The Trans Rights Readathon 2024 has begun! It's running from 22 to 29 March. The readathon aims to encourage people to read and uplift books by trans authors and books with trans main characters in the lead up to Trans Day of Visibility on 31 March. Find out more about how to get involved on the organiser’s website. (link opens in a new tab)
One really fun aspect of the readathon is the bingo card! I set myself the challenge of finding not just any book, but a science fiction, fantasy or horror book for every single square. So, if you’re looking for some reading inspiration, this post is packed with 50 trans SFF books—enough to fill the entire board twice over! I’ve chosen a mix of books that I’ve read before and books on my TBR that I’m itching to read soon.
Multiracial author
A book written by an author with a mixed-race, biracial, or multiracial background.
One I've read:
Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
An impactful YA fantasy set in an apparent utopia—where no one will acknowledge the monsters that do exist.
On my TBR:
Bang Bang Bodhisattva by Aubrey Wood
A cyberpunk detective mystery steeped in queer and trans culture—yes, please!
Transmasc rep
A book written by a transmasculine author and/or featuring a transmasculine main character.
One I've read:
Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
The first book in one of my favourite science fiction series! Military space opera with mind-blowing worldbuilding and plenty of political machinations.
On my TBR:
World Running Down by Al Hess
A sci-fi roadtrip across the wastelands of a dystopian Utah, featuring a trans man and an AI forced into an android body.
Novella
A book that is less than 200 pages long.
One I've read:
If Found, Return to Hell by Em X. Liu
An intern in a wizarding call centre gets more than they bargained for when they encounter a demon prince from Hell... A fun, heartfelt read.
On my TBR:
Like the First Moon Landing by Matthew J. Metzger
A cargo ship pilot, lost in space, comes across the spaceship that vanished along with her wife.
Disability rep
A book written by a disabled author and/or featuring a disabled main character.
One I've read:
Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White
I'm a huge Alien fan, and this book is a top-notch addition to the franchise.
On my TBR:
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
I've heard nothing but good things about this gruesome historical fantasy YA horror.
From another country
A book written by an author from a country other than your own.
I’m going to increase the difficulty of this particular category and pick out some trans SFF in translation!
One I've read:
Tentacle by Rita Indiana
Translated from the Spanish (La mucama de Omicunlé) by Achy Obejas.
In this post-apocalyptic novella, the main character travels back in time with the help of a sacred anemone. Very weird (in a good way).
On my TBR:
Walking Practice by Dolki Min
Translated from the Korean (보행 연습) by Victoria Caudle.
After crash-landing their spacecraft, a shapeshifting alien has to learn to survive on Earth. I love the sound of this!
Trans joy
Between anti-trans legislation and limited social support, there are a lot of stories that focus on the difficulties associated with the trans experience. Let’s use this square to celebrate the joys of being trans!
One I've read:
Catnip by Vyria Durav
The kindness at the heart of this story, plus the breadth and depth of the transfeminine rep, makes Catnip a delight from start to end.
On my TBR:
The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud
I can't resist a book that's set in a magical library! This sounds like a beautiful story about found family.
Pacific Islander author
A book written by a Pacific Islander or a member of the Pacific Islander diaspora.
I don’t think I’ve read a SFF book by a Pacific Islander author before, let alone one by a trans author or with trans rep—and that’s why I love these types of reading challenges! They give you a nudge towards diversifying your reading in ways you hadn’t thought about before.
I’m super excited to have found out about The Dawnhounds. Thank you to whoever added this to the readathon Storygraph challenge, because that's how I came across it!
On my TBR:
The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach
The blurb had me when it mentioned a living city (made of mushrooms!) and a queer pirate crew. The worldbuilding sounds incredible and right up my street.
Outside your comfort zone
A book that you wouldn’t normally pick up… perhaps from a genre you don’t usually read, or in a style you don’t typically gravitate toward.
This category is going to be super individual, depending on what exactly your own comfort zone looks like. For me, one area of SFF that I want to read more of but often find myself intimidated by is historical fantasy.
One I've read:
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
An excellent example of why stepping out of your comfort zone is good: this gripping epic historical fantasy—a queer reimagining of the rise of the Ming dynasty—is one of my favourite books!
