Nonbinary gender in fiction: Difference between revisions
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===Books and other literature === | ===Books and other literature === | ||
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* In ''The Way of Thorn and Thunder'' fantasy series (also called ''The Kynship Chronicles''), by [[Two-Spirit]] author Daniel Heath Justice, there is a race called the Kyn, who recognize three genders: he-Kyn, she-Kyn and zhe-Kyn. These are specifically [[gender]]s, not [[sex]]es, according to reviewer [[Bogi Takács]].<ref name="kynship">{{Cite web |title=QUILTBAG+ Speculative Classics: The Way of Thorn and Thunder by Daniel Heath Justice (Part 1) |authorlink=Bogi Takács |last=Takács |first=Bogi |work=Tor.com |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=24 July 2020 |url= https://www.tor.com/2019/05/21/quiltbag-speculative-classics-the-way-of-thorn-and-thunder-by-daniel-heath-justice-part-1/ }}</ref> | * In ''The Way of Thorn and Thunder'' fantasy series (also called ''The Kynship Chronicles''), by [[Two-Spirit]] author Daniel Heath Justice, there is a race called the Kyn, who recognize three genders: he-Kyn, she-Kyn and zhe-Kyn. These are specifically [[gender]]s, not [[sex]]es, according to reviewer [[Bogi Takács]].<ref name="kynship">{{Cite web |title=QUILTBAG+ Speculative Classics: The Way of Thorn and Thunder by Daniel Heath Justice (Part 1) |authorlink=Bogi Takács |last=Takács |first=Bogi |work=Tor.com |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=24 July 2020 |url= https://www.tor.com/2019/05/21/quiltbag-speculative-classics-the-way-of-thorn-and-thunder-by-daniel-heath-justice-part-1/ }}</ref> | ||
* ''Fool for Love'' (first written 2005, revised edition 2010), by Lisa Lees, is "A young adult coming of age / [[coming out]] romance with [[intersex]] and genderqueer main characters and a happy ending." ''A Triangular Attraction'' is the 2012 sequel, a "mystery novel with intersex, trans and genderqueer characters." Both can now be read free online in HTML or EPUB format on [https://lisalees.com/ll/books/index.html the author's website]. | |||
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* In ''Just Girls'' by Rachel Gold, the side character Nico is nonbinary and uses various [[neopronouns|nonstandard pronouns]] such as [[English_neutral_pronouns#Per|per]] and [[English_neutral_pronouns#Yo|yo]]. Note: the main story centers on a [[cis]] woman who pretends she is trans in order to protect another woman who actually is trans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Just Girls: Danika at The Lesbrary's review|date=15 September 2014|url=https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1056011765?book_show_action=true}}</ref> | * In ''Just Girls'' by Rachel Gold, the side character Nico is nonbinary and uses various [[neopronouns|nonstandard pronouns]] such as [[English_neutral_pronouns#Per|per]] and [[English_neutral_pronouns#Yo|yo]]. Note: the main story centers on a [[cis]] woman who pretends she is trans in order to protect another woman who actually is trans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Just Girls: Danika at The Lesbrary's review|date=15 September 2014|url=https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1056011765?book_show_action=true}}</ref> | ||
*Min Lee in the ''Under My Skin'' series by A. E. Dooland (''Under My Skin'' 2014, ''Flesh & Blood'' 2015, and ''Solve for i'' 2017) is nonbinary and accepts [[he/him]] or [[she/her]] pronouns, depending on the situation. Furthermore, the author has said that "She doesn't really like [[they/them]] (because she feels in many cases it draws too much attention to her gender), but in an event where someone used those pronouns, she'd prefer you just went along with it, too. [...] Min ''does'' typically prefer male-gendered words, such as 'boyfriend' and 'husband' etc."<ref>{{cite web|title=Anonymous asked: What pronouns does Min prefer?|date=July 19, 2019|url=https://asynca.tumblr.com/post/186394898034/what-pronouns-does-min-prefer}}</ref> | |||
====2015==== | ====2015==== | ||
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* In the young adult fantasy book ''Ida'', by genderqueer author [[Alison Evans]], the main character's partner, Daisy, is genderqueer.<ref name="Evans2017" /> | * In the young adult fantasy book ''Ida'', by genderqueer author [[Alison Evans]], the main character's partner, Daisy, is genderqueer.<ref name="Evans2017" /> | ||
* ''Light Up The Dark'', by Suki Fleet, has a minor character named Loz who uses [[singular they]] pronouns. Another character says about Loz: "They don't want to identify as a boy or a girl." | * ''Light Up The Dark'', by Suki Fleet, has a minor character named Loz who uses [[singular they]] pronouns. Another character says about Loz: "They don't want to identify as a boy or a girl." | ||
