{{Short description|2019 book by Bogi Takács}} {{Infobox book | isbn = 9781590216934 | pages = 315 | author = Bogi Takács | language = English | publisher = Lethe Press | genre = Science fiction, fantasy, and LGBTQ+ fiction | country = {{USA}} | pub_date = October 5, 2019 | image = File:The_Trans_Space_Octopus_Congregation.jpg }} '''''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation: Stories''''', more commonly known as '''''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation''''', is a 2019 science fiction and fantasy work, composed of 23 short stories written by Bogi Takács.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takács |url=http://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/reviews/the-trans-space-octopus-congregation-by-bogi-takacs/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Strange Horizons |archive-date=2025-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408165308/http://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/reviews/the-trans-space-octopus-congregation-by-bogi-takacs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Content == The work contains a total of 23 different science fiction stories, most of them including fantasy elements. Many of these stories are also led by non-binary or gender-neutral characters.<ref name=":0" /> The stories show more submissive or accommodating characters in leadership positions, while receiving respect from those closest to them, while the characters who try to take advantage of submission to exert oppression are shown as antagonistic.<ref name=":0" /> Takács was originally going to include research papers which were references for ''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation'', but was talked out of it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hellman |first=Rick |date=2024-02-08 |title=Author creates fantastic fiction grounded in reality {{!}} KU News |url=https://news.ku.edu/news/article/author-creates-fantastic-fiction-grounded-in-reality |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The University of Kansas |archive-date=2025-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518094807/https://news.ku.edu/news/article/author-creates-fantastic-fiction-grounded-in-reality |url-status=live }}</ref>
''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation'' takes advantage of the fictional contexts of fantasy and science fiction to explore BDSM relationships or power hierarchies, showing in many cases the submissive characters as those capable of accessing magic, which plays an important role in the stories.<ref name=":0" />
=== Stories === It is composed of the following short stories:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-08-23 |title=The Trans Space Octopus Congregation by Bogi Takács |url=https://sffreviews.com/2019/08/23/review-the-trans-space-octopus-congregation-stories-by-bogi-takacs/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=SFF Reviews |archive-date=2025-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408170745/https://sffreviews.com/2019/08/23/review-the-trans-space-octopus-congregation-stories-by-bogi-takacs/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*“''This Shall Serve as a Demarcation''” *“''Some Remarks on the Reproductive Strategy of the Common Octopus''” *“''A Superordinate Set of Principles''” *“''Forestspirit, Forestspirit''” *“''Given Sufficient Desperation''” *“''Changing Body Templates''” *“''For Your Optimal Hookboarding Experience''” *“''Increasing Police Visibility''” *“''Good People in a Small Space''” *“''Recordings of a More Personal Nature''” *“''This Secular Technology''” *“''Three Partitions''” *“''Unifications''” *“''The Size of a Barleycorn, Encased in Lead''” *“''To Rebalance the Body''” *“''Shovelware''” *“''The Oracle of DARPA''” *“''Toward the Luminous Towers''” *“''Wind-Lashed Vehicles of Bon''e” *“''The Need for Overwhelming Sensation''” *“''Spirit Forms of the Sea''” *“''All Talk of Common Sense''” *“''Standing on the Floodbanks''”
== Reception and awards == In 2021, Alyssa Shotwell, writing for ''The Mary Sue'', included ''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation'' on her list of the best trans fantasy and sci-fi works to read, also including works such as ''Cemetery Boys'' by Aiden Thomas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-17 |title=7+ Science Fiction and Fantasy Books by Trans Authors to Obsess Over |url=https://www.themarysue.com/science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-by-trans-authors-sff-poc/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=The Mary Sue |archive-date=2025-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250408182800/https://www.themarysue.com/science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-by-trans-authors-sff-poc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2022, ''The Trans Space Octopus Congregation'' was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in the trans fiction category.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-10 |title=Here are the finalists for the 2020 Lambda Literary Awards! |url=https://lithub.com/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2020-lambda-literary-awards/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Literary Hub |archive-date=2023-12-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223191705/https://lithub.com/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2020-lambda-literary-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aviles |first=Gwen |date=2020-06-01 |title=25 best LGBTQ books of 2020, according to Lambda Literary |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/select/nbc-out/best-lgbtq-books-lammy-awards-lambda-literary-ncna1215746 |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=NBC News |archive-date=2022-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320095220/https://www.nbcnews.com/select/nbc-out/best-lgbtq-books-lammy-awards-lambda-literary-ncna1215746 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Michelle |date=2020-03-10 |title=Lambda Literary Awards 2020 Finalists - Complete List |url=https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a31261320/lambda-literary-awards-finalists-2020/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=Oprah Daily |archive-date=2022-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215042913/https://www.oprahdaily.com/entertainment/books/a31261320/lambda-literary-awards-finalists-2020/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Trans Space Octopus Congregation, The}} Category:2019 LGBTQ-related literary works Category:2019 short story collections Category:BDSM literature Category:Fantasy anthologies Category:Hungarian speculative fiction Category:LGBTQ speculative fiction Category:Science fiction short story collections Category:Transgender-related short stories