The Monster Fucker Club
By A.V. Greene

This was on Apex, and I did not plan to read it, I was looking for something different by the same author but after yesterday's short story I knew I had to as soon as I read the noscript.

https://www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-magazine/post/the-monster-fucker-club

CW: they did not put any! But I discuss the theme, see for yourselves.

Comment: so first thing, does this count as queer? I’d argue so. One of the girl is in a relationship with a she-werewolf for instance, and the main POV with a sentient swamp which is explicitly stated does not have a gender and which, in my opinion, indeed counts as queer. But more importantly, monstrosity, attraction to monstrosities and otherness has always been linked to the queer experience.

There were so many things, so many themes to think about. I like how short stories allow you to really hammer the nail in without it becoming syrupy. It was much more complex than what I initially thought, though.

There are actual monster in it, and they are treated as something unhealthy. A toxic relationship, an addiction, a maladaptive coping mechanism. But also there are real people and events that are equally horrifying: a school shooting, violent parents, abusive priests. There is also the way we try to justify to ourselves our unhealthy habits: the self otherization, the presumption we are different from everybody else.

Post noscriptum
Two problematic stories in a row, I see. It is not on purpose, but they are indeed very compelling. Maybe some less problematic ones will come? Jaybe not, idk, as long as i read I will choose to talk about what sticks.

Not me saying this opening a new story ft an octopus

Want to guess my big 3?

“The Octopus Dreams of Personhood”
by Hannah Yang

Content note: Addiction, suicidal ideation, body horror

Published on: Diabolicalplots, the magazine that developed the incredible “submission grinder” that has nothing to do with its name

https://www.diabolicalplots.com/dp-122b-the-octopus-dreams-of-personhood-by-hannah-yang/

Comment: tired and maladaptively living. The story was good, was about addiction, nice body horror.

Passages like

What do you want? she says.
You know what I want, says the octopus. I’ve only ever wanted one thing.
It’s my body, says Shun. You don’t get to keep it.
Why not? You don’t like being a person anyway, and I do.

were honestly fire

Will try again tomorrow

By mayticks on the website formerly known as Twitter

I had decided I was not gonna post about Jonathan Joss but both this and the San Antonio Police Department statements are fucking vile so shit is in comments spoiled for violence and homophobia

I’ve been thinking about it nonstop for two days now

Idk man, spamming the comments of a queer channel while using the username of the Greek hero with the highest number of mentioned male lovers makes you look a bit like a dumdum

🦉Mail-Order Magic🦉
by Stephanie Burgis

Published here: https://www.sundaymorningtransport.com/p/mail-order-magic

This one is fluffyyyyy

This one deals with chronic illness and how communities protect its weaker members and give them the chance to flourish.

It also is about a very very very cute small gryphon!

I think that a year ago this would have delighted me much more than what it did now. It’s maybe a tad too fluffy? Who would’ve thought I could say something like this.

Do you ever think about how it’s canon that char just needed someone in his life to look at him and say “char what *the fuck* are you talking about” not to go genocidal?
Because I do

Sugimoto comm for @prettyposting, happy bday @queerdump ✨✨

Turns out that presents are easier if you are hyperfixating on something

Standardized Test
by SEOUNG KIM

At https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/standardized-test/

I love those pieces that make you ask: what is a story? What can be a story? Can a multiple choice test be a story? Short form allows a higher level of freedom and experimentation without it becoming too much of a mouthful. This was nice