Nonbinary gender in fiction: Difference between revisions

====2018====

====2019====

====2010====

* In ''Surface Detail'', by Iain M. Banks, the character Yime Nsokyi is "[[neuter]]-gendered" and has an [[intersex]] body by choice.

====2014====

*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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906201935/https://asynca.tumblr.com/post/186394898034/what-pronouns-does-min-prefer|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

====2015====

*In Sam Farren's novel ''Dragonoak: The Complete History of Kastelir'' (2015) and its sequel ''Dragonoak: The Sky Beneath the Sun'' (2015), several nonbinary characters play important roles. All of them use "they" pronouns and are only described in gender-neutral terms. Their gender is not their defining feature - the novel's fictional society treats nonbinary genders as just as normal as binary ones. The author is a nonbinary lesbian.<ref>https://athetos.tumblr.com/post/181997780240/hey-uhhh-go-read-literally-anything-by-sam-farren</ref>

*The main character in ''Damsel Knight'', by Sam Austin, spends much of the book [[gender questioning]], and ends questioning but also settled into an identity somewhere between male and female. She eventually chooses she/her pronouns and a masculine name.

*''Lizard Radio'' by [[Pat Schmatz]] has a nonbinary protagonist named Kivali "Lizard" Kerwin.<ref name="Casey" /><ref name="kirk_LIZA">{{Cite web |title=LIZARD RADIO |author= |work=Kirkus Reviews |date=18 May 2015 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pat-schmatz/lizard-radio/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818160240/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pat-schmatz/lizard-radio/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* In the Star Wars novel ''Aftermath: Life Debt'', Eleodie Maracavanya is a human pirate who "is of an undisclosed gender separate from male or female". Eleodie mainly uses zhe/zher pronouns, occasionally using he/him or she/her.<ref name="Yip">{{Cite web |title=7 Genderqueer Characters to Celebrate Pride Month |last=Yip |first=By Annaliese |work=CBR |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=14 September 2020 |url= https://www.cbr.com/7-genderqueer-characters-to-celebrate-pride-month/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421233942/https://www.cbr.com/7-genderqueer-characters-to-celebrate-pride-month/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* ''Documenting Light'', by EE Ottoman, is a romance between the characters Grayson and Wyatt; Wyatt is nonbinary.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31922116-documenting-light</ref>

* 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."

* 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.

====2018====

* In the romance novel ''Gypsy's Rogue'', by Layla Dorine, main character Gypsy is genderfluid and uses they/them pronouns.<ref name="qri-gypsy">{{Cite web |title=Gypsy's Rogue |author= |work=Queeromance Ink |date= |access-date=23 February 2021 |url= https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/gypsys-rogue/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020232927/https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/gypsys-rogue/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

* ''Quick Fire'', by Alex Silver, is an "urban fantasy romance featuring a trans man and an [[asexual]] non-binary person".<ref>https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/quick-fire/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20201202122144/https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/quick-fire/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* ''Rom & Yuli'', by Amara Lynn, is a post-apocalyptic urban fantasy romance between a man and a nonbinary person.<ref name="lets_LowH">{{Cite web |title=Low Heat Romance Recommendations |author= |work=Let's Fox About It |date= |access-date=8 November 2020 |url= https://letsfoxaboutit.com/low-heat-romance-recommendations/ |at=page 3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019095120/https://letsfoxaboutit.com/low-heat-romance-recommendations/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* In Karolina Fedyk's Polish-language novel ''Skrzydła'' (''Wings''), there is a nonbinary character Eliri who is referred to with [[Gender neutral language in Polish|oni/ich pronouns]].<ref name="telesep">{{Cite web |title=[PL] Czerwcowe czytanie pełne dumy |author= |work=Teleseparatist |date=6 June 2019 |access-date=29 November 2020 |url= https://teleseparatist.wordpress.com/2019/06/06/pl-czerwcowe-czytanie-pelne-dumy/ |language=pl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305211308/https://teleseparatist.wordpress.com/2019/06/06/pl-czerwcowe-czytanie-pelne-dumy/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://zaimki.pl/korpus#oni-ich |title=Niebinarna polszczyzna w tekstach kultury |language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226062919/https://zaimki.pl/korpus |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</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 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230331141504/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40585222-out-of-salem Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* ''The Melting Queen'', by Bruce Cinnamon, has a genderfluid protagonist named River Runson.

* ''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.

