Upright Women Wanted

“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.

Fight the State.
Be a Librarian.

  Product Info

Publisher: ‎ Tordotcom
Date:  February 4, 2020
Language: ‎ English
Hardcover: ‎ 176 pages
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1250213587

  Full Description

In , award-winning 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

"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

  Content Warnings

Child labor
Death
Domestic abuse
Executions
Grief
Gun violence
Hanging (mentioned)
Homophobia
Murder
Physical abuse
Posessiveness
Violence