Please suggest books that celebrate the “feminine” side of male characters. I’m thinking specifically of Louis Master Bujold’s Penric and Desdemona series, in which the protagonist is a gentle tempered man fortified by a demon who combines the spirits of several strong women. To me it’s clever and welcome fantasy. I’d like more, in whatever genre.
by sandgrubber
2 Comments
Absolutely! Here are some books and authors that celebrate male characters embracing their feminine sides:
“The Left Hand of Darkness” by Ursula K. Le Guin: This classic science fiction novel explores themes of gender and identity on a planet where inhabitants can change gender at will.
“Orlando” by Virginia Woolf: In this novel, the protagonist experiences life as both male and female over several centuries, exploring themes of gender fluidity and identity.
“Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides: This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows a protagonist with intersex traits as they navigate gender identity and family history.
“The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell: One of the characters in this multi-layered novel, Crispin Hershey, grapples with questions of masculinity and vulnerability, offering a nuanced portrayal of male identity.
“The Power” by Naomi Alderman: This speculative fiction novel imagines a world where women develop the ability to generate electric shocks, shifting power dynamics and challenging traditional gender roles.
These books offer thought-provoking explorations of gender and identity, celebrating the complexity and diversity of human experience across different genres. Enjoy diving into these rich and nuanced narratives!
I second the recommendation of The Left Hand of Darkness. Here are some more:
* The Bel Dame Apocrypha trilogy by Kameron Hurley. Sci fi fantasy on an arid, war-torn alien planet. The men have been depleted by generations of warfare, and one nation has adopted very strict, traditional gender norms where men have multiple wives, and the other nation has inverted gender norms where the tough working women feel men are precious and in need of protection, but men are also targets of sexual harassment and assault.
* The Fortress series by C. J. Cherryh. Fantasy all about platonic friendship between men. In universe there’s no gender bending, but the depiction of masculinity is on the “feminine” side.
* The Moon and the Other by John Kessel. I have not read this yet, it’s on my to-read list.