Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver
IDs: Transgender, Polyamorous, Fat, Sapphic, Physically Disabled, Amputee, Neurodivergent, Asexual, POC, Mentally Ill
Author IDs: Transgender, Nonbinary, Neurodivergent
Sylver’s novel takes place in Parole, a city that has been on fire for years. The city is under a strict quarantine, and is under surveillance from “Eye in the Sky,” a police force that ensures that no one breaks quarantine. Chameleon Moon follows a group of newfound friends as they attempt to escape Eye in the Sky and discover what is causing the fires under Parole. Nearly all of the characters have superabilities as a result of an experimental cure-all drug that was used prior to Parole’s never-ending fire. The ensemble of Chameleon Moon keep themselves safe through collective care. They use the library as a point of safety. They don’t leave each other behind, and they share their resources and capabilities.
Every character in this ensemble is queer and crip. Regan, a polyamorous asexual man with lizard scales and a panic disorder, can withstand high heat and become invisible. Evelyn, a transgender polyamorous woman who can sing at levels that will shatter windows. She also has PTSD. There’s Rose, a polyamorous queer Black fat woman, can grow plants anywhere she goes. She also has two metal prosthetic legs. Then there’s Finn, a polyamorous queer boy who causes explosions anytime he feels emotions other than happiness. There’s also Zilch, a polyamorous nonbinary person made of dead people’s body parts who also likely has PTSD. Sylver not only crips the apocalypse, but she also shows how queer crips can and will survive such an apocalypse, and how queer, crip community care can change everything--maybe even save a city.