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Gay/Lesbian Characters in Fiction. Part 1 (alphabetical)
Return to Fiction_L Booklists Menu
May 1999
Compiled by Martin Garnar
of Dayton Memorial Library (Regis University, CO), from contributions by the members of Fiction_L.
(To use this list in your library, book club, etc., please include the following credit line: "Compiled by the subscribers of the Fiction_L mailing list." This list may not be used for commercial purposes.)
Titles (in alphabetical order by author):
Ames, Jonathan. The Extra Man.
Anshaw, Carol. Seven Moves.
Arditti, Michael. The Celibate.
Banville, John. The Untouchable.
Protagonist is a spy and gay. Takes place during WW2. I thought the author did a great job with all the double life stuff.
Bargar, Gary W.What Happened to Mr. Forster?
Baudino, Gael. Gossamer Axe.
Bauer, Marion Dane (comp.) Am I Blue? (YA) An anthology of short stories
Baxt, George. A Queer Kind of Death.
First book in a mystery series that features a gay, black detective Pharoah Love. Besides the who dunnit plot, it depicts gay life in the 60's. Other titles begin with A Queer Kind of ___.
Block, Francesca Lia. (YA)
Block's young adult books portray gay characters in a very positive light. Her books seem to involve a variety of alternative-lifestyle love stories, and there are usually young gay couples involved who are very much a part of things and are, in fact, some of her strongest and most interesting characters. Her books are extremely popular with the 12-15-year-olds (the only ones reading fiction, it seems) at our library--okay, so these are for the most part 12-15-year old girls, and Ms. Block's gay characters tend to be male, but it's a start.
Block, Lawrence.
"Burglar" series character Bernie Rhodenbarr (sp?) has a best friend Caroline who's a lesbian.
Bram, Chris. Almost History. Hold Tight.
Bradley, Marion Zimmer. Catch Trap.
Relationship between two gay circus trapeze artists. It's a good story and the background of circus life in the 40's to early TV days is really good. It's one of my favorite novels.
Darkover series: (2 opposing comments)
(1) Thendara House, City of Sorcery are good for lesbians.
(2) However, I find sci fi Darkover novels that concentrate on the Renunciates (or Free Amazons), several of whom are lesbian, to be a bit strident. The Renunciate thread that runs through many of her novels is very good, but when they are the focus, it's different.
Brown, Rita Mae. Bingo. Main character is bi and marries (I think?) a gay man. Rubyfruit Jungle. Six of One.
Bujold, Lois McMaster. Ethan of Athos.
An entire planet of men being visited by a woman.
Cameron, Peter. Andorra. The Weekend.
Cashorali, Peter. Fairy Tales: Traditional Stories Retold for Gay Men.
Chabon, Michael. Mysteries Of Pittsburg.
Ciresi, Rita. Pink slip.
(Italian-American, one of main characters is gay)
Cornwell, Patricia.
Scarpetta series features Lucy, a lesbian FBI and ATF agent. Lucy's coming out happens in The Body Farm.
Cunningham, Michael. Flesh and Blood. A Home at the End of the World (sad but beautifully written)
The Hours. (Pulitzer Prize Winner)
Currier, Jameson. Where the Rainbow Ends.
Diaman, N. A. Castro Street Memories (novels with miminal sex) Ed Dean Is Queer. Reunion. Second Crossing.
Dreher, Sarah. (Fantasy elements) Stoner McTavish. Otherworld. Captive in Time.
Duane, Diane. Door Into Fire.
The first in an unfinished fantasy quintet,
Tale of the Five,
Features a wonderfully well drawn gay relationship - in a society of interesting sexual mores.
So You Want to Be a Wizard. (YA)
The modern day wizards who are recurring supporting characters in this series are a gay couple.
Ecker, B.A. Independence Day. (YA)(a great book for teens)
Eighner, Lars. Pawn to Queen four.
Another funny one, but perhaps too much "in humor" for an introductory novel for straights--the rescue by the gay motorcycle gang is a treat, however
Flagg, Fannie. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
Fleischer, Leonore. Making Love.
Forrest, Katherine.
Series of detective novels which feature a lesbian investigator. There is some romantic/sexual content, but nothing different from most modern fiction. Flashpoint is one. Apparition Alley, Liberty Square, and Murder by Tradition are all, I think, part of the same series. The one I read was great.
Forster, E.M. Maurice.