* ''The First Sister'', by [[Linden A. Lewis]], has multiple protagonists; one of them (Hiro val Akira) is nonbinary and genderqueer.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=lindenalewis |number=1300381570197598218|date=31 August 2020|title=The First Sister is bisexual; I am bisexual. Hiro is nonbinary; I am nonbinary. However, Hiro is Japanese, which I am not. Lito is panromantic asexual, which I am not. In these cases, I hired sensitivity readers for feedback.}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=lindenalewis|number=1290286655304171522|title=Tomorrow THE FIRST SISTER releases! Meet Hiro, our final POV char. Hiro val Akira is:[Sparkles] Nonbinary genderqueer (they/them) [Sparkles] A spy-like Dagger [Sparkles] Lito’s former partner [Sparkles] A traitor to the Icarii?!|date= 3 August 2020}}</ref> At one point in the book, someone asks "Hey, Hiro, are you a boy or a girl?" and Hiro answers "I am what I am. Neither. Both. Who cares?"<ref name="Beeson">{{Cite web |title=My Favorite Bit: Linden Lewis talks about THE FIRST SISTER |last=Beeson |first=Donovan |work=Mary Robinette Kowal |date= |access-date=13 July 2021 |url= https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/my-favorite-bit-linden-lewis-talks-about-the-first-sister/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810175808/https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/my-favorite-bit-linden-lewis-talks-about-the-first-sister/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* ''My Maddy'', by Gayle E. Pitman, is a children's book about a [[Family|nonbinary parent]].<ref name="good_MyMa">{{Cite web |title=My Maddy |author= |work=goodreads.com |date= |access-date=2 November 2020 |url= https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43271383-my-maddy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326170123/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43271383-my-maddy|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref>

* ''Whirlwind'', by Reese Morrison, is a collection of interconnected short romance/sex stories. Dakota is [[intersex]] and nonbinary, describing their gender identity as "a combination of the best of both genders and something else beside." Carla is [[genderqueer]] and [[Masculine of center|masculine-of-center]] and uses [[he/him]] pronouns. Charlie is a [[gender questioning]] [[butch]] who uses [[she/her]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Whirlwind |last=Morrison |first=Reese|year=2020|edition=Kindle}}</ref>

* ''Under Shifting Stars'', by Alexandra Latos, has a genderfluid protagonist and a nonbinary love interest.<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44286277-under-shifting-stars [https://web.archive.org/web/20210528155842/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44286277-under-shifting-stars Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>

* ''Loveless'', by Alice Oseman, has a nonbinary side character.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=PineappleRobin|number=1401566434170376193 |title=Loveless by Alice Oseman One of my all time favorite books, I love the characters, I love the enemy to love romance between two side characters but the book is mostly about friendships. rep: Aroace MC, lesbian best friend, pansexual roommate, non binary side character|date= 6 June 2021}}</ref>

* ''Love Yourself: A Genderfluid Romance'', by N. R. Blythe, is a sexually explicit romance featuring a genderfluid person who goes by Cora when in girl mode and Corey when in boy mode.

* ''Dragons Past Dawn'', by Ennis Rook Bashe, has two nonbinary protagonists: Sely, who uses [[they/them]] pronouns, and Andreas, who uses [[English_neutral_pronouns#Xe.2C_xir|xe/xir]] pronouns.<ref>{{cite book|title=Dragons Past Dawn|year=2020|last=Bashe |first=Ennis Rook}}</ref>

* ''Upright Women Wanted'', by [[Sarah Gailey]], has a nonbinary character.<ref name="readsrainbow" />

* Fantasy novel ''In The Ravenous Dark'', by A.M. Strickland, has a nonbinary [[asexual]] character.<ref>{{cite tweet|title=*whispers* I have an upcoming YA dark fantasy with a blood mage who's pan, a lesbian love interest (also a mage), an enby/ace best friend (also a mage), and a m/f/f poly relationship if you want more queer with your magic use:|user=AdriAnneMS|number=1270142172285689856|date=8 June 2020}}</ref>

* In ''Simply the Best'', by Karen Kallmaker, one of the main character's best friends comes out as nonbinary near the start of the book.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Simply The Best by Karin Kallmaker: Book Review |author=Sheena |work=The Lesbian Review |date=31 October 2021 |access-date=4 November 2021 |url= https://www.thelesbianreview.com/simply-best-karin-kallmaker/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124123537/https://www.thelesbianreview.com/simply-best-karin-kallmaker/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

====2022====

=== Comics/Webcomics/Graphic Novels===

*''[http://chaoslife.findchaos.com Chaos Life]'' by A. Stiffler and K. Copeland - A light-hearted, semi-autobiographical webcomic about the everyday idiosyncrasies of an [[agender]] person, their female partner, and their cats. Also covers various issues relating to GSM topics, politics, and mental health. Updates weekly.

*''[http://www.egscomics.com/ El Goonish Shive]'' includes a main character who identifies as genderfluid several years into the comic. Author Dan Shive has said that Tedd, like the author, has always been genderfluid but did not realise there was a word for it or even a concept of being nonbinary until much later in life. The comic also includes various other LGBT characters as well as shapeshifting technology.

