, because both were homophobic, one actually being prejudice enough to drop me.
So yea... the point for me.. is i would like a slice of gay life that is actually pleasant.
Drswords on
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
0
HachfaceNot the Minister Farrakhan you're thinking ofDammit, Shepard!Registered Userregular
I'm not saying there shouldn't be gay characters. I have gay friends and their lives are no different from my straight lives other than the fact that he likes to be with a man instead of a woman.
I think there's just some part of it I'm not seeing, I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on though.
If you are a gay person, reading a novel with a gay protagonist -- especially if it's unexpected -- is just nice. It's a sign of acceptance.
I went to some scifi forums that had this same question asked. Most of the books people posted here have already been mentioned, but to add some people said these were good reads:
C J Cherryh's Cyteen
Sarah Monette, Doctrine of the Labyrinth Series - starts with "Melusine"
Tanya Huff, Smoke Series - Urban fantasy but highly entertaining
Tanya Huff , "The Fire's Stone"
Chaz Brenchley, Outremer Series - gay characters in a multicharacter ensemble
Astrid Amara, "The Archer's Heart"
The Wars by Timothy Findley is a fiction about a gay soldier during the First World War. Many of Findley's other books also include passive suggestions of the protagonists homosexuality but he rarely identifies it the way he does in The Wars
Um...
there are lots of books with gay protagonists.
Jeannette Winterson, Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (lesbian in England's bible belt)
Allison Bechdel, Dykes to Watch Out For (a comic strip collected into books; I found it addictive) Everything by Samuel Delany (Deviant Age sci fi)
William S. Burroughs stuff
Edmund White stuff
Holy shit, how did I forget this? Stars in my Pocket Like Grains of Sand blew my fucking mind.
And the OP isn't crazy. I wouldn't say I can only relate to gay characters; but when I started watching Brothers and Sisters (TV show, family drama), I was surprised by how pathetically grateful I was to see a gay dude matter-of-fact-ly included as a serious main character (and not as a sassy sidekick, random victim, or tragic warning). It's nice. You breathe a little easier. It's like reality is acknowledging that people like you exist.
Sorry. I mean i dont been to be excluding... its just that im not a lesbian... Sorry... I know that kinda comes off assholish, and i know the whole GLBT thing is about community or whatever, but i dont live in a community. I dont have any gay friends anymore, and i dont know any lesbians.. so i dont quite get the whole "we are a community" thing. Maybe if i lived in san fransicso.
Oh man, no worries! That was me not paying attention, not you being an asshole!
What about Lockpick Pornography by Joey Comeau, who also writes a webcomic and short stories? It's sort of a crime romp, and it's got lesbians and gay community people in some parts, but you can read it for free online and it might lift your spirits a little if you're a gay dude trying to live in Texas.
One of the first things he says - perhaps the very first, in fact - is that he falls in love with the Chaplain the moment he sees him. The Chaplain is a man.
Zombiemambo on
0
admanbunionize your workplaceSeattle, WARegistered Userregular
I'm not saying there shouldn't be gay characters. I have gay friends and their lives are no different from my straight lives other than the fact that he likes to be with a man instead of a woman.
I think there's just some part of it I'm not seeing, I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on though.
You are, I'm guessing, a straight caucasian male? I mean no offense whether you are or not, but when you glance through your entertainment and see straight caucasian male after straight caucasian male, it doesn't really enter your mind how important it is to have those, for risk of repeating myself, straight caucasian males. Once you have that base you'll start to think you'd really like something other than straight caucasian males, but that base is important.
One of the first things he says - perhaps the very first, in fact - is that he falls in love with the Chaplain the moment he sees him. The Chaplain is a man.
Nearly everything Yossarian says is tongue-in-cheek in one way or another. It's been a while since I've read it, so I don't have any specific arguments, but I would take anything Yossarian says with a handful of salt. :P
To the OP: I don't have any specific suggestions for you. I recommend keeping an eye on Young Adult fiction (obviously avoiding the ubiquitous high-school coming out novels) because they tend to be written by younger and therefore more liberal authors.
if you can track them down, michael moorcock's jerry cornelius novels feature, well, jerry cornelius. he's not exactly gay, more a pan-sexual james bondish sort (at least in the first novel, "The Final Programme"), but they're very interesting. it's hard to describe.
I found this because I vaguely remembered The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan having a gay significant character. Clive Barker is mentioned above as well, there are quite a few gay characters in his work, but he's also big on sexual horror so I don't know if that would really be what you're after. He does write some more moderate fantasy stuff, too.
Well thanks to everyone's reccomendations i have about 11 new books on my kindle DX, and 5 books coming in the mail.
Michael Chabon is already becomming a favorite of mine from what ive read today.
I wish there were more Nightrunner books on Kindle. Apparently only the most recent one is on kindle.
If any of you have any other suggestions for web comics or novels please keep them coming.