Galford, Ellen (Fantasy elements) Fires of Bride. (Celtic,lesbians, also quite funny) The dyke and the dybbuk.
(Jewish, lesbians, London, also funny)
Garden, Nancy. Annie on My Mind. (YA)
One of the best books that I have read, regardless of sexual orientation. Marketed as young adult, but still an excellent choice.
Gerrold, David. The War Against the Chtorr series (books I-IV)
Griffith, Nicola. Ammonite. (science fiction) The Blue Place. (mystery/thriller) Slow River. (science fiction)
Guinan, Doug. California Screaming.
Hansen, Joseph. Fadeout.
Mystery featuring an insurance investigator--it's a large series, I think, and he's been doing them since either the 70s or 80s.
Hardy, James. E B-Boy Blues. (among other titles)
Harris, Lynn E.
Writes good stories with gay and bisexual and straight characters, usually young and black, trying to figure it all out.
Hart, Ellen.
Series featuring Jane Lawless, restaurant owner and amateur detective in Minneapolis. The presentation is more clearly as a detective story but the positive examples of lesbians are outstanding.
Hayes, Penny. Kathleen O'Donald.
Quite serious. It is historical--set in New York around 1909 about an English immigrant woman who works at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory and befriends a fellow worker, a woman from Ireland. Moral issues are involved because Kathleen, the main character, is Catholic, as well as some history involving the forming of trade unions. There are some passionate sex scenes.
Hensley, Dennis. Misadventures in the 213.
Highway, Thomson. Kiss of the Fur Queen.
A good read -not super happy at times but quite interesting.
Hobson, Laura Z. Consenting Adults.
Holland, Isabelle. The Man Without a Face. (YA)
Homes, A.M. Jack. (YA)
A teen boy learns his dad is gay.
Irving, John. The World According to Garp.
A transsexual character (Roberta) is one of the most sympathetic and likeable characters in the book.
Jeffers, Alex. Safe As Houses.
Kantner, Lynn. Mayor of Heaven.
A wonderful story of a lesbian relationship and how it affects the partners and their community of straight friends.
Keegan, Mel. (science fiction) Death's head. Equinox.
Keenan, Joe. Blue Heaven. Putting on the Ritz.
(very very funny books...Keenan's now a head writer for "Frasier")
Kellerman, Jonathan.
Character Alex Delaware has a best friend who's a gay LAPD detective named Milo. Milo's significant other is also a wonderfully sympathetic character named Rick who's an M.D.
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Kerr, M.E. Deliver Us From Evie. (YA) (Farm boy's sister comes out.) Hello, I Lied. (YA)
(Gay teen coming to terms with own sexuality.)
King, Laurie. Mystery series featuring Kate Martinelli. A Grave Talent. To Play the Fool. With Child.
Koertge, Ron. The Arizona Kid. (YA)
Boy spends summer with his gay uncle.
Kushner, Tony. Angels In America.
(This is actually a two-volume play, but it's brilliant and works fine in book form. The first volume won a Pulitzer.)
Lackey, Mercedes.
Mage Winds and Mage Storms trilogies have gay characters.
Lansdale, Joe R. The Hap & Leonard novels (Mucho Mojo, Bad Chili, others
Pretty good crime novels
Leavitt, David. While England Sleeps. The Page Turner.
(Note: another contributor commented that David Leavitt's novels are full of gay sex.).
Lefcourt, Peter. The Dreyfus affair.
LeGuin, Ursula. Left Hand of Darkness.
Lowell, Jax Peters. Mothers.
Lowenthal, Michael. The Same Embrace.
Lurie, Alison. The Last Resort.
Lynn, Elizabeth. Watchtower.
The first book in the fantasy trilogy, Chronicles of Tornor, has several gay and lesbian protagonists, both as main characters and in supporting roles.
MacCauley, Stephen.
Object of my affection (great book, lousy movie). Main characters are gay men but sexual matters are treated very tactfully.
MacDonald, Ann-Marie. Fall On Your Knees.
A Canadian bestseller published in 1997 includes a main character who has a lesbian relationship portrayed in a loving, positive way, though it is not a major theme of the novel. It's a wonderful book.
Maney, Mabel. Cherry Aimless Series. The Case Of The Not-So-Nice-Nurse. The Good For Nothing Girl Friend. Ghost In The Closet.
Maupin, Armistead. Tales of the City series Maybe the Moon.
