Straight

Straight is a satirical horror novella by two-time Hugo Award finalist Chuck Tingle, marking his debut in serious long-form horror fiction. Published in 2021, this bold and inventive story blends classic zombie-apocalypse terror with sharp, emotionally charged social commentary, delivering a reading experience that is as thought-provoking as it is frightening.

The premise is deceptively brilliant: once a year, a mysterious cosmic tear in Earth's orbit triggers a mass hysteria that transforms cisgender straight people into violent, rage-fueled creatures who hunt exclusively after queer people, an event known as Saturation Day. A few years into this new reality, four friends from across the queer spectrum seek refuge in a remote desert cabin to wait out the night. But as darkness falls, it becomes clear that no one is truly safe, and survival demands more than just hiding.

Through the perspective of Isaac, a bisexual pacifist narrator, Tingle inverts decades of horror tradition where queer characters are cast as monsters or victims. Here, mainstream society itself becomes the terrifying force, and the story uses that inversion to illuminate real fears about marginalization, allyship, and the fragile safety of queer communities. It is part Twilight Zone, part slasher film, and entirely Chuck Tingle.

What makes Straight so memorable is that it earns its horror without sacrificing its humanity. The social metaphor never overwhelms the storytelling, and the book moves at a gripping, relentless pace. For readers seeking LGBTQ+ horror that is both genuinely scary and genuinely meaningful, Straight is an essential, unforgettable read.