*Alex Fierro is a [[genderfluid]] character from the book series ''Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard'', by Rick Riordan. Alex switches between she/her and he/him pronouns, although expressing that she normally uses she/her pronouns. Alex first appears in the 2016 book ''The Hammer of Thor,'' and is the love interest of the main character of the series, Magnus Chase. During ''The Hammer of Thor'', Alex states "I'm gender fluid and transgender" (Riordan 54). | |||
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* In ''The Black Tides of Heaven'' by nonbinary author [[Neon Yang]], gender is not assigned at birth and children get to choose at a gender confirmation later in life. One of the characters, Akeha feels at home with the childhood nonbinary designation.<ref name="Casey">{{Cite web |title=8 Fiction Books with Non-Binary Characters |author=Casey |work=Autostraddle |date=27 November 2018 |access-date=25 May 2020 |url= https://www.autostraddle.com/8-fiction-books-with-non-binary-characters-439192/}}</ref> | * In ''The Black Tides of Heaven'' by nonbinary author [[Neon Yang]], gender is not assigned at birth and children get to choose at a gender confirmation later in life. One of the characters, Akeha feels at home with the childhood nonbinary designation.<ref name="Casey">{{Cite web |title=8 Fiction Books with Non-Binary Characters |author=Casey |work=Autostraddle |date=27 November 2018 |access-date=25 May 2020 |url= https://www.autostraddle.com/8-fiction-books-with-non-binary-characters-439192/}}</ref> | ||
*''Luna: Wolf Moon'' (2017) and its sequel ''Luna: Moon Rising'' (2019), by Ian McDonald, have a nonbinary character named Vidhya Rao.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna:_Wolf_Moon and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna:_Moon_Rising</ref> | *''Luna: Wolf Moon'' (2017) and its sequel ''Luna: Moon Rising'' (2019), by Ian McDonald, have a nonbinary character named Vidhya Rao.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna:_Wolf_Moon and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna:_Moon_Rising</ref> | ||
* ''River of Teeth'', by [[Sarah Gailey]], has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | * ''River of Teeth'', by [[Sarah Gailey]], has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow">{{Cite web |title=Book Recs: Twitter's Favourite Trans Books |author= |work=Reads Rainbow |date=13 May 2020 |access-date=2 November 2020 |url= https://readsrainbow.wordpress.com/2020/05/13/book-recs-twitters-favourite-trans-books/}}</ref> | ||
* ''Raven Stratagem'', by Yoon Ha Lee, has nonbinary side characters.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | * ''Raven Stratagem'', by Yoon Ha Lee, has nonbinary side characters.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | ||
* In ''The Tiger's Watch'' by Julia Ember, the protagonist Tashi is [[genderfluid]] and uses [[they/them]] pronouns. The author notes that "Being [[Misgendering|misgendered]] and forced to change their appearance in order to hide is a source of conflict in the novel. It is not the central plot conflict, though."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/questions/738992-this-sounds-like-an-awesome-story-i-m|title=Shade asked: This sounds like an awesome story! I'm confused by the use of 'their' instead of 'her' or 'him' though.}}</ref> | * In ''The Tiger's Watch'' by Julia Ember, the protagonist Tashi is [[genderfluid]] and uses [[they/them]] pronouns. The author notes that "Being [[Misgendering|misgendered]] and forced to change their appearance in order to hide is a source of conflict in the novel. It is not the central plot conflict, though."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/questions/738992-this-sounds-like-an-awesome-story-i-m|title=Shade asked: This sounds like an awesome story! I'm confused by the use of 'their' instead of 'her' or 'him' though.}}</ref> | ||
* Sal in ''Mask of Shadows'' (2017) and ''Ruin of Stars'' (2018), by Linsey Miller, is genderfluid. | * Sal in ''Mask of Shadows'' (2017) and ''Ruin of Stars'' (2018), by Linsey Miller, is genderfluid. | ||
*In the fantasy books ''Divided Worlds'' (2017) and ''The Ascension of Lark'' (2019), by Jennifer Ridge, the character Lark is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. There is an author's note at the end of ''Divided Worlds'' which specifically describes Lark as "non-binary and androgynous". Content note: In ''The Ascension of Lark'' there is some misgendering, homelessness, and physical abuse in the flashbacks to Lark's younger days. Their [[deadname]] is redacted in the text. | |||
