What I Did, What I Loved 2023

With any luck, this will be my last post on Substack. I am working on migrating elsewhere. However, if you unsubscribe now, I can’t take you with me. So, please hold on.

This year was an awesome one, writing-wise. I had three publications in wonderful venues, plus some other perks on the side. So, before we get to the bulk of this post, I’m going to brag:

“Between the Stones and the Stars”: My very first sale to Lightspeed, a much-lauded magazine that’s been on my bucket list for years. This is a bittersweet fantasy piece about queer isolation, especially in the early days of the pandemic, and for a certain type of reader it will land just right.

“Beasties Forever”: I’m proud of this sale because it was accepted into Hexagon, a very exclusive venue whose editor specifically finds time travel stories a hard sell. This is a softer story, with less emphasis on the speculative element and more emphasis on family dynamics. This year’s deep cut.

“Where the God-Knives Tread”: Look, I’m proud of this story. I sold it to Lightspeed, even though it’s nearly 5k words over the magazine’s limit. It was serialized in two parts with a full audio production by a Star Trek guest actor. Readers have compared it to the Imperial Radch and Murderbot. It’s my longest completed work to date, all 15k words of cosmic horror space opera, with mixed media worldbuilding and neopronouns. I love this piece. I’m so glad I got to share it.

I also enjoyed doing a reading at Flights of Foundry and partnering with artist Sou Alexander to promote “Where the God-Knives Tread”. It’s been a lovely year of creative firsts and a good reminder of how far I’ve come.

But enough about me! Or rather, more about me, but in a different direction. I’ve spent the year reading some incredible things, and I want to share them with all of you. So here’s my favorite reads of 2023. I didn’t bother doing a top three or any sort of rating system. Some categories had more gems than others, and numerical rating systems are pretty useless. Just know that everything listed I enjoyed immensely, and I think you will as well.

Novels

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

A quiet and perfect novel about two sisters who go different ways. Robinson conveys a sense of place so deftly, making the ordinary almost mythic in her careful layering. Her description of loneliness almost drove me to tears. Highly recommended for people thirsting for good prose.

The Devourers by Indra Das

This is dark queer fantasy done right. The lush descriptions and savage story drew me through the pages, and the ending stuck the landing so perfectly that I was quite nearly awestruck. Beneath the blood and guts is a beautiful tenderness, and I look forward to everything the author puts out.

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera

I know this author from his short story work, and so I expected poetic prose and interesting concepts. But there is also an examination of religion, race, caste, capitalism, and bureaucracy, sprinkled with elements of true horror. This is a weird novel, in the very best sense, with a particularly bleak stretch that I still turn over in my mind.

Leech by Hiron Ennes

A queer gothic that completely commits to the bit, never flinching from its voice, setting, or characters. In fact, I found the body horror downright charming, and I ruined my bedtime on several occasions because I could not stop reading. It’s the sort of book that is so completely itself that I can’t imagine it being written any other way. Read in the winter with some cocoa for the best experience.

The Marigold by Andrew F. Sullivan

I was lucky enough to receive this novel as an ARC at the end of 2022, and it’s been a quiet joy to see it hit so many big lists throughout the year. One of the most realistic depictions of a cyberpunk dystopia that’s basically already on our doorstep and an exploration of the rot of capital. Sullivan dives into the lives of a variety of characters to really give the feel of a teeming and doomed city.

Graphic Novels

The Infinity Particle by Wendy Xu

A sweet and carefully considered love story between a human and a sentient android, complete with beautiful art and pacing. It’s aimed at a teenage audience, but I found plenty to enjoy. Reading this took up the bulk of my Labor Day weekend, and I have no regrets.

Novellas

The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das

Das makes a second appearance on this list with this touching coming-of-age story that happens between the lines of a fantasy epic. It’s a story about trying to understand your place in your family’s history and modern society, and the parallels between being the descendant of reality skipping dragoners and being queer. I particularly love how Das writes sex scenes, so imperfect and intimate, loving and lovely.

Collections

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

I’m late to this particular party (hah), but yes this collection is incredible. It starts off with a bang with “The Husband Stitch” but keeps the energy up throughout, even in the punishing “Especially Heinous.” Difficult to pick favorites, but I also really loved “The Resident.” If you’re looking for a collection of queer feminist stories exploring women’s place in society, you must absolutely pick up this book.

Short Fiction

“Even If Such Ways Are Bad” by Rich Larson

At some point I realized that every Rich Larson story I read was an absolute banger. He’s prolific and excellent, and his way of building very tactile and real cyberpunk realities is incredible. This novelette is more of a space opera/bug punk story, and parts of it made me feel almost nauseous. A really good start before diving into the rest of his repertoire.

“The Skinless Man Counts to Five” by Paul Jessup

Paul Jessup has a collection out next year named after this story, so why not get started on it now? A series of strange deaths aboard a generation ship. Haunting and strange. Excellent atmosphere.

"Was She Wicked? Was She Good?” by M. Rickert

The sort of story where describing it gives too much away. What is it like to parent a child in a world where magic is real? How does one denote what is right and what is wrong? You will think about this story for a long while.

"Window Boy” by Thomas Ha

Ha reminds me of a modern-day Bradbury in both subject and voice. This story is an excellent introduction to both. A boy in a house befriends a boy outside his window against the backdrop of a bleak and strange world.

"Up in the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep in the Ground” by Karlo Yeager Rodríguez

Magical realism is alive and well in Rodríguez’s work, which tends to focus on the long arm of American colonialism on Puerto Ricans. This retelling of The Juniper Tree dives into the cruel reality known as la operación, when Puerto Rican women were sterilized by white colonizers. A beautiful and sad tale.

"Mycophilia” by C.B. Blanchard

An abandoned trans boy discovers his upstairs neighbor is made of mold. Blanchard describes poverty and loneliness with a skill that can only come from experience. This story has struck a chord with many readers and for good reason. An excellent introduction into both Blanchard and Seize the Press’s offerings.

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The days are dark and full of illness. You may find yourself at home in need of a good read. I hope this list finds you a book friend or at least an hour’s escape. Rest well.