Queer Weird West Tales edited by Julie Bozza
I would like to thank the editor for an advance copy of this anthology in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher – LIBRAtiger
Published – 31/8
Price – £12.50 paperback £4.92 Kindle eBook
Frontiers have always attracted the Other - where they find that the Other is always already there. These 22 stories explore what happens when queer characters encounter weirdness on the edge of the worlds they know.
Authors include: Julie Bozza, J.A. Bryson, Dannye Chase, S.E. Denton, Miguel Flores, Adele Gardner, Roy Gray, KC Grifant, Peter Hackney, Bryn Hammond, Narrelle M Harris, Justin Warren Jackson, Toshiya Kamei, Catherine Lundoff, Bunny McFadden, Angus McIntyre, Atlin Merrick, Eleanor Musgrove, Jennifer Lee Rossman, Lauren Scharhag, Sara L. Uckelman, and Dawn Vogel.
Science fiction and fantasy are often about borders. Often with what we know and on the other side the enticing unknown – that final frontier or undiscovered country where the imagination can run a little riot. That’s the fun side! But it is always depressing how often imagination seem to think its characters are all going to be the same. The kind of person who doesn’t notice that the characters are all white or straight or don’t have any disabilities. An imagined world where the world is in some ways duller than our own actually is if you look up every now and then. Fortunately, in the new anthology Queer Weird West Tales edited by Julie Bozza we get to populate those boundaries with queer characters front and centre of the story and deliver an entertaining anthology to boot as these characters explore stories inspired by the idea or concept of the wild west.
Among the stories I enjoyed were
No Mercy Down In the Mine by Lauren Scharhag – the opening tale helps explain the concept of the anthology as we follow outlaw Bootheel Sally arriving in a strange wild wets town that has been destroyed by monsters from another dimension. She and the survivors have to launch a fight back and then Sally’s old gang who are not pleased to see her also arrive on the scene. The fact that Sally is gay is just treated as an everyday occurrence (as it is) and we focus mor eon her adventures and possible romance with someone she meets. Very entertaining and action packed with a touch of neat cosmic horror on top!
Ask the Wind by Toshiya Kamel – here we have a steampunk style adventure where an outlaw discovers a stowaway. I really enjoyed this fast-paced adventure with the suave Kasumi and the young Lupe who are both trans characters learning to trust each other but also navigate Kasumi’s powerful ex. A touch of western stand-off with magic and even an environmental dimension made this a joyful flowing adventure.
Magic Casements by Julie Bozza – another favourite and really pushes the boundaries of what I was expecting. Oscar Wilde on an american tour experiences a coal mine and it’s alleged total darkness. But this allows him to have an unusual discussion with a notable character who passed away many years earlier. Strange, thoughtful, and talking about seizing the day it’s one of my favourites and a welcome break in the many action tales within the collection.
A Truce With Evil by Brynn Hammond – another very unusual tale that really stood out. Here we have a tale of a folk singer trying to aid an indigenous population in its battle against colonisers using supernatural forces people are afraid of. Although this is a tale with action there are some really interesting ideas about the power of storytelling; satire and when do you need to accept help to win (even with forces you think are wrong). Its sa smart and chewy tale with lots of cultural ideas and depth which I really enjoyed and gave me food for thought. My favourite in the collection.
A Fearful Symmetry by Angus McIntyre – A really good fast paced weird creatures encounter as two photographers search for the mythical Thunderbird. Both women then find some outlaws have their own plans for trouble. Really well paced and the final scenes are delightfully weird and mythic. Here be Monsters if you are not careful!
The Shape of a Man With Peacemakers on His Hips by Miguel Flores – here we have a classic revenge tale of a stranger arriving in town but we also have shapeshifters and our lead carrying his lover in an urn. I really liked how this explored our main character’s past and neatly brings us up to date for the final tense shoot-out to come.
Grimwood by Catherine Lundoff - A stage star arrives in s strange town with her own mission but the town at night has its own monsters to deal with. A fun tale where all the secrets need to be found out and a neat conclusion to wrap it all up too.
Overall, I found this a varied and entertaining set of stories with on top of the above prepare to meet Calamity Jane after her death; seek magical cures and go into deepest space. Its great to see queer characters treated as any other major character should be and we just have to take them on their own terms. Minor quibbles for me n the anthology were that the stories are very much more about frontiers than just the wild west and indeed the stories all fly with that concept very well but someone looking just for weird wild west tales may be initially confused and some tales unfortunately do follow on with similar ideas of characters arriving in strange places for things to be dealt with but again that is a feature of the western itself too .Bound to be something for everyone to enjoy