On my TBR:
Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
I'm especially intimidated by Ancient Greece (everything I know about Greek mythology comes from the game Hades 😂) but I'm determined to read this because I've heard great things about it.
Multiple authors
A book with multiple authors or an anthology which centers trans authors and/or characters.
One I've read:
Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Iona Datt Sharma and Katherine Fabian
In this cosy, wintery novella, two very different people have to team up to find their mutual boyfriend when one of his magical experiments goes wrong.
On my TBR:
Meanwhile, Elsewhere: Science Fiction and Fantasy from Transgender Writers, edited by Cat Fitzpatrick and Casey Plett
Twenty-five science fiction stories by trans writers—what's not to love!
A book you borrowed
A book you borrowed from a friend, a library, or a lending service such as Libby or KU.
For this prompt, I’ve chosen books that are available at the Small Trans Library. (link opens in a new tab)
One I've read:
Once and Future by A.R. Capetta and Cori McCarthy
King Arthur is reincarnated as a teenage girl in a multi-planetary capitalist hellscape of a future.
On my TBR:
The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takács
This is renowned anthology editor Bogi Takács' own short story collection—and the title alone makes me want to read it!
Poetry
A poetry collection, either written by a single poet or collected as an anthology.
You might be thinking that this is a tough category to combine with my SFF theme: does trans SFF poetry even exist? Yes, my friend, it does! Here are two SFF novels-in-verse that I highly recommend. (If you know of any others, please let me know in the comments!)
Deep Wheel Orcadia by Harry Josephine Giles
Told through Orcadian Scots poetry (side-by-side with an English translation), this science fiction book is unlike anything I've ever read before.
Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden
Wolf travels with Mrs Death as they work on her memoirs with her in this haunting and darkly funny novel, which is partially in verse and always lyrical.
Indie or self-pub
A book from any genre that wasn’t published by the Big 4. This includes books released by independent presses, works by self-published authors, and zines of all kinds.
One I've read:
Worm in a Jar by B. Pigeon
A witch-in-training tries to summon a succubus and ends up with a demon that looks suspiciously like a worm. Sending them back will be harder than it seems...
On my TBR:
Two Dark Moons by Avi Silver
The worldbuilding in this queer coming-of-age science fantasy sounds awesome!
Black author
A book written by an African author or by a member of the Black diaspora.
One I've read:
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
Set on a generation spaceship reminiscent of the pre–Civil War US South, this is a hard-hitting novel with breathtaking worldbuilding.
On my TBR:
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
The blurb had me at "when Ash is rejected by the Lancaster Mage’s College, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret."
Nonbinary, 2Spirit, gender expansive
A book written by a gender expansive author and/or featuring a gender expansive main character. This category includes genderqueer, agender, and genderfluid representation, or any other identity that falls outside of the gender binary.
One I've read:
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
I love the Persian-inspired setting and the focus on medical magic in this novella about a refugee trying to stop a deadly disease from spreading through their community.
On my TBR:
The Unbalancing by R.B. Lemberg
"Beneath the waters by the islands of Gelle-Geu, a star sleeps restlessly." Ok, I'm already hooked!
Pirates and outlaws
A book centering pirates and/or other outlaws. Otherwise known as “be gay do crime.”
One I've read:
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
Outlaw librarians in a future version of the Old West—need I say more?
On my TBR:
The Free People’s Village by Sim Kern
In an alternate timeline, a queer punk band gets involved in a Black-led activist movement. I'm excited to read this based on the cover alone!
Nonfiction
A work of nonfiction by a trans author and/or about trans-specific topics. This may include essays, memoir, works that document the history of the trans rights movement, or books written by openly trans authors about other topics entirely.
For this category, I have two wonderful writing craft books to recommend, both written by trans SFF authors!
Never Say You Can’t Survive by Charlie Jane Anders
A collection of excellent essays on craft, all rolled into an irresistable pep talk.
Brain Games for Blocked Writers by Yoon Ha Lee
Fresh and exciting prompts to get you out of a writing rut. Check out my full review!
Latiné/Latinx author
A book by a Latin American author or a member of the Latiné/Latinx diaspora.