I do want to shift gears a bit and keep this topic alive with another question ( i will ammend the OP ). Im also looking for gay themed or gay friendly songs. I mean a lot of songs are ambiguous enough that they work for all sexualities...
But are there any good songs or artists out there who do music specifically for the GLBT crowd?
Well thanks to everyone's reccomendations i have about 11 new books on my kindle DX, and 5 books coming in the mail.
Michael Chabon is already becomming a favorite of mine from what ive read today.
I wish there were more Nightrunner books on Kindle. Apparently only the most recent one is on kindle.
If any of you have any other suggestions for web comics or novels please keep them coming.
I do want to shift gears a bit and keep this topic alive with another question ( i will ammend the OP ). Im also looking for gay themed or gay friendly songs. I mean a lot of songs are ambiguous enough that they work for all sexualities...
But are there any good songs or artists out there who do music specifically for the GLBT crowd?
off the top of my head, rufus wainwright is gay. on his album "Poses" he does a fantastic cover of a song called "One Man Guy". It was originally written and performed by his dad (Louden Wainwright III), and knowing rufus' sexuality adds a nice twist to the lyrics.
other than that, let's see...the scissor sisters are famously gay and awesome, of course the b-52s and the indigo girls. the dresden dolls are more bisexual, but still fun.
Well thanks to everyone's reccomendations i have about 11 new books on my kindle DX, and 5 books coming in the mail.
Michael Chabon is already becomming a favorite of mine from what ive read today.
I wish there were more Nightrunner books on Kindle. Apparently only the most recent one is on kindle.
If any of you have any other suggestions for web comics or novels please keep them coming.
I do want to shift gears a bit and keep this topic alive with another question ( i will ammend the OP ). Im also looking for gay themed or gay friendly songs. I mean a lot of songs are ambiguous enough that they work for all sexualities...
But are there any good songs or artists out there who do music specifically for the GLBT crowd?
In the obvious department: Indigo Girls. In the kinda neat department: The Ark.
I highly recommend Sarah Monette's Doctrine of Labyrinth books, beginning with Melusine. Totally awesome series with a gay protagonist (well, perhaps anti-hero, gets a bit hard to define). I think they're going out of print though, since they didn't sell very well.
Best webcomic I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
This is... amazing.
And is Collin.. um.. is he?
Cause.. i mean.. in a western.. and wow.
Wow.
Go read the cast page. >:} I don't want to say too much because what's so great about this comic is how subtle it is, how so much is suggested through story and actions rather than said.
Oh, and another series that comes to mind (I hunted for these kind of books myself not so long ago) are Ellen Kushner's Swordpoint and Fall of Kings. There is a third book as well, but I haven't read that yet so can't comment.
Best webcomic I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
This is... amazing.
And is Collin.. um.. is he?
Cause.. i mean.. in a western.. and wow.
Wow.
Go read the cast page. >:} I don't want to say too much because what's so great about this comic is how subtle it is, how so much is suggested through story and actions rather than said.
This comic is so balls to the wall awesome! I love westerns! And this is like... such a different take on them!
Np Np :333 Just pass it on, they don't get nearly enough exposure for how awesome and -well written- the comic is. It's intended as a book rather than a webcomic and christ does that help. (And oh god, read the Historical Notes. Do it.)
Also, it's not a webcomic or a book, but you oughta watch Southland if you like gay protagonists.
Posts
Yeah it is pretty sub par, which was a shame really.
I want to know more PA people on Twitter.
As for suggestions. There are tons of Japanese manga which have the main character being gay, or coming to terms with homosexuality (most are of the smut fanservice variety for ladies, but I'm told there are some with good serious stories). I can ask my friend who's really into that stuff if you're even a little interested.
just doesn't do it for ya. same deal, it's normal for homosexuals to want to read about romantic things they can go 'yes that is good' to, instead of a bountiful bosom and curvaceous hips.
the op said he wasn't going for a smut book or one that focuses on the romance, just a 'here is a good book, and the protagonist happens to be gay.'
Maybe I don't relate with characters in books enough.
Yea, Im not looking for Shonen-ai or Yaoi. At all. I find it disgusting actually, since its written for a female audience, and carries the Seme Uke stereotypes, which are both highly innaccurate to most homosexual males, and is also a bastardization of homosexual themes IMO.
And again. The issue comes up. "Whats the point of a gay protagonist?"
I guess there isnt one. I guess there should be no gay characters, since their lives are no different than straight ones, and you can tell a good story without gaying it all up and stuff.
yeah, the nightrunner series doesn't focus on it, or even mention it on the flap or anything, so it is kind of amusing/sad to read reviews of it with people saying 'i liked it until i got to the parts where gay stuff was hinted at/happened.'
come on, you stupid people.
This is kind of like Stephen Colbert saying "I don't see color."
If you are a gay person, at least, it makes a huge difference.
I think there's just some part of it I'm not seeing, I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on though.
They must live a wonderful life. I for one dont live such an existence. Muchly why im looking for a book with a gay protagonist. Im looking for a fantasy to escape my reality.
