Hi everyone. I'm looking for fantasy genre reading with gay characters, like Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series (loved it!) or Fiona Patton's Branion Realm series (so so). Any ideas?

I'm reading Storm Constantine's Sea Dragon Heir now, and Minions of the Moon. I'm not interested in a lot of angst-ridden why-am-I this-way gay stuff, just good fantasy that includes gay men in their world.

Thanks.

If you haven't tried the Mercedes Lackey Magic's Pawn Magic's Promise Magic's Price books I would definately suggest them.  And almost all of her Valdemar novels (of which the Magic Trilogy is part) have or at least reference gay characters. I know I've read others but I can't think of anything else right this minute when I do I'll add them.

I love Lynn Flewelling and can't wait for her next book.

Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale is excellent.

there is a series called the last Rune lord by Mark Anthony, the first book is called beyond the pale.  These books have some gay characters including some of the main characters but you do not really find out untill later in the series.  It is not a bad series but it has been a while since I read them.

Mike

Ellen Kushner's books as well.  Swordspoint is the best I've read in a long time.

Thanks everyone. I've put your suggestions on my list.

Open to more suggestions!

Have you looked at

www.spectrumawards.org/whatis.htm

Lists of the winners for ten years, plus a recommended reading list.

“The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards honor outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy and horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered characters, themes, or issues.”

"The Book of Lost Things" by John Connolly features a gay warrior.

The series Tales of the Otori by Lian Herne has gay and bi characters.  The first book is "Across the Nightingale Floor"...and there was none of the angst you mention, which was refreshing! 

Take with grain of salt as I issue the caveat that I am not gay, I lift heavy things and grunt and like to pleasure the ladies, etc. etc.:

Storm Constantine's Wraeththu trilogy was considered gay-positive, not so much a whingy tone as that you describe in these (later) books.

But there's one novel out there that stunned me. It's free online (though there is a printed version): The God Eaters.

It's available at http://chartreuse.studiowhippingboy.com/g_e_index.html.

It kicks ass. No, I am serious. I have an English degree, have read piles of SF/Fantasy novels and have written dozens of reviews. So, like, go read it already.

The Spectrum Awards web site is great, thanks for bringing that to the table.

The God Eaters - wow, I'm devouring it like a starving child eating chocolate cake!  I'm planning to post a review for that one. That book got me interested in the author's graphic novels too.

Thanks so much for the recommendations.

Marcus

Melissa Scott (who also writes science fiction) has a couple of good fantasy books with gay characters--Point of Hopes and its sequel, Point of Dreams. The first book is mostly subtext, but subtext becomes text in Point of Dreams.

China Mieville's Iron Council has gay characters; it helps to read the earlier Bas Lag books (Perdido Street Station and The Scar) first, which don't have major gay characters but are certainly gay-friendly.

Vellum and its sequel Ink, by Hal Duncan, are absolutely amazing--some of the most original fantasy I've ever read.

Samuel Delany primarily writes science fiction, but his Neveryon books (Tales of Neveryon is the first) are very interesting fantasy that not only includes gay characters but has lots of interesting thoughts about the nature and meaning of sexuality.

Sarah Monette's series Melusine, The Virtu and The Mirador aren't bad (although in The MIrador all the characters seem to have had personality transplants and are almost unrecognizable, in my opinion), but the book of Monette's that I really love is The Bone Key, which is an anthology of ghost stories featuring Kyle Murchison Booth, who is gay. These are classic horror stories in the tradition of Lovecraft, so they're scary but not gory or violent. I find Booth a fascinating character (be warned that he's a very troubled, unhappy man).

I can't think of titles right now but Poppy Z Brite writes gay vampire books. I can't remember the title though. I do remember being very surprised as until i started reading it I had NO idea it was about a gay vampire. Very odd book that for me.

Richard Morgan (who writes fantastic sci-fi) is coming out with a fantasy book later this year... The Steel Remains.  I understand the main character is gay... at least thats the rumor!

Judith Tarr's 'A Fall of Princes' and 'Arrows of the Sun' are good, though it's more bisexual than gay.  If you are enjoying 'The God Eaters', you might be interested in a book on my wish list:  S.A. Payne's 'Heroes and Ghosts'.  She has the first few chapters up for free, just to get you hooked.   

www.sapayne.com/hero/hero.html

If you get it first, would you consider a direct swap with me for my extra copy of 'Wicked Gentlemen'?

Diane Duane's So You Want to be a Wizard series

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

And in Alternate history/SF, S M Stirling's Natucket series (First one is Island in the Sea of Time)

The Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey have a lot of positive gay characters.  I love this series, as the gay relationships are presented so matter of factly as being a normal part of life and many of the gay romances are so romantic and passionate. 

Not sure if it would be classified as fantasy, but another good book is The Catch Trap by Marion Zimmer Bradley.  It's about circus trapeze perfomers that fall in love.  Wonderful love story, even though the characters have to "hide" their relation ship due to the era the book takes place.  This "forbidden" love is dealt with in such a sensative way and you can feel the character's angst from not being able to declare their love openly.  Not preachy at all.

Tanya Huffs Summoning triology has a gay secondary character that becomes a main charachter in the 3rd.  I loved this series.

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials

I don't remember a gay character in this one... maybe I'm misremembering it?

I finished Across the Nightingale Floor, liked it, but didn't notice anyone gay, or lesbian for that matter. Do they show up in the later books?

I have good gaydar but maybe there were sunspots or something. And I'm hoping for out characters.

By the way, I am thoroughly enjoying the Wraeththu series by Storm Constantine.

The Smoke books by Tanya Huff have been mentioned, but the main character is gay...he is a minor character in the Blood books, but it makes more sense if you read them first.

Fiona Patton (Tanya Huff's partner) has a series of books set in a Kingdom called Branion.  Many of the characters are gay or bisexual.

I have a childhood fondness for Marion Zimmer Bradley's books, and she has many gay characters, but some of her depictions are problematic.  I think my favorite is Shattered Chain/Thendara House. 

I think the two angels who appear in the second book could be viewed as a gay couple, that's the one I remember anyway