One I've read:
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
In this heartfelt contemporary fantasy novel, Yadriel summons a ghost to prove to his family that he's a brujo, not a bruja, and gets more than he bargained for.
On my TBR:
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
The blurb: "two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake—" Me: I'm in!
Indigenous author
A book written by an indigenous author from anywhere in the world, such as members of First Nations communities, Indigenous American peoples, Sámi, Māori, Palestinians, or Aboriginal Australians.
I appreciate this prompt because although I've read Indigenous and Indigiqueer fiction and speculative fiction before, I don't think I've read any Indigenous SFF by a trans or Two-Spirit author. So, here are two that I'm looking forward to picking up soon!
On my TBR:
Godly Heathens by H.E. Edgmon
Gods reincarnated into queer and trans teens, with enemies after them for things they've done in their past lives—sounds awesome!
On my TBR:
Love After the End, edited by Joshua Whitehead
Stories exploring utopias and dystopias, all by Indigenous authors and all featuring Two-Spirit and queer characters.
Romance
A romance book featuring at least one trans character in the central romance.
One I've read:
The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
A heartfelt and cosy YA contemporary fantasy novel, with a romance between the agender protagonist and a transmasculine love interest.
On my TBR:
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
"The Woods All Black is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia." Sign me up!
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror
A book in the science fiction, fantasy, speculative fiction, or horror genre.
Since we’ve already had lots of science fiction and fantasy books, let’s go for some horror here!
One I've read:
The False Sister by Briar Ripley Page
A brilliant, unsettling story about changelings in a very 'respectable' small town.
On my TBR:
The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
I'm getting strong Alien vibes from the cover and the blurb—can't wait to read it!
Kids or YA
A book written for kids or young adults with a trans main character. With so much new legislation that specifically targets trans youth, it is important to celebrate and center these stories.
One I've read:
Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee
The second in the fantastic Thousand Worlds series. It follows different characters from the first so you can definitely start here if you're looking for a non-binary protagonist.
On my TBR:
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston by Esme Symes-Smith
A non-binary twelve-year-old fights for the chance to train as a knight. Exactly the sort of book I would have devoured a hundred times as a kid!
Transfem rep
A book written by a transfeminine author and/or featuring a transfeminine main character.
One I've read:
Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
A searing horror that doesn't flinch away from tough and disturbing—and very important—topics. One of the best books I read in 2022.
On my TBR:
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
I've been itching to read this for a while! The blurb says it features "cursed violins, Faustian bargains, and queer alien courtship over fresh-made donuts".
Local setting
A book that takes place in your region and/or was written by a local author.
I honestly didn't have high hopes that I'd be able to find anything more local than 'the UK' for this prompt—I live in the West Midlands, which doesn't tend to get a whole lot of love or appreciation in fiction or otherwise. But I'm thrilled to report that I found one: a fantasy book by a trans author set in Birmingham!! My thanks and appreciation go to the user recchai for mentioning Heart of Stone in a reddit thread about fantasy set in Birmingham. (link opens in a new tab)
On my TBR:
Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans
A slowburn romance between a vampire and his clerk, who are both queer and neurodivergent.
Asian author
A book by an Asian author or by a member of the Asian diaspora.
One I've read:
The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
The first novella in an amazing science fantasy silkpunk series. I highly recommend all four books!
On my TBR:
The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon
A sci-fi mecha novel with AI gods: "Come get in the robot." On my way!
Bonus books
And, finally, to get us up to the promised 50 books, here are some more trans SFF books that have featured on the blog before:
Lord of the Last Heartbeat by May Peterson
From the post Queer SFF Spotlight: 4 books with non-binary protagonists
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
From the post Queer SFF Spotlight: SFF novels with queer Black protagonists
Werecockroach by Polenth Blake
From the post Queer SFF Spotlight: 4 books with agender protagonists (human ones!)
In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Lu
From the post Queer SFF Spotlight: 4 books with non-binary protagonists
So, there you have it: a multitude of incredible science fiction, fantasy and horror books to choose from during the Trans Rights Readathon and beyond.
Leave a comment down below to let me know if you have read and enjoyed any of these books. I'd love to hear any recommendations you have for these categories, too.
Enjoy the readathon—I'm off to jump into my enormous TBR pile now!
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