* In season one, episode seven of the legal drama ''All Rise'' (titled "Uncommon Women and Mothers"), Emily's client is a homeless nonbinary youth named Jax, played by [[transmasculine]] actor JJ Hawkins.<ref name="AllRise">{{Cite web |title=All Rise Review: Uncommon Women and Mothers (Season 1 Episode 7) |last=Wyneken |first=Caitlin |work=Tell-Tale TV |date=5 November 2019 |access-date=27 October 2020 |url= https://telltaletv.com/2019/11/all-rise-review-uncommon-women-and-mothers-season-1-episode-7/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516223344/https://telltaletv.com/2019/11/all-rise-review-uncommon-women-and-mothers-season-1-episode-7/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> Jax is misgendered during a court proceeding and their lawyer speaks up in objection, convincing the judge to enforce use of the correct [[they/them]] pronouns for Jax.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/CE-BHDBhtrE/ Instagram post] 10 September 2020</ref>

* The sci-fi Netflix series ''Another Life'' includes among its characters a nonbinary psychologist named Zayn whose pronouns are [[ze/hir]]. Ze is played by nonbinary actor [[JayR Tinaco]].<ref name="LeightonDore">{{Cite web |title=Australian actor JayR Tinaco's role in 'Another Life' helped them come out as non-binary |last=Leighton-Dore |first=Samuel |work=Topics |date=31 July 2019 |access-date=15 September 2020 |url= https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/pride/agenda/article/2019/07/30/australian-actor-jayr-tinacos-role-another-life-helped-them-come-out-non-binary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129090245/https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/pride/agenda/article/2019/07/30/australian-actor-jayr-tinacos-role-another-life-helped-them-come-out-non-binary |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* In the BBC comedy miniseries ''Don't Forget the Driver'', the character Bradley/Brad is nonbinary, and played by nonbinary actor [[Jo Eaton-Kent]].<ref name="DFTD">{{Cite web |title=Interview with Jo Eaton-Kent |author= |work=bbc.co.uk |date=2 April 2019 |access-date=13 July 2021 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/dontforgetthedriver/jo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813060620/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/dontforgetthedriver/jo |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

*The Amazon mini-series ''Good Omens'' features the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and Pollution (who replaced Pestilence at some point in the past few centuries) is nonbinary, and is referred to as "sir" by another character and with they/them pronouns by the narrator. They are played by Lourdes Faberes.

* The "Brave House" arc of the webseries ''The Feels'' focuses on the polyamorous throuple of [[genderqueer]] S (played by [[Sara Ramirez]]), [[transfeminine]] Nina ([[Ianne Fields Stewart]]), and [[transmasculine]] Lenny ([[Shantira Jackson]]).<ref name="BraveHouse">{{Cite web |title=Why We Should All Live in The Feels’ Brave House |author=Shayna Maci Warner |work=Bisexual Resource Center |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=20 October 2020 |url= https://biresource.org/why-we-should-all-live-in-the-feels-brave-house/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602092014/https://biresource.org/why-we-should-all-live-in-the-feels-brave-house/ |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

* The protagonist of ''[https://www.transmonogamist.com/ Trans Monogamist]'' is a nonbinary dating columnist.

*''Damaged Goods'' is a webseries "centered around four messy creatives of color attempting to survive in the city of Chicago."<ref name="dama_Abou">{{Cite web |title=About — Damaged Goods |author= |work=Damaged Goods |date= |access-date=10 November 2020 |url= https://damagedgoodswebseries.com/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110133443/https://damagedgoodswebseries.com/about|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> One of the characters is Caleb, described by the creators of the series as [[genderqueer]]<ref name="dama_Abou" /> and a [[gay man]].<ref name="Wittich">{{Cite web |title=New Web Series Finds Beauty in Being Queer and Messy |author=Wittich, Jake |work=PAPER |date=25 March 2019 |access-date=10 November 2020 |url= https://www.papermag.com/damaged-goods-vam-studios-2632757932.html?rebelltitem=19#rebelltitem19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807230447/https://www.papermag.com/damaged-goods-vam-studios-2632757932.html?rebelltitem=19 |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref> Caleb is played by gay model Chufue Yang.<ref name="Cadogan">{{Cite web |title=Meet the model claiming his agency dropped him for being gay and Asian |last=Cadogan |first=Dominic |work=Dazed |date=22 August 2018 |access-date=10 November 2020 |url= https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/41073/1/ford-model-agency-chufue-yang-dropped-him-for-being-gay-asian-chicago|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327070551/https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/41073/1/ford-model-agency-chufue-yang-dropped-him-for-being-gay-asian-chicago |archive-date=17 July 2023 }}</ref>

*''Critical Role'' is a webseries "where a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons." [https://criticalrole.fandom.com/wiki/Mollymauk_Tealeaf Mollymauk Tealeaf] was played by [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0043552/ Taliesin Jaffe], described by the DM [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2233310/ Matthew Mercer] as genderfluid and bisexual. Molly used he/him pronouns. A number of side characters in the show also use they/them pronouns.

* In the novella ''Seven Minutes'', by Grace Kilian Delaney, the character Devon wears makeup and skirts while identifying himself as a guy. The novella was expanded and republished in 2020 under the title ''Seven Minutes in Vegas''. Content note: explicit sexual scenes, instances of physical/verbal abuse, discrimination, gun violence, use of deadly weapons, anger issues, and substance abuse.

* In the young-adult book ''Girl Mans Up'', by M.E. Girard, the protagonist Pen is a gender-nonconforming lesbian. Pen expresses herself in a masculine manner, though she doesn't use the term [[butch]]. Pen thinks the following in regards to her classmate Blake:

====2017====