Bending the Landscape: Original Gay and Lesbian Writing Volume 1: Science Fiction

Gay-themed SF collections are nothing new, but they're usually conceived as gay literature first, science fiction second. Editors Nicola Griffith and Stephen Pagel, both known in the SF field, have reversed this equation with impressive results in BENDING THE LANDSCAPE: SCIENCE FICTION. The most compelling stories in this collection--as SF and as gay literature--use the settings of science fiction as a lens through which to view current day gay and lesbian issues. TAles like "Sex, Guns and Baptists" by Keith Hartman and "Who Plays with Sin" by Don Bassingthwaite project a future with gay characters trying to get along in a world even more homophobic and controlled by conservative and fundamentalist forces than the present day. It's the kind of "if things go on like this" story that science fiction has always done so well. Other standout stories use an alternate history approach to the past. "Time Gypsy" by Ellen Klages features a lesbian researcher traveling back to the repressive 1950s in an excellent story that combines time travel, romance, and revenge. Stephen Baxter's "Sun Drenched" asks what if a gay and straight astronaut were stranded together on the moon, back in the days of the Apollo program. The best story in the collection, Kathleen O'Malley's "Silent Passion," combines the classic SF theme of interaction with alien species, with the classic gay lit theme of maintaining the integrity of relationships in the face of a hostile culture. The result is a deeply moving and suspenseful tale, and demonstrates the best that can result from such a themed collection. Other stories demonstrate the problems of a topical approach. Too many stories reduce the gay and lesbian aspect to the inclusion of a queer character, where too often the character could have been heterosexual with no overall effect on the story. Despite a few weaker stories, though, the collection as a whole is quite strong and well worth a read for both the science fiction and gay literature aspects.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm not a fan of Nicole Griffith's writing but as a co-editor she really hits the mark. Especially telling were the different perspectives of the authors. In one of the stories the narrator is a heterosexual male telling of a gay man's heroics. The literal distance of the narrator mirrored that of the writer to the subject of gay male sexuality. While reading, intuition told me of the writer's point of view, clearly that of a heterosexual male telling the reader, "I know the gay guy who...." I enjoyed this story more for the insight into what this writer can and can't see about queerness and how close he was willing to go as a writer. The choice of a straight narrator here functioned to keep the reader and writer at a distance whether due to comfort with the subject of queerness or of the author's personal choice. All the stories (except Powertool) certainly stand on there own merit as good writing but also provide an opportunity for the reader to look at the portrayal of queerness by the writers.There were several moments when I was engrossed in well-written stories I didn't want to end. "Sex, Guns, and Baptists", "On Vacation", "Time Gypsies", "Half in Love With Easeful Rock and Roll", and "Silent Passion" were the cream of the crop. The book is a great reference for those looking for good authors to read.The many moods of the anthology add to its appeal. At times the book was funny even hilarious and at others somber, thought provoking or even sad. My interest never waned and I wanted to read more.Well written, thought provoking and most of all entertaining science fiction and one I want in my personal library.Hopefully there will be a sequel to this science fiction series.

This is an overall great anthology, and one of its stories, "Time Gypsy" by Ellen Klages has just been nominated for a 1999 Nebula Award.

I really enjoyed the first anthology in this series. After seeing the cover of this second book, I was afraid the series had taken a turn for the worse. The first volume was so expansive!and this cover seems so focused and limiting. I bought it anyways: everything Nicola Griffith has worked on has exceeded my expectations, and I decided to trust her.Boy was I justified.The cover of this book suggests that it's "gay fiction." It is, but more importantly it isn't. What it is is a series of remarkable stories that deal with queer themes, from the points of view of straights, queers, and all those real people who lie somewhere inbetween or beyond these labels. Regardless of the themes, you aren't going to be reading a better SF anthology this year. If you're at all interested in having your notions of gender and sexuality expanded, then READ THIS BOOK (and if SF isn't about the expansion of notions, then what is it?).

I worried that this collection wouldn't be as good as the fantasy collection. I love science fiction and would have hated to be disappointed. But no need to worry, I wasn't. Again we get to read very different and very good stories with a gay bent. I usually find anthologies to be a mixed blessing, but this time I hardly found any weak stories. As with last years fantasy collection the editors have done a great job when choosing the stories. And the authors have risen to the challenge.