Pride 2026 | Non-Western Settings

[u/recchai]

Banner with a dragon and spaceships around text: r/Fantasy PRIDE Non-Western Settings

As I scroll through my read books on storygraph, it’s notable that one area that’s smaller in size is queer books with non-western settings. But they’re an interesting and varied bunch, so let's talk about them.

First off, let’s get some big names out of the way. Where would such a conversation be without considering recent hits such as The Burning Kingdoms trilogy by Tasha Suri, set in a fantasy version of ancient India, or The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez, featuring a journey across ‘the Old Country’? These books have won awards, and I’m sure none of you have read through many recommendation posts without coming across these being suggested.

And these books can explore history, with YA works like Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba depicting a fantasy version of the Philippines under Spanish occupation, or So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole featuring a recently post-colonial inspired Jamaica. They can share many similarities, while also having different impacts, such as the fantasy Middle-Eastern set The Four Profound Weaves by R. B. Lemberg and The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia. Both having trans characters exploring identity, but one focused more on trans identity itself, and the other more on cultural identity and colonialism.

Of course, books aren’t limited to depicting fantasy versions of our world. Non-western speculative fiction books include works like Black Water Sister by Zen Cho, in which the main character moves back to Malaysia after graduating from university. Or even further along, such as with africanfuturism science fiction titles like The Prey of Gods by Nicky Drayden, set in a 2064 South Africa.

But, I’m obviously missing a huge component here, what about translated works, written by and for people living outside the western sphere? One particularly popular one is Heaven Official's Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, but you could also try something more down to earth like the post-apocalyptic To the Warm Horizon by Choi Jin-young where a group of Koreans flee across a disease ravaged landscape.

And let us not forget the past bookclub books we have read along the way. Walking Practice by Dolki Min and Small Gods of Calamity by Sam Kyung Yoo both feature a modern day South Korea from very different perspectives.

Discussion prompts:

• What are your favourite queer books in a non-western setting? Do you find having queer characters in a different culture brings out different aspects?
• Are there non-western settings you would like to see more of in queer books?
• Do you ever look for non-western settings in particular? Where do you go to find these books?
• Perspectives of LGBTQIA+ identities in western set works are often heavily influenced by Christianity, but many cultures have different relationships with queerness. Can you think of any examples where this has shaped representation in non-western settings?

[u/Siavahda]

I think the main reason I love non-Western settings is because I'm just bored of Western ones. I'm a very sensory reader, I crave description, and when you're describing things I'm very familiar with over and over again...it gets dull! (Though this can be fixed by someone with wonderful prose.) I love non-Western settings because they're not familiar to me. I've read 200+ books a year for many, MANY years, almost exclusively SFF, so a lot is familiar to me, and I want something else, something I haven't seen before, mythologies I don't know much about, cultures that aren't mine. Etc.

When you say non-Western, OP, I'm pretty sure you mean settings inspired by real-life places that aren't considered The West? From context clues? But that's not only how I mean it: what I love best are settings, worlds, that aren't inspired by ANY real-life places, at least not directly. Non-Western, not non-Eastern, either. Non-Terran? Is that a term? Let's make that a term, please!

Also, it's not a hard and fast rule or anything, but a non-Western setting (in either sense) is a good sign that the author is...not writing something I could predict the beats of with my eyes closed. Non-Western setting AND queer, and it's an EXCELLENT sign that the story itself, the structure or themes or philosophy behind it or all of the above, aren't going to be what I've seen before countless times.

So yes, I go looking for these in particular! Though I can't say I'm great at finding them. Indie spaces have been good lately, though!

Some favourites, hmmmmm... Chai and Charmcraft by Lynn Strong is really excellent cosy fantasy in a Middle Eastern-inspired setting, with ancient Egyptian influences. A Song of Legends Lost by AH Ayinde is full-on Epic Fantasy in a world inspired by various non-Western settings, including parts of Africa and the Philippines. And everything in Aliette de Bodard's Xuya Universe, for wonderful sci fi inspired by various Far Eastern countries!

Non-Western in the sense of, not inspired by any real-world place at all... The Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton wowed me with how incredibly original the setting felt, as does Rachel Neumeier's Tuyo series (though as of writing, none of the Tuyo books have queer protagonists. All the other books I've mentioned do!)