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 | 9780593595640 |
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]"Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones"
[edit]In an apocalyptic near-future Seattle, a pandemic renders humans unable to produce sex hormones.[1]
"The Chaser"
[edit]A boy questions his sexuality as he embarks on an ill-fated relationship with his femme boarding school roommate.[1][2]
"The Masker"
[edit]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]
Stag Dance
[edit]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]
Reception
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ a b c "STAG DANCE". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Stag Dance by Torrey Peters". Publishers Weekly. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Ryan, Hugh (8 March 2025). "Think Gender Is Messy? Wait Until You Read These Stories". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ Masad, Ilana (11 March 2025). "'Stag Dance' is a worthy follow-up to 'Detransition Baby'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
- ^ Joseph, Lauren J. (21 March 2025). "Stag Dance by Torrey Peters review – genre games and gender mischief". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2025.