Cause my reality is, i live in a homophobic west texas city, with little to no prospects for normal life as a gay person.
Ive never been able to show affection to a SO in public without being ridiculed, or threatened by the public. I have no rights as far as marriage is concerned.
I have had to quit 2 different therapists, because both were homophobic, one actually being prejudice enough to drop me.
So yea... the point for me.. is i would like a slice of gay life that is actually pleasant.
If you are a gay person, reading a novel with a gay protagonist -- especially if it's unexpected -- is just nice. It's a sign of acceptance.
I can't vouch for any of the information but it might help you find resources for finding more books.
Apparently there are awards for good fantasy sci/fi with gay/lesbian characters.
http://www.lambdasf.org/lsf/books/lammys.html
^the winners (doesn't mean they are good books, but worth a look)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_science_fiction
^Wiki page with information on what you're looking for
I went to some scifi forums that had this same question asked. Most of the books people posted here have already been mentioned, but to add some people said these were good reads:
C J Cherryh's Cyteen
Sarah Monette, Doctrine of the Labyrinth Series - starts with "Melusine"
Tanya Huff, Smoke Series - Urban fantasy but highly entertaining
Tanya Huff , "The Fire's Stone"
Chaz Brenchley, Outremer Series - gay characters in a multicharacter ensemble
Astrid Amara, "The Archer's Heart"
If I double posted anything sorry.
Really?
Color me surprised if he is.
Holy shit, how did I forget this? Stars in my Pocket Like Grains of Sand blew my fucking mind.
And the OP isn't crazy. I wouldn't say I can only relate to gay characters; but when I started watching Brothers and Sisters (TV show, family drama), I was surprised by how pathetically grateful I was to see a gay dude matter-of-fact-ly included as a serious main character (and not as a sassy sidekick, random victim, or tragic warning). It's nice. You breathe a little easier. It's like reality is acknowledging that people like you exist.
Oh man, no worries! That was me not paying attention, not you being an asshole!
What about Lockpick Pornography by Joey Comeau, who also writes a webcomic and short stories? It's sort of a crime romp, and it's got lesbians and gay community people in some parts, but you can read it for free online and it might lift your spirits a little if you're a gay dude trying to live in Texas.
One of the first things he says - perhaps the very first, in fact - is that he falls in love with the Chaplain the moment he sees him. The Chaplain is a man.
You are, I'm guessing, a straight caucasian male? I mean no offense whether you are or not, but when you glance through your entertainment and see straight caucasian male after straight caucasian male, it doesn't really enter your mind how important it is to have those, for risk of repeating myself, straight caucasian males. Once you have that base you'll start to think you'd really like something other than straight caucasian males, but that base is important.
Nearly everything Yossarian says is tongue-in-cheek in one way or another. It's been a while since I've read it, so I don't have any specific arguments, but I would take anything Yossarian says with a handful of salt. :P
To the OP: I don't have any specific suggestions for you. I recommend keeping an eye on Young Adult fiction (obviously avoiding the ubiquitous high-school coming out novels) because they tend to be written by younger and therefore more liberal authors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT_characters_in_modern_written_fiction
I found this because I vaguely remembered The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan having a gay significant character. Clive Barker is mentioned above as well, there are quite a few gay characters in his work, but he's also big on sexual horror so I don't know if that would really be what you're after. He does write some more moderate fantasy stuff, too.
Michael Chabon is already becomming a favorite of mine from what ive read today.
I wish there were more Nightrunner books on Kindle. Apparently only the most recent one is on kindle.
If any of you have any other suggestions for web comics or novels please keep them coming.
I do want to shift gears a bit and keep this topic alive with another question ( i will ammend the OP ). Im also looking for gay themed or gay friendly songs. I mean a lot of songs are ambiguous enough that they work for all sexualities...
But are there any good songs or artists out there who do music specifically for the GLBT crowd?
off the top of my head, rufus wainwright is gay. on his album "Poses" he does a fantastic cover of a song called "One Man Guy". It was originally written and performed by his dad (Louden Wainwright III), and knowing rufus' sexuality adds a nice twist to the lyrics.
other than that, let's see...the scissor sisters are famously gay and awesome, of course the b-52s and the indigo girls. the dresden dolls are more bisexual, but still fun.
Do... Re... Mi... So... Fa.... Do... Re.... Do...
Forget it...
Best webcomic I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
In the obvious department: Indigo Girls. In the kinda neat department: The Ark.
This is... amazing.
And is Collin.. um.. is he?
Cause.. i mean.. in a western.. and wow.
Wow.
Go read the cast page. >:} I don't want to say too much because what's so great about this comic is how subtle it is, how so much is suggested through story and actions rather than said.
This comic is so balls to the wall awesome! I love westerns! And this is like... such a different take on them!
^_^ Thank you so much! You just made my week!
Also, it's not a webcomic or a book, but you oughta watch Southland if you like gay protagonists.
The Authority
Young Avengers
Book:
Wraethu
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.