A review by granite
Brave Boy World by Everett Maroon, Deven Balsam, K.C. Ball, J. Daniel Stone, Nicole Jinks-Frederick, Rafael S.W., Noa Josef Sperber, Jes Rausch, Jaap Boekstein, Lee Mandelo, Keyan Bowes, Michael Takeda, Edd Vick, Bo Balder, Ryan Kelley, Eric Del Carlo, Dave Riser, Ace Lo, M. Raoulee, Maverick Smith
4.0
I enjoyed this more than I enjoy most short story compilations, and a BIG jump more than I usually enjoy queer and trans anthologies; I often find that they're not tightly limited via theme enough, and the quality varies wildly. Because this was all spec-fic/sci-fi/future stories, it felt a lot more vibrant and immersive. The cover was gorgeous, also. Specifics below --
While there was no story I didn't finish, there were definitely ones I enjoyed a lot more. It's really hard to pick a favorite, but the story that inspired the cover, Sindali, was easily at the top of my list. I want to read the novel that's coming out of that short story, and I want it Very Badly. Liner Notes for the Crash was breathtakingly written, and strange, and gorgeous. I needed about an entire novel more of Coyote Dog Bitten.
Somewhat predictably, all but one of the stories written by cis writers left me... kind of cold. It's not that I don't think cis writers can't write trans characters; it's that they felt less deep and less complex, and relied more on Look, A Trans. Normally I'd say confirmation bias; but you don't find out anything about the writer until after the story, and I did not read ahead. I enjoyed only one of the stories written by cis folks; I didn't enjoy only one of the stories written by trans folks.
Overall, though, a great collection and a physically lovely book to own.
While there was no story I didn't finish, there were definitely ones I enjoyed a lot more. It's really hard to pick a favorite, but the story that inspired the cover, Sindali, was easily at the top of my list. I want to read the novel that's coming out of that short story, and I want it Very Badly. Liner Notes for the Crash was breathtakingly written, and strange, and gorgeous. I needed about an entire novel more of Coyote Dog Bitten.
Somewhat predictably, all but one of the stories written by cis writers left me... kind of cold. It's not that I don't think cis writers can't write trans characters; it's that they felt less deep and less complex, and relied more on Look, A Trans. Normally I'd say confirmation bias; but you don't find out anything about the writer until after the story, and I did not read ahead. I enjoyed only one of the stories written by cis folks; I didn't enjoy only one of the stories written by trans folks.
Overall, though, a great collection and a physically lovely book to own.