💬 Off-Topic Queer Book Club - "Listen to trans people" - now in book form!

[Magic Pickle]

​

In the literary sphere, top-down from publicists to amateur writers haunting the forums of NaNoWriMo, writing - as an art form - has been completely dominated by transgenderism and its acolytes.

Transgender ideology and ""queerness"" can be found in most, if not all genres: from social theory and activism to horror, from YA romance to superheroes, from the written word to comic books, it is absolutely everywhere. But what goes unspoken about queer fiction (or fiction that features queer/transgender characters prominently) is that they often say far, far more than they intend to. And thus, the birth of this thread, designed for literary analysis geared towards queer/transgender books.

The goal of this thread is to discuss a variety of works, so it's not dedicated to just one book, author or genre; this means it's open to different kinds of discussion and can be a way to announce and explore both new and old publications alike. Wherever possible, I will provide excerpts and PDFs for those who don't wish to financially support the authors or publishing houses, but it's not an obligation for anyone else.

How does this thread differ from other threads about literature?​

Because it's specifically about books that are written by MTFs, FTMs, any kind of genderweird/"queer" dipshit or their frothing evangelical allies. Books in this thread will often feature queer/transgender characters as protagonists/major characters, mention queer/transgender topics frequently or thoroughly, or be so otherwise pozzed that you can just tell troonery was involved in the making of it.

How does this thread differ from the thread about propaganda books?​

Books featured in this thread are not intended to be propaganda for children; they are typically meant for ages 14+ older and are essentially like any other piece of literature aside from the odious gender-stink wafting from them.

What are some examples?​

I'm including a wide variety of genres and presentations to help emphasize the range of troon infestation, but this is not an exhaustive list - consider it more of a starting point to whet your appetite.

• Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
• Nevada by Imogen Binnie
• Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
• Their Troublesome Crush by Xan West
• Transland by Mx. Sly
• Dreadnought by April Thomas
• Boys Run the Riot by Gaku Keito
• Cemetary Boys by Aiden Thomas
• Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
• Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
• The Sisters of Dorley series by Alyson Greaves
• Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

Aren't there already some threads covering some of these books?​

Yes! Enjoy some of the threads that inspired the creation of this one.

• Gender Queer Read-Along by Inatrous
• Manhunt Read-Along by blue gopher snakes
• Cuckoo Read-Along by cherrysour (Unfinished)
• Dreadnought Read-Along by White-Kettle Shufflepunk

 

[toilet_rainbow]

There’s a Trans Made Media thread you may like

 

[Magic Pickle]

There’s a Trans Made Media thread you may like

I did see that thread! But I wasn't sure if it was welcome to read-alongs like I love to do, so I thought a separate thread may be more appropriate as the TMM thread seemed more like about broader media as a whole rather than a specific media niche like literature. (For example, @White-Kettle Shufflepunk did a fantastic read-along of Dreadnought over here that inspired me, as I had a lot of fun reading it.) If it's considered superfluous, mods are obviously welcome to do away with my thread, but that was my motivation in making it. Thank you for the rec, though!

 

[Valstrax]

Queer Book Club, for people who want recommendations on what not to read.

 

[Dick Johnson]

There are also dissection threads for Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, which I think is absolutely worthwhile from the standpoint of someone seeking to understand the perspective of a theyfab. The thread isn't super long, and reading it made me realize that while it's a book that doesn't belong in elementary or middle school libraries for kids to just check out, it is a book that kids should read in 7th-8th-9th grade with the guidance of someone who understands that the author is illustrating how autistic people can develop unhealthy coping mechanisms for the stress of puberty and social integration. Kids should read it coming away with the knowledge of what not to do, rather than inspiration for what they could do.

Also here (and the thread that pushed me over the edge into making an account) is the readalong of Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin. It's a crap book, and reading about why and how it's a crap book was extremely enjoyable for me.

And, finally, there's Cuckoo by the same author, although that's waiting for someone to pick up the torch and continue it.

 

[Generic Anime Girl]

literary analysis is just "academic" circlejerking tbh
there's nothing to absorb from these other than mental illness

 

[The Poopsmith]

If I read this book, will I get AIDS?

