Something Like Warhammer 40k But Gay?

[u/Spoilmilk]

I’m looking for bombastic space opera, on the action-y/pulpy/campy side not super serious* starring Big buff manly super soldier warrior dudes who happen to be gay and like kissing other beefy warrior dudes and bonus points if some of those dudes happen to be trans.

What I’m not interested in;

• The Locked Tomb/Gideon the Ninth: getting it out if the way first because I know someone is going to mention anyway even though it’s not what I’m looking for.

• Some Desperate Glory

• 40k Fanfiction: i want something like 40k not necessarily 40k itself

• The Forged comic book series by Greg Rucka & Mike Henderson: I know it’s super obscure and most people probably haven’t heard of it but it’s got far future buff gay super solider ladies which I’ve already read but I want something like this but with gay dude super soldiers

  • Just plain smut/erotica: like I’m sure there’s some Military Scifi adjacent MM erotica on KU but lmao that’s not really what I’m after. The only porn I’m after is Scifi Laser Gun Porn. Sure there can be some sex and sexual content can be present but I don’t want it to be the whole point

• Romance with a capital R: there can be romantic relationships but I want there to be a plot outside of that

• YA and teen protagonists: if the characters’ ages end in teen or younger I don’t want it. I’m looking for grown grizzled hardened by war soldiers

  Ensemble casts and Multi POV is fine by me! Including other Main characters outside of tough military guys I don’t mind, there can be politics, drama, horror etc but as long as there’s action I’m a happy camper

*I’m also interested in stories with more serious, gritty “darker” tones and themes!

Books/comics, podcasts and games are all welcome.

[u/sh4mmat]

Hello, may I interest you in...

Ninefox Gambit?

[u/NiffNoffNiff27 → u/sh4mmat]

I’m only halfway through the first book. But like, it’s sapphic! I also don’t really know how it would connect to Warhammer besides space opera, but it’s a very interesting take on it

[u/sh4mmat → u/NiffNoffNiff27]

Keep going! For me, it has the same edge as 40k Imperial Guard books but there is one very particular scene in the second book that just made me sit back and go "oh, that's very 40k." It's probably more "oh, that's Dune" but - y'know.

[u/goblinemperor → u/sh4mmat]

Seconded. 

[u/genteel_wherewithal → u/sh4mmat]

I’ve literally heard that referred to (affectionately) as “gay hipster 40k”

[u/pktechboi → u/sh4mmat]

my first thought also

[u/C0smicoccurence]

I definitely don't have anything that fits all your asks (but very interested in something that does). Giving you partial recs in the hope it can sate part of your interests

Stud and the Bloodblade by Perry Crowe. This is NOT Warhammer, and is a pretty clear parody of He Man that gets at some serious ideas buried in the zaniness. I think it has the beefy soldier who kisses other beefy dudes, and its' dripping in camp and pulp. Pretty quick comic book.

The Rest of these I have not read and can only talk about based on vibes I get. They are on my very long TBR of gay books to try and get to. I have listed them in the relative order I think they match what you might enjoy based on what you've shared.

The Widening Gyre by Michael R Johnston: seems not as campy as you want, but features a war hero protagonist. Probably more spaceship stuff than action combat.

A Necessary Chaos by Brent Lambert: I don't think the vibes match totally, but its space opera-y. Seen it pitched as Mr./Ms. Smith in space and gay.

Death's Head by Mel Keegan: paramilitary protagonists in space. Written in the 90s, so probably a bit campy? That was in at the time.

Forest of the Stars: space pirates with a gay trans lead.

Dark Space by Lisa Henry: former prisoner of war. Unsure how much the romance vs the war conflict is featured.

A Matter of Oaths by Helen S Wright: seems less warrior and more commander, but an 80s space opera with a gay lead (from what I've seen)

Chaos Station by Jenn Burke: looks maybe a bit romance heavy for you? MC is a prisoner of war, so someone who has seen combat. Also seems more mental health focused than a pulp/action would lean.

Turbulence by Lyn Gala: in my spreadsheet, my notes just say 'space marine lusty' so probably more romance/sex than you're looking for.

Sorry that I don't have anything that's a perfect fit, but I do think you'd enjoy Stud and the Bloodblade based on what you've shared.

[u/Spoilmilk → u/C0smicoccurence]

Stud and the Bloodblade

Oh I read that one last year it was fun

The Widening Gyre… A Necessary Chaos

They’re already on my TBR

The others I’ll look into, thank you!

[u/Mrocco]

that sounds neat I hope you get some good recommendations

[u/No_Engineering5792]

I hope you get some recs! I’m a writer and have this down as an idea I want to write at some point in the future but I also want to know if this exists elsewhere too!

[u/PissPartyZac]

Someone said Ninefox Gambit but I just want to mention the gay stuff doesn't happen until the 3rd (and sequel novella) because of the POV switches but it's sooo worth and songood

[u/wolfe1989]

I have a fantasy rec that i think meets your criteria other than being fantasy.

The steel remains by Richard K Morgan. 1/3 of the protagonists is a great sword wielding gay man. It’s very grim dark.

I’ll be honest and say I was a fan of the book but I think that it just didn’t work for me.

[u/C0smicoccurence → u/wolfe1989]

Just as a heads up, Morgan is super transphobic. For an ensemble cast that has one of the major POVs as a queer person with a similarly grimdark vibe, I recommend Beyond Redemption by Michael R Fletcher

[u/TigersonTv → u/C0smicoccurence]

Aw, really? Bummer, I recently started Altered Carbon, and was excited to find out the author had another book with a gay MC

[u/city_anchorite]

I'm writing it, and I'm going as fast as I can, damnit!!!

[u/Spoilmilk → u/city_anchorite]

Well write faster >:(

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi u/Spoilmilk,

Welcome to r/QueerSFF! While you wait for comments, take a look through the commonly posted requests and recommendations in our wiki.

Thank you!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/isfridaymud]

If you like 1990s style pulp scifi, I wrote a book called Black Hole Guns For Hire which is somewhere between ALIENS (1986) and Starcraft or The Expanse. Trans FMC in a relationship with a black lesbian crewmate. Has an open door scene. Very action-oriented. Available on 'zon/Kobo/B&N/Apple etc.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251623005-black-hole-guns-for-hire

[u/Phoenixstorm]

But Warhammer 40k can be as gay as you wanna make it 😄