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Author Grace Byron’s first novel, Herculine (from Simon & Schuster), set to release next week, narrates the story of an unnamed protagonist who journeys from New York to a seemingly ideal trans-girl commune in the Indiana woods, a gripping tale laden with literary references. (The elusive camp central to the narrative takes its name from the 19th-century intersex memoirist Herculine Barbin.)
Fans of horror and sci-fi might find it unsurprising that writers like Gretchen Felker-Martin and Ursula K. Le Guin feature on the list of authors and works that inspired Byron. However, contemporary writers like Lauren Oyler and Patricia Lockwood also make appearances as significant influences, reflecting the complexities of our digital lives. Check out Byron’s exhaustive list below.
The Birthday of the World by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Birthday of the World: And Other Stories
Ever since I was young, writing has been my ambition, although I often ventured into different artistic paths. A few years ago, when I revisited Le Guin’s works, I was prompted to pursue my writing. Her science fiction, rich with political nuances, reshaped my perspective, encouraging a new gentleness. Each of her narratives enters my mind anew, heavy with influence. I selected The Birthday of the World because it contains many of my adored Le Guin tales and features strikingly peculiar stories about queer relationships, such as “Unchosen Love” and “Mountain Ways.” Le Guin continues to inspire; if you’ve not experienced the Earthsea series or Five Ways to Forgiveness, do so immediately—I’m eagerly awaiting your thoughts.
Fake Accounts by Lauren Oyler
The brooding, spiraling narrative style influenced by Bernhard permeates Herculine. I greatly admired Fake Accounts and many internet-based novels that convey a grim, sarcastic tone that has notably shaped my book’s narrative voice. Writers like Renata Adler, Joan Didion, and Sigrid Nunez—women who beautifully articulate frustration—fascinate me. Their first-person perspectives serve as a vivid, multifaceted lens through which to perceive the world.
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Several impactful trans authors resonate throughout Herculine, among them Gretchen Felker-Martin, whose novel Manhunt stands as one of my all-time favorites. It’s an essential read. Influential figures like Imogen Binnie, Torrey Peters, and Casey Plett also explore themes of T4T experience, love, and community.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Relatively few works address spirituality with the same depth that Robinson does. I once contemplated writing a trans-themed book akin to hers. Although the outcome didn’t manifest in that exact form, her work remains a poignant contrast to mine. I find myself oscillating between reverence and critique of her crisp, poignant style. Undeniably, she stands as one of our greatest novelists.
The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
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