Bending the Landscape

"Bending the Landscape" is the title of an award-winning series of LGBT-themed anthologies of short speculative fiction edited by Nicola Griffin and Stephen Pagel. [http://www.nicolagriffith.com/bending.html] Three books were produced, subtitled "Science Fiction", "Fantasy" and "Horror", between 1997 and 2002.

The editors asked contributors to "imagine a different landscape... some milieu that had not happened" and then address the theme of Alien or Other, with the Other being a lesbian or gay man.

Each of the volumes won LGBT or genre awards, including winning a World Fantasy Award, two Lambda Literary Awards and two Gaylactic Spectrum Awards; some individual stories contained within were also recipients of awards and nominations,http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit0.html]

Themes

The editors asked contributors to "imagine a different landscape... some milieu that had not happened" and then address the theme of Alien or Other, with the Other being a lesbian or gay man. However the stories were not specifically aimed at a gay readership.http://www.locusmag.com/1998/Books/Profiles1019.html#bendingsf] Wendy Pearson, Identifying the Alien: Science Fiction Meets Its Other "Science Fiction Studies", #77 = Volume 26, Part 1 = March 1999 [http://www.depauw.edu/SFs/backissues/77/pearson-rev77.htm] ] Mark R. Kelly's review in locus magazine bemoaned the anthologies lack of thematic breadth.

Awards

Each of the volumes won LGBT or genre awards, including winning a World Fantasy Award, two Lambda Literary Awards and two Gaylactic Spectrum Awards; some individual stories contained within were also recipients of awards and nominations,http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit0.html]

"Bending the Landscape: Fantasy"

Published in 1997.

Awards

Lambda Literary Award, Lesbian and Gay Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror (Win)
World Fantasy Award, Best Anthology (Win)

"The Fall of the Kings" - World Fantasy Award, Best Novella (Nomination)
"Beside the Well" - Nebula Award, Short Story (Preliminary Nominee)
"Water Snakes" - Nebula Award, Short Story (Preliminary Nominee)
"In the House of the Man in the Moon" - Nebula Award, Short Story (Preliminary Nominee)
"The Sound of Angels" - Nebula Award, Short Story (Preliminary Nominee)

Contents

9 • Introduction (1997) • essay by Nicola Griffith and Steve Pagel
13 • Frost Painting • (1997) • novelette by Carolyn Ives Gilman
35 • Gary, in the Shadows • (1997) • shortstory by Mark Shepherd
55 • Prince of the Dark Green Sea • (1997) • shortstory by Mark McLaughlin
61 • Water Snakes • (1997) • shortstory by Holly Wade Matter
79 • Gestures Too Late on a Gravel Road • (1997) • shortstory by Mark W. Tiedemann
89 • The Fall of the Kings • (The World of Riverside) • (1997) • novelette by Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman
123 • Cloudmaker • (1997) • shortstory by Charlee Jacob
135 • Magicked Tricks • (1997) • novelette by K. L. Berac
159 • The Sound of Angels • (1997) • shortstory by Lisa S. Silverthorne
167 • The King's Folly • (1997) • shortstory by James A. Moore
185 • Beside the Well • (1997) • shortstory by Leslie What
195 • The Home Town Boy • (1997) • shortstory by B. J. Thrower
211 • Expression of Desire • (1997) • shortstory by Dominick Cancilla
221 • There Are Things Which Are Hidden from the Eyes of the Everyday • (1997) • shortstory by Simon Sheppard
233 • Full Moon and Empty Arms • (1997) • shortstory by M. W. Keiper
249 • Mahu • (1997) • novelette by Jeff Verona
271 • The Stars Are Tears • (1997) • shortstory by Robin Wayne Bailey
289 • Desire • (1997) • shortstory by Kim Antieau
305 • Young Lady Who Loved Caterpillars • (1997) • shortstory by Jessica Amanda Salmonson
311 • In Memory of • (1997) • shortstory by Don Bassingthwaite
331 • In Mysterious Ways • (1997) • novelette by Tanya Huff
353 • In the House of the Man in the Moon • (1997) • shortstory by Richard Bowes
372 • Contributors' Bios • (1997) • essay by uncredited

"Bending the Landscape: Science Fiction"

Published in 1998.

