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apostrophen's review against another edition
4.0
First book of the year, and it was lovely. Queer, varied, at turns dark or humorous, this collection has such variety to it that it felt a little like walking into a crowded room and finding that everyone is queer and welcoming, and that you'd like to be a friend to these people - because they're just as warped as you are.
Okay, so there was no way I was going to walk away from short fiction so easily, was there? Truth be told, I'm kind of missing having a tale to talk about every day - but I am liking that days where my head is pounding or I'm running from start to finish have one less item on the to-do list.
Still...
As a compromise, I figured I'd change daily to weekly. Sundays are three-out-of-four times a day off for me - also, I like alliteration - so I bring you the first "Sunday Shorts."
Sometimes I'll chat about a whole collection, sometimes maybe it'll just be a story - or maybe I'll flit around with multiple stories from one author. Whatever I feel like, or whatever has captured my attention. Hopefully, it's just as fun and enjoyable for anyone who enjoys a delve into short fiction in whatever form I might feel like chatting about.
And - as always - please let me know if you've bumped into short fiction that made you sit up and take notice.
QU33R, edited by Rob Kirby
I helped kickstart this anthology of thirty-three queer stories featuring queer comics legends and new talents. It even has my name in the "thank you" page, and it's even spelled correctly which is always an added bonus (I'm looking at you, Lambda Literary).
What was most impressive about this anthology was the range of art and the diversity of stories being told - some tales are uplifting, some are dark. A few made me laugh out loud. Some moved into the oft-neglected "T" of the LGBT community, and more than a few of the titles touched upon inter-sectional diversity.
Though there wasn't a clunker in the bunch, of course a few struck me more than others. Right off the bat I have to go a wee bit fan-boy over the Dylan Edwards story, "the Transformers." This tale - about kids who gender-swap their toys - was a wonderful mix of nostalgia and kick-ass kid-power that I loved. Brilliantly and deftly done.
On a completely different note, the assassin in Jennifer Camper's "Just Another Night in Carbon City" was lesbian noir done right. This story - about the latest hit, a possible romantic interlude, and things not being what they seem - is packed into such a short space that the tale is a perfect example of not wasting a single word.
There are so many more tales in QU33R worth reading, and I'm sure there's something here for everyone. If you're at all interested in graphic novels and LGBT tales, this one is for you.
Okay, so there was no way I was going to walk away from short fiction so easily, was there? Truth be told, I'm kind of missing having a tale to talk about every day - but I am liking that days where my head is pounding or I'm running from start to finish have one less item on the to-do list.
Still...
As a compromise, I figured I'd change daily to weekly. Sundays are three-out-of-four times a day off for me - also, I like alliteration - so I bring you the first "Sunday Shorts."
Sometimes I'll chat about a whole collection, sometimes maybe it'll just be a story - or maybe I'll flit around with multiple stories from one author. Whatever I feel like, or whatever has captured my attention. Hopefully, it's just as fun and enjoyable for anyone who enjoys a delve into short fiction in whatever form I might feel like chatting about.
And - as always - please let me know if you've bumped into short fiction that made you sit up and take notice.
QU33R, edited by Rob Kirby
I helped kickstart this anthology of thirty-three queer stories featuring queer comics legends and new talents. It even has my name in the "thank you" page, and it's even spelled correctly which is always an added bonus (I'm looking at you, Lambda Literary).
What was most impressive about this anthology was the range of art and the diversity of stories being told - some tales are uplifting, some are dark. A few made me laugh out loud. Some moved into the oft-neglected "T" of the LGBT community, and more than a few of the titles touched upon inter-sectional diversity.
Though there wasn't a clunker in the bunch, of course a few struck me more than others. Right off the bat I have to go a wee bit fan-boy over the Dylan Edwards story, "the Transformers." This tale - about kids who gender-swap their toys - was a wonderful mix of nostalgia and kick-ass kid-power that I loved. Brilliantly and deftly done.
On a completely different note, the assassin in Jennifer Camper's "Just Another Night in Carbon City" was lesbian noir done right. This story - about the latest hit, a possible romantic interlude, and things not being what they seem - is packed into such a short space that the tale is a perfect example of not wasting a single word.
There are so many more tales in QU33R worth reading, and I'm sure there's something here for everyone. If you're at all interested in graphic novels and LGBT tales, this one is for you.
pachyphytum's review against another edition
1.0
i'm a huge fan of both comic and queer stories so I went in expecting to at least like this, but sadly all the stories fell flat for me. there was no depth to most characters even though a lot seemed to have autobiographical elements which is quite baffling. and the worst part for me was that I didn't like almost any of the art styles, they often seemed either amateurish, sloppy or plain ugly. i read 'till the end hoping at least one comic would redeem the experience, but at the end I regret having picked this up.
holmesstorybooks's review against another edition
only got to page 150 then i had to put it down.
so depressing? and sad? and felt like it was all written in the 80's and 90's except it was supposed to be a reflection of how far we'd come and where we are now? (it was published in 2012.)
i've read enough masc-leaning break up stories by cis gay men, thank you. also one of the comics is SUPER, super awful and dark ??? and like ??? what ??? excuse me ??? where are the trigger warnings what the fuck even ???
i didn't have particularly high hopes for this but i hoped to at least enjoy some of the slice of life stuff! but like, no it was all tragedy porn or like, queer sad comics with no ending.
nope nope nope.
so depressing? and sad? and felt like it was all written in the 80's and 90's except it was supposed to be a reflection of how far we'd come and where we are now? (it was published in 2012.)
i've read enough masc-leaning break up stories by cis gay men, thank you. also one of the comics is SUPER, super awful and dark ??? and like ??? what ??? excuse me ??? where are the trigger warnings what the fuck even ???
i didn't have particularly high hopes for this but i hoped to at least enjoy some of the slice of life stuff! but like, no it was all tragedy porn or like, queer sad comics with no ending.
nope nope nope.
katebrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't love a lot of these stories. They were fine, not my cuppa.
But I looooved "Miss Sasha Velour Goes to Wal*Mark".
But I looooved "Miss Sasha Velour Goes to Wal*Mark".
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