“For starters, honey, I don’t believe in Hell–that’s just some old man’s way of telling me reasons why I can’t be me. Like “biology is destiny” means I have to be a boy.”
— “Lady Marmalade’s Special Place in Hell” by David SklarThere have always been stories of those willing to blur or transcend the traditional gender roles. Some do it out of necessity, others are merely embracing their true selves. Sometimes it’s for fun, other times survival. Every culture has their gender benders, their cross-dressers, their rule breakers. From Bugs Bunny to Mulan, Alanna of Trebond to Klinger, our folk heroes and cultural icons push boundaries and challenge expectations.
In Scheherazade’s Façade, twelve of today’s most intriguing authors spin tales of magic, mystery, self-discovery and adventure, each with a twist. In these pages you’ll find shape-shifting dragons, triumphant drag queens, tragic selkies, lost princes and would-be warriors. You’ll find star-crossed lovers and mysterious travelers, cross-dressers and gender bending heroes of all sorts.
Featuring all-new fantasy and urban fantasy from Tanith Lee, Sarah Rees Brennan, Tiffany Trent, Aliette de Bodard, Alma Alexander, David Sklar, Melissa Mead, C.S. MacCath, Paolo Chikiamco, Sunny Moraine, Lyn C.A. Gardner, and Shanna Germain.
“Each [story] is guaranteed to make the reader question the roles and qualities often assigned to gender and sex. Jones (also a PW reviewer) provides a strong start for Circlet’s new Gressive imprint of works that explore outside the gender binary.” – Publisher’s Weekly
Basically if you like a little more queer in your SF this is probably something you want to buy.
As of right now the ebook edition is what’s available but the print edition is coming soon.
I also want to mention that this is the first cover I’ve co-designed (though not the first one I’ve been a model for) and I’m super-pleased with it and really grateful to have been given the chance to do it.
Seriously, buy it, enjoy it, review it, get the word out about it if you like it and if this is the kind of fiction you want to support. Queer/Trans* SF still has real trouble finding a voice sometimes and word of mouth is invaluable.