Stag Dance (novel)
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| Author | Torrey Peters |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary fiction, Transgender literature, Short stories |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House |
Publication date | March 11, 2025 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value). |
Stag Dance is a 2025 book by the American writer Torrey Peters, consisting of three short stories and the titular novel. It was published by Penguin Random House.
Plot
[edit | edit source]"Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones"
[edit | edit source]In an apocalyptic near-future Seattle, a pandemic renders humans unable to produce sex hormones.[1]
"The Chaser"
[edit | edit source]A boy questions his sexuality as he embarks on an ill-fated relationship with his femme boarding school roommate.[1][2]
Stag Dance
[edit | edit source]Babe Bunyan, a large, unattractive lumberjack, decides to attend his winter camp's stag dance as a woman, placing him in a rivalry with the younger, more feminine Lisen.[3]
"The Masker"
[edit | edit source]While attending a Las Vegas transfeminine gathering, Krys is forced to confront her own identity when others at the event turn on a guest wearing a full body silicone woman suit.[2][3]
Reception
[edit | edit source]In his review for The New York Times, writer Hugh Ryan praised Stag Dance, praising Peters's skill at "plumbing the murky hearts of queer people".[3] In The Washington Post, Ilana Masad also commended the book, arguing "Peters’s book is important, but putting aside for a moment the weight of that unasked-for responsibility, Stag Dance is a marvelous follow-up to a tremendous debut".[4] Writer Lauren J Joseph praised the book in The Guardian, noting its ability to maintain cohesion across diverse stories, and comparing it to Mariana Enríquez's short story collection Things We Lost in the Fire.[5]
Kirkus Reviews was more mixed on the book, writing that the titular story "feels interminable at novel length", before ultimately concluding that "even when Peters’ experiments don't pay off, it's exciting to read an author willing to take these risks".[1]
References
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