A review by catapocalypse
Trans-Galactic Bike Ride: Feminist Bicycle Science Fiction Stories of Transgender and Nonbinary Adventurers by Lydia Rogue
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was more varied in quality from anthologies I've read recently. I feel that even though it's not YA, a few of the stories felt a little too young for me, as I near middle-age. For example, I realize that banter with inside jokes like in the first vignette, "Per Rotas Ad Astra" by Ether Nepenthes (3 stars), feels awkward (as when inside jokes you aren't part of are told around you in reality) rather than something someone young may enjoy and yearn to be part of. A few other stories were a bit ham-fisted in their metaphors or very predictable.
My least favorite story was "The Edge of the Abyss" by M. Darusha Wehm (2.5 stars), which is perhaps where the anthology publisher's declaration of "politically moderate, centrist" leanings comes into play. The two galactic factions in the story are modeled after the modern conservative vs. liberal divide common in the West. The main character's centrist position claims nuance, but really is a milquetoast position that lacks nuance in its assumption that both sides come from equal footing, rather than examining how the long cultural histories of colonization, racism, capitalism, etc. actually shaped these ideas and this divide. It also very briefly touches on the "Stay and Fight" vs. "Flee for Personal Survival" decision without providing any real depth there either (and I feel very strongly about this due to my own family history of loss and personal experience). I don't think it's impossible for a short story to properly handle something like this, but this story's execution was not there. A shame, because I did enjoy the characters and setting at first.
My favorite story in the collection was "Rovers" by Marcus Woodman (5 stars). It follows a courier in a post-apocalyptic US, who encounters an unusual loner requesting a ride. The story was fun and charming, and looking back at the title afterward? I'm tickled. Other favorites were "Unexpected Trans-Parent" by Lydia Rogue (5 stars) which was also fun and charming, with an interesting premise, and "Briar Patch" by Lane Fox (5 stars) which was a brief but beautiful vignette full of love and mindfulness.
On the whole, I still had a good time with the anthology, and as someone who is nonbinary myself, I always find trans and nonbinary stories refreshing, especially when they're allowed to be trans-/queer-normative and have fun like this!
My least favorite story was "The Edge of the Abyss" by M. Darusha Wehm (2.5 stars), which is perhaps where the anthology publisher's declaration of "politically moderate, centrist" leanings comes into play. The two galactic factions in the story are modeled after the modern conservative vs. liberal divide common in the West. The main character's centrist position claims nuance, but really is a milquetoast position that lacks nuance in its assumption that both sides come from equal footing, rather than examining how the long cultural histories of colonization, racism, capitalism, etc. actually shaped these ideas and this divide. It also very briefly touches on the "Stay and Fight" vs. "Flee for Personal Survival" decision without providing any real depth there either (and I feel very strongly about this due to my own family history of loss and personal experience). I don't think it's impossible for a short story to properly handle something like this, but this story's execution was not there. A shame, because I did enjoy the characters and setting at first.
My favorite story in the collection was "Rovers" by Marcus Woodman (5 stars). It follows a courier in a post-apocalyptic US, who encounters an unusual loner requesting a ride. The story was fun and charming, and looking back at the title afterward? I'm tickled. Other favorites were "Unexpected Trans-Parent" by Lydia Rogue (5 stars) which was also fun and charming, with an interesting premise, and "Briar Patch" by Lane Fox (5 stars) which was a brief but beautiful vignette full of love and mindfulness.
On the whole, I still had a good time with the anthology, and as someone who is nonbinary myself, I always find trans and nonbinary stories refreshing, especially when they're allowed to be trans-/queer-normative and have fun like this!