 

[Kiska]

I find it interesting a lot of gay male media tends to be consumed in order of most to least widely by pooners, women, TIM, and actual men being far behind.

Going to use the free webtoon turned graphic novel "Boyfriends" as an example of how they basically stereotype a relationship between feminine men with some trooning out as they just stumble onto each other and never really have meaningful challenges or roadblocks in their Homo's Journey, with how immature the artstyle and the way it's written overall I honestly would be fine as labeling it pure indoctrination material meant for (or styled to be most consumed by) teens that fit the first 3 demographics as that's why I even know about that series (from people who were into it back in HS and likely inherited a liking for such styles of media from Jr. High).

 

[Magic Pickle]

And, finally, there's Cuckoo by the same author, although that's waiting for someone to pick up the torch and continue it.

All great threads; personally, I am very entertained by read-alongs myself and find them more engaging to keep up with (especially if a book is terminally fucking stupid). I'm sad to see the Cuckoo thread didn't last very long - whether in this thread or its proper thread, I could pick up the torch if any Kiwis would want me to, I'd just have to ferret out a copy of it for myself.

This is also a good example of why I made the thread, as there's all these great read-alongs scattered about! I thought a one-stop shop might be easier for people to see what's being peddled around reading circles and why it's actually a bit concerning at times.

I find it interesting a lot of gay male media tends to be consumed in order of most to least widely by pooners, women, TIM, and actual men being far behind.
Ver archivo adjunto 7072715
Going to use the free webtoon turned graphic novel "Boyfriends" as an example of how they basically stereotype a relationship between feminine men with some trooning out as they just stumble onto each other and never really have meaningful challenges or roadblocks in their Homo's Journey, with how immature the artstyle and the way it's written overall I honestly would be fine as labeling it pure indoctrination material meant for (or styled to be most consumed by) teens that fit the first 3 demographics as that's why I even know about that series (from people who were into it back in HS and likely inherited a liking for such styles of media from Jr. High).

Boyfriends is fluffy Webtoons shlock, so it's no surprise it lures in pooners like moths to a flame. Given that Webtoons' audience skews lower in the West (I'm not sure about its demographics in its homeland of South Korea), I can agree that it strikes me as borderine propagandistic. I don't believe the author is that cunning nor clever to engineer such shallow garbage in a lab just to lure in teenagers, but it gets eerily close at times. It also makes me think of how Smackjeeves - God rest its soul - as a comic hosting site was filled with yaoi garbage like this, but even the yaoi garbage of old was not quite so... direct about its emptiness, if that makes sense.

(For those who haven't read it, the comic depicts a polyamorous relationship between 3 boys and a pooner. They don't even have names proper: L-R is Goth (the pooner), Nerd, Prep and Jock. Literally, those are their names.)

 

[Pavel Yudin]

(For those who haven't read it, the comic depicts a polyamorous relationship between 3 boys and a pooner. They don't even have names proper: L-R is Goth (the pooner), Nerd, Prep and Jock. Literally, those are their names.)

erm ackshually they do have names, though they are not mentioned in the comic. Funnily enough their names are so inconsequential I could not remember them for the life of me, and had to go out of my way to find this information: they are Felix (goth pooner), Adrian (nerd), Kevin (jock) and Vincent (prep). When you look at the way the author draws herself, it's very obvious pooner goth is meant to be a self-insert.

Spoiler: excerpt from a comic the author made about her gender and sexuality as a true and honest yaoi man; nsfw

 

[Kiska]

erm ackshually they do have names, though they are not mentioned in the comic. Funnily enough their names are so inconsequential I could not remember them for the life of me, and had to go out of my way to find this information: they are Felix (goth pooner), Adrian (nerd), Kevin (jock) and Vincent (prep). When you look at the way the author draws herself, it's very obvious pooner goth is meant to be a self-insert.

Also I'm not sure if there's a direct correlation but I would find it interesting if there's a statistically meaningful difference in sexual deviancy displayed in queer-related media than in a baseline situation, even in literary means where such displays of deviancy in characters' relationships is more common overall like in graphic novels. I am aware that the discussion of queers in itself is inherently about the sexuality but at least I personally feel like the inclusion of queer couples in media also seems to correlate with said characters being portrayed by their authors as far more degenerate than how a straight couple is portrayed in a narrative.

