A 2021 Hugo Award Finalist! A 2021 Locus Award Finalist! A 2020 ALA Booklist Top 10 SF/F Pick! A Booklist Editor’s Choice Pick! Book Riot’s Best Books of 2020 So Far! Named a Best of 2020 Pick for NPR | NYPL | Booklist | Bustle | Den of Geek In Upright Women Wanted, award-winning author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity. author Sarah Gailey reinvents the pulp Western with an explicitly antifascist, near-future story of queer identity.
“That girl’s got more wrong notions than a barn owl’s got mean looks.”
Esther is a stowaway. She’s hidden herself away in the Librarian’s book wagon in an attempt to escape the marriage her father has arranged for her–a marriage to the man who was previously engaged to her best friend. Her best friend who she was in love with. Her best friend who was just executed for possession of resistance propaganda.
The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.
Praise for Upright Women Wanted
“A good old-fashioned horse opera for the 22nd century. Gunslinger librarians of the apocalypse are on a mission to spread public health, decency, and the revolution.”–Charles Stross
“A dazzling neo-western adventure. . . . Gailey’s gorgeous writing and authentic characters make this slim volume a pure delight.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
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A good old-fashioned horse opera for the 22nd century. Gunslinger librarians of the apocalypse are on a mission to spread public health, decency, and the revolution.
Read for 2021 Hugos
Overall Thoughts
Another excellent story from Gailey, dealing with queer culture and how to be yourself. This starts out like a straight western, but is revealed pretty quickly it’s likely an alternate future rather than an alternate past. I really enjoyed the main character’s journey to find herself, as well as great LGBTQIA rep from all the characters. While the story itself isn’t as deep as some, it absolutely achieves what it set out to do.
Plot
This is a journey in both the literal and metaphorical sense, with the main character finding herself as well as traveling with the mysterious Librarians, who (supposedly) disseminate the “Approved Literature” to people so they stay in line with what the nation wants them to think. Of course, hijinks ensue, and there is a much greater depth to how the Librarians operate and what types of thought they actually protect. I’d love to read a follow up to this story if there is one!
Setting
Gailey has some excellent worldbuilding, and this is no exception. A future America, devastated by years of supporting war rather than the country, things are barely held together and so things have largely recessed to a wild west type situation. It’ a cool take on future dystopia while still using a lot of aspects from the past.
Character
The characters in this piece are lots of fun to read, from the naïve Esther, who is our viewpoint to learn about the world, to the pair of Bet and Leda, accomplished Librarians with several big secrets, to Cye, their apprentice, who is able to be their nonbinary self out in the wilds, but must appear as a woman in towns because an alternate is not acceptable. Last, there’s the shadowy figure of another mentor to Esther, and I love what is done with this gray character.
I grabbed this one based on the recommendation of a friend and I’m glad I did. It’s an original and interesting story. I mean, just read the blurb! Queer librarian spies on horseback? Yes please and thank you. It’s a quick read, which is my main complain and the reason I can’t give it 5 stars. I wanted so much more and was left with so many questions. I wanted epicness. I want to know how the country got to be the way it was/how long it’s been that way, what the actual rules and who the government actually is that makes decisions. Why is there no gas or vehicles? Anyway, it’s a fast and fun read so enjoy if the blurb catches your eye. I know I did.
Upright Women Wanted
by Sarah Gailey
This story takes place in the US in an alternate time. The State has authorized material and reading unauthorized material can get you killed. So can loving the same sex. This book follows Esther, who watched her girlfriend hang after being caught with the wrong material. Her father also wants to marry her off to a guy she doesn’t like. She runs away by hiding in the back of the Librarian’s book wagon.
Librarians transport authorized material around so everyone can read the same books, see the same movies. Esther wants to become a Librarian.
This book follows the partly wild west style adventure of these women who are considered State authorized helpers but underneath they work for the resistance. This is how Esther grows from seeing the world under a iron fist to trying to make a change.
It’s full of action, romance, hope, and growth. Great characters and plot. Loved the unique world.
From the blurb: “The future American Southwest is full of bandits, fascists, and queer librarian spies on horseback trying to do the right thing.”
How could you not pick up this book? I really loved this book – my first of this author, but I’ll definitely be picking up more of their books. Esther’s voice was superb, the prose was knife-sharp, the story was thrilling. Definitely page-turning and exciting!
I enjoyed this book, but had many unanswered questions. I wanted to know more about the government, the country, the laws and how it got the way it did. i enjoyed the story itself with the women/them doing what they needed to survive. I did get very confused with the use of them/they. I was constantly thinking who else is there? Plus it made for cringe worthy grammar. They were a good teacher.
This book does include cussing, the F word was used. but not excessively.