This anthology gathers 22 speculative short stories that imagine queer and trans lives across dystopian, futuristic, and fantastical settings, exploring themes of resistance, survival, identity, and community. While the stories vary in tone and genre, they collectively interrogate the possibilities and challenges of queer futurity, often centering struggle and resilience over utopian joy.

Reader Review Summary

This anthology is a collection of 22 speculative short stories curated by Lee Mandelo, featuring a range of queer and trans experiences set in futuristic, dystopian, and science fiction settings. The stories span a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and dystopia, and are written by both established and emerging LGBTQIA+ authors such as Sarah Gailey, Margaret Killjoy, Neon Yang, and Dominique Dickey. The collection explores themes such as resistance, survival, identity, intimacy, and community, often set against oppressive or challenging backdrops. Examples of story premises include a sex therapist specializing in helping people with orgasms, digital mediums contacting the dead through social media, actors grappling with trans representation on TV, and dystopian societies where queer and trans people navigate survival and connection. The book is marketed as exploring queer and trans futurity, with an emphasis on both the challenges and potentialities of queer life in the future.

Readers appreciated the diversity of voices, genres, and perspectives represented in the anthology, noting the inclusion of a wide range of queer and trans identities and intersectional experiences. Many highlighted specific stories as standouts, such as 'MoonWife' by Sarah Gailey, 'Forever Won’t End Like This' by Dominique Dickey, 'They Will Give Us a Home' by Wen-yi Lee, and 'The Garden of Collective Memory' by Neon Yang. The world-building and imaginative premises were frequently praised, with several readers expressing interest in seeing some stories expanded into full-length novels. Some readers found the collection to be well-curated and cohesive, with a balance of tones and story lengths, and appreciated the anthology’s engagement with themes of resistance, solidarity, and the complexities of queer existence. A few readers also noted the anthology’s ability to provoke thought and evoke strong emotions, and some found the stories mobilizing or affirming despite their often serious subject matter.

A significant number of readers expressed disappointment with the anthology’s tone and thematic focus, particularly in relation to its marketing as a collection about 'joy and survival.' Many felt that the stories were predominantly dark, dystopian, or centered on suffering, with little of the hope or joy they expected based on the book’s description and introduction. Some readers found the stories emotionally draining or felt that the collection reinforced narratives of queer and trans people as perpetual victims. Others criticized the anthology for being confusing or inaccessible, citing abstract storytelling, abrupt endings, or a lack of clear resolution in several stories. There were also comments about the anthology being uneven in quality, with some stories resonating while others felt underdeveloped or difficult to connect with. A few readers took issue with the representation of trans characters, the separation of 'queer and trans' in the subtitle, or the lack of more utopian or queernormative futures.

The anthology received a wide range of ratings, with an average reader rating of 3.01 out of 5 based on 257 ratings and 74 full reviews. The collection includes content warnings for topics such as animal cruelty, death, religious bigotry, violence, and addiction. Some readers noted that the anthology is best suited for those interested in speculative fiction with queer and trans themes, rather than those seeking lighthearted or purely optimistic stories. The book’s structure, with a large number of stories and a variety of styles, led some readers to recommend reading it slowly or in small doses. The anthology also introduced many readers to new authors, and several expressed interest in seeking out more work from contributors. The book is scheduled for publication in May 2025.