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Asexuality and Asexual Characters in Books & Comics - a Collection


SapphireOtter

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Hi, first time poster here. I don't know if this is the right subforum, but I'm currently in the process of questioning/trying to figure out if I may be ace.

 

The more important bit:

As a part of trying to figure out whether I'm ace or not, I though it may be beneficial if I read books on the topic and so I have come hear to ask for recommended books I should read. I already know of The Invisible Orientation and am currently waiting for my reversation from the library.

 

Boring-ish background information:

I haven't felt (or don't think I have felt) sexual attraction before in my life (currently 17), aIthough  I'm not sure if my perceived asexuality isn't just because I am a "Late bloomer". However, (somewhat contradicting to the previous statement) on occasions I have thought I might be feeling sexual attraction, but on those times it has been more of a feeling of "uncomfortability" (and I think it may just be me thinking I should feel sexual attraction in a given situation and my body then "mimicking" what it would feel like, and the uncomfortability coming from the fact that it's not real sexual attraction and me overthinking.)

Usually I only think about sex in situations where I'm questioning my sexuality. Otherwise I go through day-to-day existance as if sex "didn't exist" (as in I don't really think about it). I have had two "chrushes" so far in life. However, both have lacked a feeling of "wanting to have sex with them" and have followed a formula of:

1.) I see (or think I see) them staring at me,

2.) I start thinking about if this means they have intrest in me,
3.) I start paying more attention to them in order to "figure out" if they really are showing intrest in me,

so I don't even know if these have been "real" chrushes or just me being ackward and overthinking.

Overall I am very confused. Sorry for venting.

 

(Also sorry if my English has mistakes/is hard to understand at time, it's not my first language.)
 

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@Najiw (Below is an official, green mod message.)

 

Hello. Welcome to AVEN!

 

I'm just letting you know I merged your thread from the "Members Questioning" subforum of the "Questions About Asexuality" forum to AVEN's main ace book recommendation thread in the World Watch forum.

 

If it helps, the second post has a list of non-fiction asexual, book recommendations.

 

LeChat,

Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hey friends! I hope this is the right place to post this. I've been out as ace for a while now, but haven't really deep dove into any resources for asexuality as it's sort of been a back-burner part of my identity. Not that it isn't important, but I've been preoccupied with other pieces of life.

 

I was looking for any suggestions/recommendations on books, literature, etc. around asexuality that folks have loved (or ones to avoid, if you've hated them!) I have perused through some of the stuff out there broadly, but I'm hoping for personal recommendations.

 

Thanks in advance!

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CrowsBeforeBros

I really liked the book The Sound of Stars, by Alechia Dow. It's a science fiction novel and has lots of representation everywhere. The main protagonist is on the asexuality spectrum and it's discussed several times in the book without overdoing it or making it weird. I don't know any other books as I don't read much, but maybe you'll find more :)

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@Mayyy (Below is an official, green, mod message.)

 

Hi. Welcome to AVEN!

 

I'm just letting you know I've merged your thread from the Asexual Musings and Rantings forum with AVEN's main, asexual book recommendation thread in the World Watch forum.

 

There are fiction and non-fiction titles and genres listed in the first few posts of this thread. I hope this helps!

 

LeChat,

Welcome Lounge, Announcements, and Alternate Language moderator

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  • 1 month later...
Claire-123

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki is a manga with a lot of great LGBTQIA+ representation in. The main character is aromantic ace exploring her asexuality. It's so beautiful! 

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  • 4 weeks later...
Malcolm

Phantom Tales of the Night, a manga written under the nom de plume Matsuri belongs on the manga/graphic novels list.

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On 10/11/2022 at 10:01 PM, LizCat said:

Hey all. So obviously Ace and Aro representation in media right now is scarce. But I was curious if anyone has found any representation in adult fiction books.

I've only been able to find YA novels with Aro and/or Ace characters (which is fantastic and I love reading those too). However, as someone in my late 20s, I'd like to read about adult experiences as well. Especially since I discovered my own sexual/romantic identity in adulthood.

Thanks!

@LizCatasked this question a while ago but I was going to post here anyway, and my post ties in to your question.

 

Friends Without Benefits, by Evelyn Fenn

Full disclosure here. I wrote this one. And, yes, this is the one with more ‘older’ age rep. The main character is in her 40s. Most other ace characters are in their 20s and 30s.

 

Other books I’ve come across.

 

Ace of Hearts, by Lucy Mason

Hesper is asexual.

I think this would count as contemporary new adult.

 

Franklin In Paradise, by John Patrick

Character Patrick is demisexual.

Set in a world recognisably like our own where most humans are wiped out by disease. There is a lot I love about this book. The world building is amazing, for one thing. I wasn’t wholly convinced by Patrick’s demisexuality, however. For someone who needs to forge a strong bond before developing attraction, he seemed to develop it remarkably quickly. Maybe that’s what living through an apocalypse does to you, though.

 

Havesskadi, by Ava Kelly

It’s about dragons. Good world building again, but as a personal preference I like my ace rep to be human. Still, ace characters, so deserves to be on the list.

 

All available from the publisher, NineStar Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc etc.

 

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  • 1 month later...

Not explicitely ace, but aroace-questioning and including a gay couple: This golden Flame by Emily Victoria

I added it to the Fantasy list

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Old Maid Librarian

Science Fiction/Fantasy: 

 

5 book series: Dreamhealers by M.C.A. Hogarth

1st book in series is Mindtouch    ISBN:   9781490450339

   

Set in multi-species utopian future, it covers the developing platonic love between a member of an asexual species (they reproduce in vitro) and a member of a telepathic and therefor highly touch adverse species who avoid sex as much as possible.

 

Note: Hogarth's other books are good, but do have various levels of sex and violence. This is her only sex-free series that I know of.

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David XH

New favourite piece of Ace representation in fiction - The Meister of Decimen City by Brenna Raney. Come for the romantic asexual representation (the protagonist) and talking dinosaurs, stay for the searingly heartbreaking interpersonal relationships and incredibly stupid puns. 10/10

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