Awards

Lambda Literary Award, Lesbian and Gay Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror (Win)
Gaylactic Spectrum Award (win)

Stonewall Book Award: Literature (finalist)

"Time Gypsy" - Nebula Award, Novelette (Nomination)
"Time Gypsy" - Hugo Award, Best Novelette (Nomination)
"Time Gypsy" - James Tiptree, Jr. Award, Gender-bending SF (Nomination Below Cutoff)
"Dance at the Edge" - Sturgeon Award, Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Short Story Award (Nomination)

Contents

Introduction by Nicola Griffith and Stephen Pagel, p. 7 (Essay)
Sex, Guns, and Baptists by by Keith Hartman, p. 13 (short story)
26 • Half in Love With Easeful Rock and Roll • shortfiction by Rebecca Ore
45 • Powertool • shortfiction by Mark McLaughlin
47 • Time Gypsy • novelette by Ellen Klages
79 • Lonely Land • shortfiction by Denise Lopes Heald
101 • The Rendez-Vous • shortfiction by Nancy Johnston
110 • Silent Passion • shortfiction by Kathleen O'Malley
132 • Sun-Drenched • shortfiction by Stephen Baxter
143 • The Flying Triangle • [Near Space] • shortfiction by Allen Steele
163 • Brooks Too Broad For Leaping • shortstory by Charles Sheffield
164 • A Real Girl • shortfiction by Shariann Lewitt
176 • Dance at the Edge • novelette by L. Timmel Duchamp
197 • Love's Last Farewell • shortfiction by Richard A. Bamberg
207 • On Vacation • shortfiction by Ralph A. Sperry
232 • The City in Morning • shortstory by Carrie Richerson
242 • State of Nature • shortstory by Nancy Kress
250 • The Beautiful People • shortfiction by Wendy Rathbone
283 • Who Plays With Sin • shortfiction by Don Bassingthwaite
307 • Surfaces • shortfiction by Mark W. Tiedemann
331 • Stay Thy Flight • shortfiction by Élisabeth Vonarburg
346 • Free in Asveroth • shortstory by Jim Grimsley

Bending the Landscape: Horror

Published in 2001.http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/ghuber1/index/anthologies.html]

Awards

Gaylactic Spectrum Award (win)
International Horror Guild Award, Best Anthology (Nomination)
Lambda Award, Lesbian and Gay Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror (Nomination)

Kindred - Gaylactic Spectrum Award (nomination)
Love On A Stick - Gaylactic Spectrum Award (nomination)
Passing - Gaylactic Spectrum Award (nomination)
Triangle - Gaylactic Spectrum Award (nomination)

Contents

7 • Introduction • essay by Nicola Griffith and Stephen Pagel
13 • Coyote Love • shortstory by Kraig Blackwelder
19 • Explanations Are Clear • novelette by L. Timmel Duchamp
46 • What Are You Afraid Of? • shortstory by Simon Sheppard
54 • The Lost Homeland • novelette by Cynthia Ward
76 • The Man Who Picks the Chamomile • shortstory by Mark McLaughlin
81 • Love on a Stick • novelette by Carrie Richerson
109 • Triangle • shortstory by Ellen Klages
121 • Memorabilia • novelette by Holly Wade Matter
150 • Blood Requiem • (1995) • shortstory by Gary Bowen
165 • In the Days Still Left • novelette by Brian A. Hopkins and James Van Pelt
186 • Broken Canes • shortstory by Alexi Smart
199 • Keep the Faith • shortstory by A. J. Potter
211 • The WereSlut of Avenue A • shortstory by Leslie What
219 • Kindred • novelette by Alexis Glynn Latner
240 • 'Til Death • shortstory by Barbara Hambly
257 • If I Could See Lazarus Rising • novelette by Kathleen O'Malley
278 • The Waltz of the Epileptic Penguins • shortstory by Keith Hartman
293 • Passing • novelette by Mark W. Tiedemann

ee also

Homosexuality in speculative fiction

List of LGBT themes speculative fciction anthologies

List of gay science fiction

List of lesbian science fiction

References

External links

* [http://www.depauw.edu/SFs/backissues/77/pearson-rev77.htm] In depth review of BtL:SF in "Science Fiction Studies"
* [http://www.locusmag.com/1998/Shf/Bending.html] Reviews of some stories from BtL:SF
* [http://www.swarthmore.edu/Library/ghuber1/index/anthologies.html] List of LGBT SF anthologies.