Undisclosed gender in fiction: Difference between revisions

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* In K. A. Cook's short story "Misstery Man" in ''Crooked Words'', an androgynous-looking superhero by that name has never disclosed their gender, resulting in rude speculation in the local newspapers. This frustrates the unrelated nonbinary main character, Darcy, who thinks it would be easier to come out if only someone famous like that would come out or otherwise make the newspaper gossip stop.<ref>K. A. Cook, "Misstery Man." Crooked Words. Unpaged.</ref>
* In K. A. Cook's short story "Misstery Man" in ''Crooked Words'', an androgynous-looking superhero by that name has never disclosed their gender, resulting in rude speculation in the local newspapers. This frustrates the unrelated nonbinary main character, Darcy, who thinks it would be easier to come out if only someone famous like that would come out or otherwise make the newspaper gossip stop.<ref>K. A. Cook, "Misstery Man." Crooked Words. Unpaged.</ref>
* In Alastair Reynolds's science fiction novel ''On the Steel Breeze,'' one character is called by gender-neutral [[English neutral pronouns#Ve|"ve" pronouns]]. The novel never gives any exposition about this character's sex, gender, or pronouns, and ver gender-neutrality doesn't influence the plot. The lack of remark gives the impression that a nonbinary gender is unremarkable, but this is also why some readers thought the pronouns were a misprint.<ref>Outis, "Gender-neutral characters and pronouns." November 20, 2013. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1580481-gender-neutral-characters-and-pronouns</ref> The lack of discussion about the character's gender also means that this is an example of undisclosed gender, rather than nonbinary representation.
* In Alastair Reynolds's science fiction novel ''On the Steel Breeze,'' one character is called by gender-neutral [[English neutral pronouns#Ve|"ve" pronouns]]. The novel never gives any exposition about this character's sex, gender, or pronouns, and ver gender-neutrality doesn't influence the plot. The lack of remark gives the impression that a nonbinary gender is unremarkable, but this is also why some readers thought the pronouns were a misprint.<ref>Outis, "Gender-neutral characters and pronouns." November 20, 2013. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1580481-gender-neutral-characters-and-pronouns</ref> The lack of discussion about the character's gender also means that this is an example of undisclosed gender, rather than nonbinary representation.
* Atsuko Asano's No. 6 contains many androgynous characters, including Inukashi, who Shion, the main character, is unable to tell their gender due to their long hair and thin body. In the english translation, Inukashi is referred to by male pronouns.
* Atsuko Asano's ''No. 6'' contains many androgynous characters, including Inukashi, who Shion, the main character, is unable to tell their gender due to their long hair and thin body. In the english translation, Inukashi is referred to by male pronouns.
* In Maïa Mazaurette's french novel "Rien ne nous survivra - Le pire est Avenir", one of the main characters called Silence is never called by either male or female pronouns. The whole book managed to avoid gender qualification for this character. (French is a very Binary langage, even furniture has a gender, so it's quite an accomplishment)
* In Maïa Mazaurette's french novel "Rien ne nous survivra - Le pire est Avenir", one of the main characters called Silence is never called by either male or female pronouns. The whole book managed to avoid gender qualification for this character. (French is a very binary language; even furniture has a gender, so it's quite an accomplishment)
* In ''Pew'', by Catherine Lacey, the citizens of a small town find "a person of indeterminate race and gender" asleep in a church pew. This person, who becomes known as Pew, refuses to speak or identify themself in any way. At first the townspeople are simply curious, but eventually they start to distrust and mistreat Pew.<ref name="Pew">{{Cite web |title=Book Review - Pew by Catherine Lacey |last=Bufferd |first=Lauren |work=BookPage.com |date=August 2020 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://bookpage.com/reviews/25326-catherine-lacey-pew-fiction }}</ref>


== Comics and graphic novels ==
== Comics and graphic novels ==
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