An immersive, electrifying space-fantasy, Neon Yang’s debut novel The Genesis of Misery is full of high-tech space battles and political machinations, starring a queer and diverse array of pilots, princesses, and prophetic heirs. On sale from Tor Books on September 27, 2022! Nonbinary characters are few and far between, and maybe it’s because of the complexity of this gender identity. In my queer journey, I’ve learned that being nonbinary means different things to every nonbinary person. Like, as for me, I feel different every day. Sometimes, I feel like a man. On some days, I feel more like a woman. Most of the time, I feel like something in between. What I feel inside changes every day, and I don’t want to get trapped by labels. So you see, these gender identities — since nonbinary is an umbrella term — are not clear-cut, unlike the binary identities across the gender spectrum. And so it’s hard to find works that accurately and prominently feature nonbinary folks, much less in science fiction and fantasy genres. Luckily, there’s been some progress, albeit slow. Below are eight excellent SFF books featuring nonbinary characters. In them, you’ll discover that nonbinary characters are diverse. You’ll find them in the vampire realm, in the space, in a war-torn world, in Chinese fiction, in a mythical place, and in a kingdom. It’s great to see that nonbinary characters are finding more representation in SFF genres lately, taking the center stage. This novella is timely and relevant as it’s related to the pandemic and the social unrest in the Middle East, where it’s based from. She Who Became the Sun is Parker Chan’s debut. It is a Lambda Literary Award finalist. The book is challenging to read as it’s so dense, but the premise is that both characters are trying to save their city from a star, which also needs some saving. The book also explores nonbinary gender identities, which makes it well worth a read. Unfortunately, this clandestine world is going above the surface, and it’s up to the two friends to keep it a secret. The problem is that Bastián and Lore are estranged. Both go separate ways for a long time. And then, Fassen escapes from their home planet, going straight to Lu’s. But their reunion is bittersweet. This is a powerful story of friendship between two nonbinary persons. Meanwhile, Zidan and Xioadan, a vampire couple, travel to the kingdom of Aluria to form a treaty. As mysterious attacks plague Aluria, the nobles enlist Remy’s vampire-hunting skills to counter them. And this starts the polyamorous relationship among the three. It’s so steamy! The book is full of political intrigue. It has a complex plot, so it can be challenging to read at first, but it pays off. When an enigmatic and handsome soldier named Tristan arrives in Dumnonia, it puts them all in danger. Sistersong is replete with intrigue and treachery, as the siblings fight with one other. Those who’ve read Circe and The Song of Achilles will love this. Want more books by nonbinary folks? Here are 8 Spectacular Books by Nonbinary Authors and 8 Beautiful Memoirs Written by Nonbinary Authors.
