A review by rrrrj
Invasions by Calvin Gimpelevich
4.0
I adored "Rent, Don't Sell", which previously appeared in [b:Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers|34750876|Meanwhile, Elsewhere Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers|Cat Fitzpatrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501306973s/34750876.jpg|55944911] - a story of a disabled veteran-turned-personal-trainer and her trans girlfriend navigating a world in which body-swapping is not only possible but profitable. Not every story in Invasions was quite as striking, but similar themes of embodiment abound in this collection, which prods at intersections of class, race, gender, age, and power - evoking disquiet, longing, and melancholy without completely drowning the reader.
Besides "Rent, Don't Sell", standouts include "Eternal Boy" (an early-twenties butch has a series of encounters with an older woman who perceives a teenage boy), "The Sweetness" (a mourning psychic finds himself trapped in the mind of a violent homophobe leading a bathhouse raid), and "Revenant" (told from the perspective of a young transracial adoptee as she and her best friend looks for clues about his missing sister - this one is strong and haunting and reminded me of Kelly Link, in a good way).
Besides "Rent, Don't Sell", standouts include "Eternal Boy" (an early-twenties butch has a series of encounters with an older woman who perceives a teenage boy), "The Sweetness" (a mourning psychic finds himself trapped in the mind of a violent homophobe leading a bathhouse raid), and "Revenant" (told from the perspective of a young transracial adoptee as she and her best friend looks for clues about his missing sister - this one is strong and haunting and reminded me of Kelly Link, in a good way).