Gays Shouldn't Shut Up: Mélusine, ft. Aysha U. Farah and Lee Mandelo

Let's read a problematic gay fantasy novel!!!

Author Lee Mandelo (Summer Sons, The Woods All Black, Feed Them Silence) and 5 time returning guest, writer, and podcaster, Aysha U. Farah (Life is Strange: Double Exposure, The Sky Left Us, All My Maidens Podcast) join us to discuss "Mélusine," a fantasy novel from 2005 by Sarah Monette (also known as Katherine Addison).

We discuss the puritanical limitations put upon queer art, effective representation of abuse and trauma, and the myth of the perfect victim. As you may have picked up from that, we get into some pretty intense themes of sexual and physical violence in this episode, so feel free to skip this one if that sounds like something you're not in a place to listen to.

Check out "Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity," edited by Lee and featuring a story from Aysha. It's a really remarkable collection. Buy Amplitudes here (or wherever you get your books) now!

Check out Aysha's podcast, "All My Maidens" and follow Aysha on Bluesky @ayshaufarah.bsky.social

Follow Lee Mandelo on Bluesky @leemandelo.bsky.social‬ and check out Lee's website here,Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is our basic cover art...with a twist! We figured Aysha deserved her flowers after five guest appearances. Here's to five more!!