Posted Blog Beats JL NICH Author Blog Beats Broken Bonds (Part 3): Technology – Redemption – and Sacrifice in SFF....
LGBT Speculative Fiction Aliens
by JL Nich
Does your idea of an alien look like a little green Martian, or sentient robots, maybe a deep oceans Titan race, a foreign planet, an alien hosted in your body? Perhaps it’s an alien female spaceship captain in a Space Opera? Well in speculative fiction aliens are also including fairies and the Fey, your local superhero-powered teenager, deep forest witches, ghosts, netherworld demons, twilight shapeshifters, and probably some take on other unknown origin species? Fortunately, LGBT authors have written them all. Let’s explore our favorite type and what authors are capturing the LGBT speculative fiction alien species.
When I think about speculative fiction aliens my first thoughts are monsters such as shown in the movies Aliens and Predator. But my niece thought of E.T. and Monsters INC because she is the wonderful age of seven. I like her plan. In LGBT SFF/Fantasy we now have many examples of the ‘nice’ aliens.
I’ve seen trending of nobility laden books cropping up that are complete with world building that take us to new and exciting places.
The Arravan Series by Shea Godfrey -This author brings us into a new world in the country Arravan, where the visiting royal princess Jessa of Lyoness, in truce goes to meet the royal Durand family. Political intrigue between the two countries, ancient majik, and a prophecy.
The Noble and the Nightingale (The Sisters of Sarras Series) by Barbara Ann Wright. This author brings us into a new kingdom of Sarras, and the main character Adella del Amanecer, from a prideful noble family, encounters romance with a bard Bridget Leir, an ex-spy for the Firellian Empire. But is Bridget an ex-spy or does the rumblings of war from Firellian say differently.
Rise of the Queen (The Elvish Chronicles Series) by Prudence MacLeod. High Born Elves in slavery for 1000s of years but the royal line survives. Now, with the help of a deadly assassin the heir Ariel is going to break the chains, expose the lies, and bring her people to freedom.
Once & Future (Once & Future Series) by A.R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy. This YA retelling of King Arthur is a LGBT wonder with a teenage she/her Ari Helix, with her magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.
Perhaps you enjoy the shifters and the more ancient idea of monsters such as vampiric or witches. Check out these Lesbian examples.
Longing for You (A Wild For You Novel) by Jenny Frame
Longing for You (A Wild For You Novel) by Jenny Frame – an ancient vampire dynasty and a vampire war are extended in this book 2 of the series where Alexis Villiers growing attraction for Kate Brekman is draining (pun intended).
The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall – in this high-seas YA adventure we meet multiple antagonists–Pirate Supreme (a witch), a mermaid, and an angry Sea—who all test Flora (cough-cough Florian) and Lady Evelyn as they try to escape the pirates.
Second Nature (Shape-Shifter Series) by Jae – this older series will take you to more books building on the delightful Wrasa, a large cat shape-shifter breed. This book starts with Novelist Jorie Price who is investigated by a Saru named Griffin Westmore – an elite soldier, investigator, and if need be an assassin from the secret Wrasa species.
Sailing With Her Wolf (The Nightstar Shifters #1) by Ariel Marie – a new romance between Marley Gerwulf, a wolf shifter and her human best friend, Zara York as the waters get rough and survival becomes paramount.
Aurora’s Angel by Emily Noon a standalone book of a broken-winged angel Evie who needs to get home and an emotionally scarred nocturnal huntress, Aurora, a battle hardened shape-shifter, who takes on that responsibility, regardless of the cost.
Aurora's Angel by Emily Noon
I’m a huge fan of Space Operas and there are so many to choose from. Here are just a few.
Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi is where we meet Alana Quick a lesbian spaceship mechanic who falls in love with the captain of the Tangled Axon, a ship she stows away on to find work. Soon she is introduced to polyamory. Great stuff.
Unknown Horizons (New Horizons Series) By CJ Birch begins the series with the flight of the ship Persephone and Captain Jordan Kellow, where romance and space intrigue and human survival are recognized when the captain meets her new Lieutenant Alison Ash.
Architects of Memory (The Memory War, 1) by Karen Osborne is a new voice on the space opera scene and I challenge you to read this without saying “holy world building”. Salvage pilot Ash Jackson is ill but still trying to pay off her debt by continuing to fight the alien Vai. She needs to find a cure. Then her crew finds a genocidal weapon above a dead colony. Check it out.
Occasionally, I run across fantastic plot and theme that strike a resonance within. Here is an off the wall concept that I found recently.
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker takes a look at future tech as a lesbian couple, Val and Julie, raising two children decide to give David their son, a Pilot brain implant that enhances productivity. But Sophie can never have one due to her seizures. Will Sophie be left behind? The author blends in warped healthcare systems and technology risks that widen gaps of inequalities, and capitalism’s involvement in our schools. This book has real potential to becoming the next George Orwell 1984 cult classic of our future generations.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Please subscribe to my website if you want to be notified when I’ll be publishing or to get free samples of my work. Also, see my PATREON sign up for monthly sneak peeks
JLNich, SFF/Fantasy Author
jlnichauthor.com
