Can you recommend some good gay historical science fiction books?

Another excellent work is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller. It retells the story of Achilles and Patroclus from Greek mythology, delving deep into their relationship within the historical context of ancient Greece. It's beautifully written, bringing the characters and their world to life.

One great example is 'Maurice' by E. M. Forster. It's set in the early 20th century and beautifully explores the life and love of a gay man in a society that was not very accepting. Another is 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker, which has strong lesbian themes within the historical context of African - American life in the South. 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf is also a classic, with its unique exploration of gender and sexuality across time.

There might be a book like 'The Stars are Legion' that could potentially be in that 2016 list. It has a unique world - building aspect and also touches on gay relationships within its science - fiction narrative. It creates a complex and engaging story world that explores various themes including those related to gay characters.

There's also 'The City and the Pillar' by Gore Vidal. This was quite revolutionary when it was released as it dealt with homosexuality in a more upfront way in the context of a story that has elements of science - fiction. It was one of the early works to do so and has had a significant impact on the genre.

One great gay historical fiction book is 'Maurice' by E. M. Forster. It's set in the early 20th century and explores the life and loves of a young man named Maurice. Another is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller, which retells the story of Achilles and Patroclus in a beautifully written way. Also, 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin is a classic that delves into themes of love, identity, and sexuality in a 1950s Paris setting.

One great free gay historical fiction is 'Maurice' by E. M. Forster. It's set in the early 20th century and explores the life and love of a young man named Maurice who is coming to terms with his homosexuality in a society that doesn't accept it easily.

Another one is 'Neuromancer' by William Gibson. It's a classic hard science fiction that also has elements of a changing historical landscape. The book delves into cyberpunk themes, with a lot of hard science concepts related to technology and how it shapes society, while also showing a new kind of historical development in a fictional world of advanced tech.

A more recent example could be 'Gideon the Ninth' by Tamsyn Muir. It has a complex world - building with a lot of queer representation, including gay relationships. The story is set in a sort of post - apocalyptic, space - faring universe with necromancers and cavaliers, and the gay relationships are an important part of the characters' development and the overall plot.

I also highly recommend 'Gone with the Wind' by Margaret Mitchell. Set during the American Civil War, it tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara. It not only shows the historical context of the war but also delves deep into the human nature of the characters during that chaotic time.

One good historical fiction book is 'The Pillars of the Earth' by Ken Follett. It vividly depicts the building of a cathedral in 12th - century England, with complex characters and a detailed look at the social structure of the time.