Ghosts in Gaslight, Monsters in Steam

by Dorothy Allison

First published 2013

This collection brings together two dozen LGBT writers, poets, and artists who create supernatural stories across gaslight era settings. The anthology features ghost stories that unfold in shadowy Victorian streets, monster tales where creatures stalk through fog-shrouded alleys, and steampunk adventures powered by brass gears and steam engines. Each story centers queer characters who face both supernatural threats and the challenges of their identities in historical periods. The contributors include World Fantasy Award winner John Coulthart, Lambda Literary Award winner Dorothy Allison, screenwriter Gregory Norris, and Lethe Press publisher Steve Berman. These creators blend horror, fantasy, and historical fiction to explore how monsters both literal and metaphorical shape queer experience. The stories move between intimate character moments and action-driven supernatural encounters, creating a collection where identity and otherworldly terror intertwine.

Genres: fiction, 20th-century, fantasy, horror, lgbt, 19th-century

Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, suspenseful

Tropes: found-family, supernatural-elements

Setting: Gay City

Period: Gaslight Era, Victorian

206 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

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