In the world of literature, few authors capture the raw, unfiltered essence of queer life like Mac Crane. With the release of their new short fiction collection, Perverts Crane invites readers to explore the lives of imperfect queer characters navigating the complexities of love, work, and identity.
The collection, which follows Crane’s previous novel A Sharp Endless Need features 17 stories that delve into the hopes, dreams, flaws, and fears of queer individuals who often fall through the cracks of societal expectations. From sex workers to disenchanted tradwives, performance artists to gig workers, Crane’s characters are a testament to the diversity and resilience of the queer community.
Challenging Societal Norms
One of the most striking aspects of Perverts is its unapologetic challenge to societal norms. Crane’s characters are not the polished, palatable queers often portrayed in mainstream media. Instead, they are messy, flawed, and deeply human. They apologize, hedge, and qualify, but they also persist, clawing and scraping for autonomy in a world that often seeks to marginalize them.
In the story Smear the Queer an unnamed former athlete grapples with the idea of paying off student loans by allowing transphobes to hate-crime them on a gig-by-gig basis. The protagonist’s justification for this extreme measure—providing a safe outlet for transphobes’ rage—challenges readers to reconsider their own biases and the societal pressures that drive such desperate measures.
The Beauty of Imperfection
Crane’s characters are not just challenges to societal norms; they are also celebrations of imperfection. In Siren Island a janitor turned actor in an immersive siren-themed burlesque grapples with guilt, embarrassment, and ultimately, self-acceptance. The character’s journey towards building a life on their own terms, flaws and all, is a powerful reminder that confidence is imperfect and personal.
Similarly, in The Perverts a pregnant online sex worker concocts an inefficient scheme to shame their clients into attending an irl sex party. The story’s twist—revealing the clients’ desire for loving acceptance—is a testament to Crane’s ability to find beauty in the messy, awkward, and profoundly human.
A Tender Yet Hilarious Collection
Perverts is not just a challenge to societal norms; it is also a deeply tender yet hilarious collection that works through cognitive dissonance in real time. Crane’s characters are not just flawed; they are also funny, relatable, and deeply human. They laugh in the face of adversity, find humor in the absurd, and ultimately, find a way to stand firmly in their lives.
In Harmony a character thinks they have beaten therapy by sleeping with their therapist, only to realize they actually need to talk to their friends. In Catcher a protagonist pops pills and quiet-quits their job despite loving their work with weirdo kids. These stories, among others, are a testament to Crane’s ability to find humor and humanity in the most unexpected places.
Ultimately, Perverts is a celebration of the messy, beautiful lives of queer individuals. It is a reminder that confidence is imperfect, that autonomy is hard-won, and that there is beauty in the struggle. As Crane’s characters navigate the complexities of love, work, and identity, they invite readers to do the same—to stand firmly in their lives, flaws and all.
