Alex London, writer person

I wrote PROXY and BLACK WINGS BEATING and DOG TAGS, and some 39 CLUES books, and some other stuff. My newest, BATTLE DRAGONS, is like How to Train Your Dragon meets The Fast and the Furious. http://www.calexanderlondon.com/

[alex--london]

a Dutch dragon drag queen

[alex--london]

add on to my last ask - it seems to have been the latest episode which would explain why i can't find more on it yet, but i'm assuming it will be google-able in the next few days in case you wanted to look hehe

Thanks for the update!

[alex--london]

so i sadly can't send pictures or link a video bc i didn't find any, but in a dutch drag show called "Make up your mind" was one performance to I'm still standing and the Queen (apparently an olympic swimmer?) was dressed as a dragon and it made me giddy since it reminded me of the battle dragon queens :D

This is the dream!

[haveyoureadthisqueerbook]

Have you read Black Wings Beating by Alex London (2018)?

YES

NO

Voting ended onMar 17, 2024

[teenslib]

I LOVED this book! In a fantasy world where the culture is built around birding and falconry, fraternal twins Brysen and Kylee are often at odds, but they've always had each others' backs, especially when it comes to dealing with their abusive father. When Brysen has to capture the elusive and lethal Ghost Eagle in order to save his boyfriend's life, Kylee accompanies him on this dangerous mission.

Brysen is gay, and Kylee mentions being aromantic in this book, although that aspect of her identity is explored more later in the trilogy. I loved the way @alex--london used language and idioms to build the world of this bird-centered culture.

[alex--london]

The results of this poll sure put my career into perspective...OOF.

[humansofnewyork]

“You’re a slut and a whore for the algorithm. I couldn’t do it anymore. You can never feed it enough. You start out making art, and hoping that the door will open. You’re looking for that viral moment so it opens up the door and you can do the thing full time. But you start to compromise just to get the door to open: guessing what it wants, debasing yourself, alienating yourself. Until you’re not even in service to your art anymore. You’re in service to the algorithm. Deep down every artist just wants to be seen. Everyone does. And that’s how it controls you. The algorithm makes you behave in a certain way, create in a certain way, in exchange for being seen. And if something can change what you do, it can change who you are. And I didn’t sign up for that. I didn’t sign up to become a content creator. Art was supposed to be a way for me to be in search of, in service to, in community with. It was my ministry. Art was supposed to be my ministry.”

[ethanmaldridge]

I'm thrilled to reveal the cover for THE PALE QUEEN, my new graphic novel!

A dark fairy tale, the story follows aspiring young astronomer Agatha as she becomes entangled with a mysterious entity from the woods known only as the Lady.

The book will be on shelves this June! You can preorder now wherever you like to get books.

Here's a peek inside:

[ethanmaldridge]

Home

[wheecube]

HAHAHA NO FUCKING WAY. THE GAY AUTHOR THAT I MET ON MY 16TH BIRTHDAY IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE JAMES SOMERTON RIPPED OFF. alex london’s Proxy was v important to me as a little gay guy and meeting him is still one of my best birthday memories. i’m so surprised that i recognized one of the names i immediately had to go dig through my 2019 photos and find this. james somerton’s plagiarism rly has something for everyone. at least alex london made it into somerton’s “video””credits” :/

[abigailnussbaum]

OK, I have to ask: why isn't my entire tumblr timeline going batshit insane for Blue Eye Samurai? This show is not only breathtakingly good on pretty much every level, it ticks so many boxes that this place seems to love:

Intense, hypercompetent genderbending protagonist on a single-minded quest for revenge which they will go to absolutely deranged lengths to complete.

Husky double-amputee sidekick with the world's sunniest disposition and the luck of the devil himself.

Entitled bully who pursues the hero for revenge only to get sucked into his super-extra life, and is extremely annoyed about this the whole time. (They're not becoming friends. Don't say that they're becoming friends.)

Sheltered princess (also the entitled bully's girlfriend) who discovers an unexpected capacity for violence and likes it. (Don't know if this is the plan, but the OT3 potential here is off the charts.)

Hero's tragic origin story that seems like it's going in a very familiar direction, and then swerves in the most gutting yet satisfying way possible.

A sojourn at a brothel for a discussion of self-knowledge and accepting one's desires.

Several smart and strategic villains culminating in a truly hissable one, and his multi-level murderous obstacle course.

Seriously, I cannot imagine a single person I follow on this site who wouldn't go nuts for this show. I know it's only been out for a week, but get on this, people.

