Are there any good fantasy books....

[Brys]

Did you guys know that Loras Tyrell the Knight of Flowers is gay? Together with his patron Renly? There's a long thread in the Martin forum which I thought to be absurdly funny until someone posted an interview with Martin himself, in which he explicitly stated that those two are gay.

There's also a pretty exciting gay love scene in American Gods by Neil Gayman.

IF Loras is gay, it's at most hinted at, and hardly an even slightly important point in the whole series. Renly, though - how was he gay? He was (as far as we know) happily married to Margaery Tyrell. Are you sure it was a real interview? I could accept Loras as being gay, but it wouldn't make much sense for Renly, and it isn't shown at all really.

 

[fybonacci]

Dunno. Here's the interview:
http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/SSM03g.html

Here's the thread:
http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6940&page=7&pp=15

And I think Margery was said to be a virgin when she remarried.

 

[Richardb]

Surprised no one has mentioned Anne McCaffrey and the Pern novels!

In the first half dozen books, it is implied, but not spoken of, that when the dragons are in a mating frenzy, their partners may find themselves with same sex partners, and we do meet a number of characters with male weyr mates.

Later in the series, it is spoken about more clearly, and in the last books, outright clarified that dragon riders are often bi-sexual, or homo-sexual as the majority of breeding greens (virtually all) are ridden by males, and the greens mate with the browns and bronzes... hence the riders may find themselves bound through uncontrollable impulses. So, over time, this has become accepted.

Writen in a very comfortable, not in your face, and natural way. And, some of the most read fantasy (or science fiction if you prefer to call it that) out there.

 

[Brys]

Could be genuine, but it looks more like a fan trying to back up his views. The quote doesn't look like a direct one. Renly didn't act particularly as if he was gay, and Loras only played an extremely minor role. I think you're right about Margery, but then, Renly didn't exactly have much time, and he was mustering an army - so out in the field with his troops for most of that time.

 

[Jay_T]

One of the best novels I have read in quite sometime (and is released thsi week) has home sexual elements. Vellum by Hal Duncan. Incredible book, - the best of 2005 that I have read.

I also finished reading Sarah Monette's Melusine last week that centers on a gay character.

Regarding the Loras/Renly issue.

That was reported by a fan at a reading, during a Q & A with Martin. The person who reported it first is absolutely trustworthy, and the info was not disputed by Paris (Martin's significant other).

Now, all that said, that doesn't mean he wasn't lying

I think there is more then enough evidence to make the relationship beliveable, if not absolutely obvious.

Just some are noted here

 

[Beleg]

....home sexual elements....

On topic: Ellen Kushner.

 

[Brys]

I think what would be more in Martin's style than to overtly suggest that Loras and Renly are gay (as has been suggested here) is for other characters to think that they are gay, which may or may not be different to the truth. A lot of the "evidence" is purely from other people's points of view.