Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction. Ed. by Brit Mandela. Lethe Press, 2012. Paperback. 267p. $20.00. 978-1-59021-005-5.

Beyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative Fiction is an anthology of 17 short stories compiled by editor Brit Mandelo. The premise of this collection is that the authors combine speculative fiction with sexual and/or gender identities that are not rigidly defined or binary but are individually defined by the characters in the stories. The genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, and postapocalyptic fiction are all represented. In some stories the only speculative aspect seems to be the sexuality of a character, which are limitedly defined as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. However, there are many transgender characters.

Short story collections can be hit-or-miss, often with three or four great stories constituting a successful collection. By this measure, Beyond Binary is a great success. “Eye of the Storm” by Kelley Eskridge is a delightful fantasy (swords but no sorcery) about a foursome trying out for the King’s army, their unique relationship, and an equally unique prince. Fans of Ellen Kushner’s Riverside books will enjoy “A Wild and a Wicked Youth,” which is set about seven years before her novel Swordspoint. Tansy Rayner Roberts’ science fiction story, “Prosperine When it Sizzles,” combines political battles against Luddites with battles against aliens who have already conquered Earth. A delightful light fantasy is “The Faerie Cony-Catcher” by Delia Sherman, which is set in the court of a Faerie Queen. Sarah Kanning’s “Sex with Ghosts,” set in the near future, is about the asexual receptionist of a Chicago boutique that rents out robots for sex, who is shocked to discover a robot that looks exactly like her. Liu Wen Zhuang’s story “The Metamorphosis Bud” is an amusing story of an 87-year –old woman who wakes up with a penis.

Beyond Binary will make a great addition to public libraries that serve populations interested in literature depicting unusual situations and people that are “outside of the box.” College libraries with a good literature department and libraries that serve LGBTQI populations also will want to purchase this book. Please note: two of the stories contain explicit sex scenes.The publisher, Lethe Press, also offers the book in PDF format.

Reviewer: Paul Hubbard
Retired Public Reference Librarian