[thetreetopinn]

Sources for Somerton's Plagiarism from Hbomberguy's Video (as much as I could get)

I went back through Harry's video, focused entirely on the sources James Somerton pulled from in the hopes of creating as much of a comprehensive list as I could--though my Google-Fu is not very strong. I did however find something I thought was forever lost and that made me very happy--specifically the magazine Midlands Zone containing the column by Steven Spinks that Harry poignantly used as an illustration of gay erasure... while Somerton uses it to sound like HE is waxing remorseful about the very subject.

This is not a complete list, I'm sure. For one thing, I was only able to attempt to pull sources that Harry himself mentioned in the video. Surely there's so very much more out there. I expect there to be a great deal more internet archeology to unearth just how much writing and culture Somerton has stolen like he's the British Museum of Natural History but for gay people.

- - - - -

Harry's list of mentioned youtubers:

Alexander Avila - https://www.youtube.com/@alexander_avila Matt Baume - https://www.youtube.com/@MattBaume Khadija Mbowe - https://www.youtube.com/@KhadijaMbowe Lady Emily - https://www.youtube.com/@LadyEmilyPresents Shanspeare - https://www.youtube.com/@Shanspeare RickiHirsch - https://www.youtube.com/@RickiHirsch VerilyBitchie - https://www.youtube.com/@verilybitchie

Harry created a convenient playlist of videos by these and other people he wants to bring to everyone's attention.

Please give them your support.

- - - - -

Midlands Zone Magazine - Column by Steven Spinks

After a great deal of searching, I found an archive of the "Midlands Zone" magazine, where you can read through past issues dating all the way back to February 2014. I have also found the issue from which Somerton took Spinks' poignant discussion of gay erasure: Overall archive Specific Issue - Pages 16-17

It will not allow you to download it, but you can read it exactly as it appeared in print form.

- - - - -

My best effort to find the exact book or article Somerton lifted from to be able to get attention to the original writers

Tinker Bells and Evil Queens By Sean Griffin

The Celluloid Closet By Vito Russo Wikipedia article about the book Wikipedia article about the documentary My weak google-fu could not find where you can access the book or documentary. Check your local municipal or university library for book or documentary, or if you know a good source for one or both, please reblog with it added

Camp and the Gay Sensibility By Jack Babuscio

The Groundbreaking Queerness of Disney's Mulan By Jes Tom Personal site with links to social media accounts

Why Rebel Without a Cause was a milestone for gay rights By Peter Howell

Why "The Craft" is still the best Halloween coming out movie By Andrew Park

Opinion: From facehuggers to phallic tails, is 'Alien' one of the queerest films ever? By Dani Leever

Women and Queerness in Horror: Jennifer's Body By Zoe Fortier

[Pride 2019] We Have Such Sights to Show You: Hellraiser and the Spectrum of Queerness By Alejandra Gonzalez

Revealing the Hellbound Heart of Clive Barker's 'Hellraiser' By Colin Arason

Queering James Cameron's Aliens (1986) By Bart Bishop

Demeter and Persephone in space: transformation, femininity, and myth in the 'Alien' films By David Greven

Fears of a millennial masculinity: Scream's queer killers By David Greven (Scholarly site, unable to access original work, offers a way to request a full copy of the text in PDF)

Queer Subtext in Stephen King's It - Part 1: 'Reddie' Character Analysis By Rachel Brands Rachel is the very unfortunate lady who found out she was being stolen from because she supported Somerton through Patreon and saw one of his videos early with her writing--lacking any form of citation or credit

How 'It: Chapter Two' Leaves Richie Tozier Behind By Joelle Monique

When Horror Becomes Strength: Queer Armor in Stephen King's 'IT' By Alex London

Why Queer People Love Witchcraft By Amanda Kohr

'The Favourite' Queers The Past And The Present By Giorgi Plys-Garzotto

(Wuko) Crush (Mako x Wu) By MoonFlower on YouTube

5 Terrible Movies With Awesome Hidden Meanings By J.F. Sargent

The Radicalization of Sexuality: The Queer Casae of Jeffrey Dahmer By Ian Barnard

Netflix's 'Dahmer' backlash highlights ethical issues in the platform's obsession with true crime By Shivani Dubey

The Possible Disturbing Dissonance Between Hajime Isayama's Beliefs and Attack on Titan's Themes Original Article by "Seldom Musings" (Author has made all posts not related to Attack On Titan private and has retired from the blog)

Everyone Loves Attack on Titan. So Why Does Everyone Hate Attack on Titan? By Gita Jackson

- - - - -

The following people are otherwise named in the video. There are no direct citations of articles or books by them in said video. I am unable to guarantee that I have identified the correct individual.