 

[Magic Pickle]

Good find on that comic, Pavel - how creepy. One of the first troon books I read was Nevada, so I hadn't really cottoned on to how often trans books reflected their authors to a disturbing extent until I'd arrived to Manhunt and Dreadnought (Dreadnought is underrated for the spiteful vengeance it endorsed, I should add). I can only imagine the creator wants to envision herself worshiped by a harem of beautiful little effetes who always respect her pronouns and that was likely the origin story of the comic's concept...

I personally feel like the inclusion of queer couples in media also seems to correlate with said characters being far more degenerate than a straight couple in a narrative.

Possibly; Xan West is a relatively obscure name to some, but her works - despite being rather kind-hearted and gentle - are all "queer" focused and depict some honestly strange shit as being completely normal.

Spoiler: Who is Xan West?

Xan West, also known as Corey Alexander and TGStoneButch on Twitter) is a now-deceased pooner who specialized in showcasing extremely debauched kink in loving and gentle ways. Her stories mainly centered on female/female relationships (either of the normal kind or the be-pronouned variety) though she will use her works to soapbox about SWERFs and TERFs whenever possible.

(If you're wondering what she died of, rumor has it that it was of diabetic complications, as Xan West was also a deathfat - and her works often feature disabled fat women as the main protagonists.)

For those interested in Xan West's works, I will upload a couple of them here. Contrasting them against Gretchen Felker-Martin or Torrey Peters is a rapid way to teach yourself sex in writing - once you've read West against Gretch, the soft, gooey girliness just assaults you like a bad perfume.

Despite how generally sugar-sweet they are (as they are both love stories in their own odd way), they still depict things such as ownership, master/slave dynamics and fisting as if they are so commonplace as to not invite any kind of commentary. West was a renowned kinkster herself so I recognize she was likely frog-boiled into her own degeneracy, but it's jarring to see it compared to her actual writing style, which is profoundly childish.

The mere presence of queerness - not homosexuality, mind you, but specifically queerness - seems to just ramp up the sick fuckery in any piece of media. OFMD somewhat comes to mind in that regard, but it's a TV show rather than a book, and its fans were... well, they make you glad the show got cancelled after two seasons. I'll leave it at that.

 

[Krokodil Overdose]

I am aware that the discussion of queers in itself is inherently about the sexuality but at least I personally feel like the inclusion of queer couples in media also seems to correlate with said characters being far more degenerate than a straight couple in a narrative.

Remember that most of this stuff if written by 1) straight fetishists or 2) alphabet people paraphiles. As a result, they tend to engage with the most extreme, overtly sexual parts of gay culture, the latter because they get off on it and the former because it's the only things they understand as "authentically" queer. An auto mechanic who does his job and goes home to get his back blown out by his boyfriend isn't more or less gay than a drag queen, but authors will only present the latter due to the overtness thereof.

Then there's the fact that "queer" writing is caught in the same rut as "Christian " writing, being monomaniacally obsessed with one topic and inherently stuck as a result. Clive Barker is a homosexual who can write books that have nothing or very little to do with that because he's creative, while Billy Eichner is a faggot who can't write a story about anything else because that's all he knows.

 

[Dick Johnson]

In a bit of coincidence with this thread, I've been looking for a copy of Girlmode, by Mags Visaggio since it came out in October. It hasn't hit the sites for reading pirated comics, which is not exactly a great sign for its sales. I'd had to content myself with looking at its Goodreads reviews which paint it as a wish-fulfillment fantasy.

Well, I found a copy. It's better than I could have imagined. If 'MtF high school wish fulfillment' were a long-established fiction genre, this would be to it as Cobra is to the loose-cannon cop action movie. It's so over the top that it feels like a parody, but as written by someone who was completely sincere. It's been described as a grooming book, but it's just so in-your-face that it doesn't seem like it would even be effective. The main character basically gets everything they ever wanted from being trans, to the point where it wouldn't be that out of place if it ended with the mayor of Los Angeles riding up to them on a unicorn to give them the key to the city. It's as subtle as D.A.R.E. but for getting kids to troon out rather than keeping them from doing drugs.