McCabe, Patrick. Breakfast on Pluto.
McKevett, G.A. (mystery)
In Savannah Reid series, main character is close friends with a gay couple
Miller, Isabel. Patience & Sarah.
Lesbian classic, some sexual allusions but very gentle.
Mordden, Ethan. Some Men Are Lookers. The Vencie Adriana.
Mowry, Jess. Babylon Boyz. (YA)
One of 4 main characters is a gay, black Oakland teen who wants to be a doctor.
Nava, Michael. Henry Rios mystery series
(Mexican American)
Niehart, Ben. Hey, Joe.
Obejas, Achy. Memory mambo: a novel.
(Hispanic, lesbian) We came all the way from Cuba so you could dress like this? (stories, Hispanic, gay & lesbian)
O'Donnell, Mark. Getting Over Homer. (funny)
Oliver, Jim. Closing Distance. Wings in the Snow.
Olshen, Joseph. Vanitas.
Padgett, Abigail. Blue.
(Seems to be a new series featuring Dr. Blue McCarron, lesbian psychologist)
Patchett, Ann. The Magicians Assistant.
Peck, Dale. Martin and John.
Picano, Felice. Like People in History.
Pollack, Rachael. (Fantasy elements) Temporary Agency.
Quinn, Eric Shaw. Say Uncle.
A gay version of Auntie Mame--very funny and quite tame, sexually speaking.
Raphael, Lev. Dancing on Tisha b'Av. (stories, Jewish & Gay);
Mystery series with a gay couple as the central characters.
Raven, Simon. Feathers of death.
Rawlwy, Donald. The Night Bird Cantata.
Rees, David. The milkman's on his way.
Reidinger, Paul. Good boys.
Reidy, Sue. The Visitation.(Australian)
Renault, Mary. Mask Of Apollo. The Praise Singer. Fire From Heaven, The Persian Boy, & Funeral Games (Alexander the Great)
Robinson, Frank M. The Dark Beyond the Stars.
Rodi, Robert. Closet Case. Really funny.
Sadownick, Douglas. Sacred Lips of the Bronx.
Sarton, May. The Fur Person.
Told in the voice of a cat who lives with a lesbian couple; lesbianism very veiled.
Scoppettone, Sandra.
Mystery series featuring detective Lauren Laurano.
Stevenson, Richard. The Donald Strachey mystery series (too numerous to list)
Swift, Edward. Splendora.
My all time favorite positive gay (and librarian) book. In case you don't know it - its about a bookmobile librarian in a (real) small Texas town called Splendora. Miss Jessie Gatewood has a secret to keep and many adventures. There is definitely romance but no erotica.
Van Dijk, Lutz, Damned Strong Love. (YA)
Gay Polish teen falls for German soldier.
Walker, Kate. Peter. (YA)
Australian teen falls for older brother's gay friend.
Warren, Patricia Nell. The Front Runner.
(Note: another contributor noted that The Front Runner contains at least one highly eroticized and explicit sex scene between the two main characters.)
White, Edmund. A Boy's Own Story. The Beautiful Room is Empty. A Farewell Symphony.
(Note: another contributor mentioned that White tends towards erotica)
Wilcox, James. Plain and Normal.
(very subtle, somewhat funny)
Willis, Julie. Reel Time.
( Cambridge, old movies, lesbians)
Wilson, Barbara. (Mysteries) The Dog Collar Mystery. Gaudi Afternoon. Trouble in Transylvania.
(also quite amusing)
Winterson, Jeanette. Oranges are not the Only Fruit.
Very wry, yet very sympathetic to the heronine's situation.
Woodson, Jacqueline. From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun. (YA)
Black teen's mom has relationship w/ white lesbian.
Zubro, Mark Richard. Mystery novels
Awards, Tools, & Lists:
Gay Detectives http://www.bookbrowser.com/Diverse/Gay.html
Lesbian Detectives(large update pending) http://www.bookbrowser.com/Diverse/Lesbian.html
Lambda Literary Awards http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/lists/awards/lammys.html/002-3815843-5958806
Lambda Science Fiction Page http://www.lambdasf.org/lsf/books/index.html
A long list of GLBT-positive sf and fantasy, erotic or (mostly) otherwise, and include a list of links to other useful sites.
Garber, Eric, and Paleo, Lyn. Uranian worlds : a guide to alternative sexuality in science fiction, fantasy and horror. 2nd ed. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall, 1990.
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