20 of the best LGBTQIA+ works of science fiction

Dhalgren (Cover image via Vintage)

13. Dhalgren

It’s easy to get lost in Samuel R. Delany’s massive classic of science fiction, Dhalgren. It’s a sprawling, mind-bending novel that deals with amnesia, chaos, a devastated city, and catastrophe in general. Delineating someone’s gender or sex seems almost pointless in such a context.

At least, that’s how it appears from the protagonist’s perspective. Dhalgren follows a more-or-less nameless central character, commonly referred to as “the Kid” or “Kidd”. He begins the novel in a forest just outside the crumbling city of Bellona, where he and a woman have a sexual encounter. He tells her that he can’t remember his name. In response, she leads him to a cave full of chains and mirrors and prisms, then leaves and promptly turns into a tree. The Kid is understandably alarmed and flees towards the city.

There, he encounters mounting strangeness within. The Kid finds a notebook that contains word-for-word passages from the text of Dhalgren itself. He also interacts with the Richards family, whose father leaves for work every day (despite there being no known office that remains active). Meanwhile, his wife, Mary, almost convinces everyone that all is well, despite their lives in a strangely empty apartment building.

Be aware: this is not exactly a kid-friendly novel. Delany’s characters (and especially The Kid) engage in a variety of sexual acts, all graphically described. The Kid remains unconcerned about his given partner’s gender or biology.

Delany himself has identified as gay since he was a teenager. He was married to Marilyn Hacker in the 1960s, though maintained his sexuality throughout their relationship. They divorced in 1980 (after which Marilyn began to identify as a lesbian), and Delany eventually entered into a long-term relationship with another man.