There's literally a scene of calling people transphobic that winds up as 'and then everyone clapped'. It's fucking amazing, and I'll be doing a readalong in the Mags thread.

 

[AMHOLIO]

There’s a Trans Made Media thread you may like

I did see that thread! But I wasn't sure if it was welcome to read-alongs like I love to do, so I thought a separate thread may be more appropriate as the TMM thread seemed more like about broader media as a whole rather than a specific media niche like literature. (For example, @White-Kettle Shufflepunk did a fantastic read-along of Dreadnought over here that inspired me, as I had a lot of fun reading it.) If it's considered superfluous, mods are obviously welcome to do away with my thread, but that was my motivation in making it. Thank you for the rec, though!

Hilariously I was one of the people suggested for Pickle to go ahead and make this thread: trans made media can be for read alongs and long plays and any other type of sperging, but I think a book club is a great place to expand on books, specifically. Books are by far the easiest media to produce, as you don't need anything but a text editor/text to speech and a place to publish your dribble for all to "enjoy". A thread doing literary disection (read: armchair psych evaluation) of chapter by chapter stuff gives the extra room to spread out. Hell, the glut of troon books crosses over to video "games", as so fucking many shitty fucking visual novels and text adventures are produced that it makes me want to claw someone's eyes out, preferably the creators. If I'm in a particularly pissy mood, I might do one of the text games just for a taste (since most read like shittly paced novels & short stories, with barely any to no text choices).

Ooh, I should check to see where troons post terrible short stories. I remember The Grooch posted Dreadnought on Gumroad, so there's likely more shitty lit there.

@Magic Pickle , if I may make a request: can you link the read along threads that have been made about troon books already in the OP? That'd help any Kiwi who's bored with spare time indulge in some reading masochism with some funny commentary.

 

[Athena Save Us!]

For some reason, I find the read-alongs thoroughly entertaining. Manhunt did a number on me (such terrible, disgusting prose) but there are plenty of other books written by true and honest men and women and people who can't make up their minds. Which one of these atrocities do we start with?

 

[AMHOLIO]

For some reason, I find the read-alongs thoroughly entertaining. Manhunt did a number on me (such terrible, disgusting prose) but there are plenty of other books written by true and honest men and women and people who can't make up their minds. Which one of these atrocities do we start with?

I am down with whatever you crazies are reading. If no one has anything in mind, I have a perfect free book for anyone to pick up and start vomiting along to if they so choose (I'm busy this week, sorry):

Get it for free here. Has 2 other volumes if you "enjoy" this.

 

[Magic Pickle]

@Magic Pickle , if I may make a request: can you link the read along threads that have been made about troon books already in the OP? That'd help any Kiwi who's bored with spare time indulge in some reading masochism with some funny commentary.

Done and done! If there were any threads I missed, please feel free to let me know - if this thread can offer anything, the very least it can offer is being a hub for finding these threads easily.

For some reason, I find the read-alongs thoroughly entertaining. Manhunt did a number on me (such terrible, disgusting prose) but there are plenty of other books written by true and honest men and women and people who can't make up their minds. Which one of these atrocities do we start with?

I can't remember the Kiwi that suggested it, but someone did suggest Wrath Goddess Sing (included in the list of books in the OP). I'll also be taking a peek into Sea-Witch that Amholio posted, so I may begin there especially since it's free and I hate giving money to people that I hate.

As a present to any threadfollowers, I'm also including PDFs of Nevada (a troon classic) and Manhunt in case anybody wanted copies of their own to tear asunder for their own enjoyment. I'll try to include them where possible because sharing is caring (and misery loves company).

 

[AMHOLIO]

Detransition, Baby is the biggest troon book I think that the farms hasn't covered. If we could get it and Nevada done one day, we could have the root autisms covered.

 

[Athena Save Us!]

I can't remember the Kiwi that suggested it, but someone did suggest Wrath Goddess Sing (included in the list of books in the OP). I'll also be taking a peek into Sea-Witch that Amholio posted, so I may begin there especially since it's free and I hate giving money to people that I hate.

That was me! *raises hand*