Darren Elliott-Smith Michaela Barton David Church Claire Sisco King Amanda Howell Jessica Roy

- - - - -

Telos announced and cancelled a film likely based on this book: The Final Girl Support Group - By Grady Hendrix

- - - - -

I refrained from including certain sources.

First off only focusing on Somerton's work.

Secondly not including anything that might be visible enough to not require amplifying their voice (I cannot speak for all of those I have found links to, but journalism is frequently a thankless job).

Thirdly any source that is of a nature that is antithetical to the very existence of the queer community, such as the right-leaning source that didn't make it into Somerton's video, but Harry was able to identify as a source he had considered using.

If you feel I have missed a mentioned source--or you know of a source from material that was not covered in Harry's video--please do not hesitate to reblog with added details.

- - - - -

Please share this information far and wide, and please add to it if you find more material that can be positively identified and linked to the creator/writer.

[mindofthemage]

This shit is heartbreaking.

Hopefully they're able to sue him and win, not only so they get some of the money they deserve, but also so that the newest noteworthy win in a plagiarism lawsuit isn't from the 80s.

[alex--london]

Just seeing this guy’s income on all this. I’m one of the authors James Somerton plagiarized.

I was paid $50 for the essay he stole from. I’m proud of the piece and it was deeply personal and im very happy with how it was received on Tor.com but…

This doesn’t feel great.

[alex--london]

Stephen King’s MISERY but it’s an author kidnapping his fans because he just loves them soooooo much.

[alex--london]

seconding the proxy ask that said it meant a lot to them growing up - same here! it was one of the first queer books i read and has a special place in my heart 💛 especially when you interacted with the fan content we made!! that in itself brought so much joy that i still think about it though it’s been,, 8?? years??? thank u for such a wonderful duology and for writing about syd and liam!!!

[alex--london]

I just wanted you to know how much you really helped me as a kid growing up with the Proxy series. Somehow a copy of it ended up in my rural texas library and reading it was my first exposure to queerness, something portrayed as positive, normal and authentic. It made me feel less alone as a kid, and even to this day its one of my favorite books. It got me into reading, in a time where i really needed an outlet, so thank you <3 :)

Okay well now I’m crying again today! I literally just got some disappointing news about Proxy a minute ago and then read this messages and…😭

I may not have the most readers in the world, but damn I love the ones I’ve got. Ten years later and that little book is still kicking.

Thank you for letting my story mean something to you. I appreciate each of you.

[alex--london]

Alex London is aware of my existence. I think my life is finally complete

Wow do I!!

And now it's your job to make awesome art or music or books or poems or movies or plays or whatever and share it with others so they can freak out that you are aware of them.

Thanks for you last note and also...I meant to answer it privately but couldn't figure out how because I'm old and easily befuddled.

[alex--london]

Hey. I hope you know that as an agender transmasc person, I may or may not have made my chosen name Abel. Yeah I totally didn't like a book series so much I named myself after the protagonist. I totally didn't do that. Yep. Never did anything of the sort.

That is AMAZING! I'm so thrilled you liked that lad so much that his story could play some role in inspiring you to be your full self!

It means the world to me that this story I love and worked hard on (and based so much on myself and my dreams and my fears) is such a source of joy for you.

It can be lonely being an author, and I've definitely struggled with this series not taking off that way I'd dreamed it would...but to hear how much it means to you is such a great reminder to me that books happen one reader at a time. Know that I appreciate you, and you've made my day, and I'm honored to have written some small piece of your imaginative life. Thank you.

[your-pal-nebula]

Hey. Hey. Stop right there. Especially all my mutuals. All of you. I have an announcement.

Read Battle Dragons by @alex--london.

I'm 12 currently and read the first book, City of Thieves, when I was 11. A few months ago, I read the third and final book in the series, City of Secrets.

It's genuinely an amazing and super underrated series. Please, for the love of God, READ IT. READ. BATTLE DRAGONS.

It contains:

A corrupt mega city

Crime

Gay people

Dragons

Dragon battling

Cyberpunk

Drag(on) queens

So.

FUCKING READ IT SERIOUSLY HOW DO THESE BOOKS LITERALLY HAVE NO FANDOM AT ALL. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE. THERE, SOMEHOW, IS NO FANDOM FOR THIS AMAZING TRIOLOGY.

READ. IT.