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* In the mystery-fantasy book ''Out of Salem'' by Hal Schrieve, the protagonist Z Chilworth is nonbinary and recently became a zombie. Content note: the story contains body horror, family abuse, suicidal ideation, police violence toward children and marginalized groups, fatphobic and homophobic bullying, and discussion of medical abuse.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40585222-out-of-salem</ref> | * In the mystery-fantasy book ''Out of Salem'' by Hal Schrieve, the protagonist Z Chilworth is nonbinary and recently became a zombie. Content note: the story contains body horror, family abuse, suicidal ideation, police violence toward children and marginalized groups, fatphobic and homophobic bullying, and discussion of medical abuse.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40585222-out-of-salem</ref> | ||
* ''The Melting Queen'', by Bruce Cinnamon, has a genderfluid protagonist named River Runson. | * ''The Melting Queen'', by Bruce Cinnamon, has a genderfluid protagonist named River Runson. | ||
* ''Sexarchate: Hot Equations'', by Lia Meyers, is a sexually explicit sci-fi with a nonbinary character. From the same publisher (Less Than Three Press), ''A Party for Lola'' by Caitlin Ricci and ''Beginnings'' by Alexa Black also contain nonbinary characters.<ref name="LT3tumblr">{{cite web|url=https://lessthanthreepress.tumblr.com/search/non-binary|title=Less Than Three Press: Search results containing "non-binary"|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20201026214542/https://lessthanthreepress.tumblr.com/search/non-binary |archive-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> | * ''Sexarchate: Hot Equations'', by Lia Meyers, is a sexually explicit sci-fi with a nonbinary character. From the same publisher (Less Than Three Press), ''A Party for Lola'' by Caitlin Ricci and ''Beginnings'' by Alexa Black also contain nonbinary characters.<ref name="LT3tumblr">{{cite web|url=https://lessthanthreepress.tumblr.com/search/non-binary|title=Less Than Three Press: Search results containing "non-binary"|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20201026214542/https://lessthanthreepress.tumblr.com/search/non-binary |archive-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> Note: these books may be hard to find, as the publisher closed down in 2019. | ||
* ''Why We Fight'', by T.J. Klune, has a bigender protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | * ''Why We Fight'', by T.J. Klune, has a bigender protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | ||
* Lelia in ''The Lost Coast'', by Amy Rose Capetta, is a nonbinary gray-asexual, and described as such in the text. | * Lelia in ''The Lost Coast'', by Amy Rose Capetta, is a nonbinary gray-asexual, and described as such in the text. | ||
*In the children's book (ages 8-12) ''The Moon Within'', by Aida Salazar, Marco is genderfluid. Content note: Part of the plot involves main character Celi getting her first period. | *In the children's book (ages 8-12) ''The Moon Within'', by Aida Salazar, Marco is genderfluid. Content note: Part of the plot involves main character Celi getting her first period. | ||
* ''The Vela'', a multi-author serially-published space opera, has a nonbinary character named Niko who uses [[they/them]] pronouns. There are other nonbinary characters as well. Yoon Ha Lee, one of the authors, revealed that in the original drafts "Niko was originally a [[cisgender]]ed male character named Oskar".<ref name="Hadi_thevela">{{Cite web |title=Unveiling ‘The Vela’: An interview with Becky Chambers, S. L. Huang and Yoon Ha Lee (Part 1) |last=Hadi |first=Shana E. |work=The Stanford Daily |date=6 March 2019 |access-date=7 November 2020 |url= https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/03/06/unveiling-the-vela-an-interview-with-becky-chambers-s-l-huang-and-yoon-ha-lee-part-1/}}</ref> | |||
* ''Jack Long and the Demon Deal'', by L. J. Hamlin, has a nonbinary side character.<ref name="jacklong">{{Cite web |title=Cover Reveal: Jack Long and the Demon Deal by L. J. Hamlin |author= |work=Let's Fox About It |date= |access-date=8 November 2020 |url= https://letsfoxaboutit.com/cover-reveal-jack-long-and-the-demon-deal-by-l-j-hamlin/ }}</ref> Note: may be hard to find, as the publisher closed down in 2019. | |||
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* ''The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water'', by Zen Cho, has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | * ''The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water'', by Zen Cho, has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | ||
* ''Euphoria Kids'', by [[Alison Evans]], has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | * ''Euphoria Kids'', by [[Alison Evans]], has a nonbinary protagonist.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | ||
* ''Once & Future'', by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy, has a nonbinary side character.<ref name="readsrainbow" /> | |||
====2021==== | ====2021==== | ||