A Boy’s Tail

by Mark Rogers

Set on the planet Equus, where the dominant species has evolved from horses instead of primates, the civilization is much like Earth, except that there is but one theocratic government. Being descended from horses, yet similar to humans in body construction, the inhabitants have the head, hands, and feet similar to horses, but only the adult males have a tail, which, like human facial hair, grows in at the onset of puberty. All tails are white, except for those who are attracted by their own sex. Their tail grows in brown. Tyler is your typical teen, but a late bloomer. When his tail starts to come in, his world is turned upside down. Through the trials that are familiar to many gay teens on Earth, he experiences just what damage religious prejudice can do, because of the mistaken notion that being same-sex oriented is a choice. Just as Tyler becomes smitten with Joey, religion clashes with science and the whole of society is rocked to the core by unspeakable violence. Will civilization survive? Self-identified Christians, by drawing parallels, should reconsider their religion-based homophobia, when true Bible scholars know that Christ said nothing of the kind. 4.13.22 On the planet Equus, the dominant species has evolved from horse people; the inhabitants have the head, hands, and feet similar to horses, but only the adult males have a tail, which, like human facial hair, grows in at the onset of puberty. Most tails are white, but those who are attracted to horse people of their own gender grow brown tails instead. Those horse people run into problems with the planet’s theocracy—in particular, the Morality Police. Tyler Palomino is just an average teenage horse, though he’s a late bloomer—still tailless at fifteen. And when his tail finally starts coming in, his world is turned upside down. Just as Tyler becomes smitten with a classmate, Joey Quarterhorse, religion clashes with science, and the whole of society is rocked to the core by unspeakable violence. Will civilization survive? In this novel, set on a world populated by horse people, a teenager just starting to understand his sexuality must deal with society’s intolerance and hatred. Through the trials that will be familiar to many gay teens on Earth, Tyler experiences just what damage religious prejudice can do due to the mistaken notion that being same-sex oriented is a choice.

132 pages, Paperback

Published May 17, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There are several authors in the GoodReads database with this name. This profile will contain more than one author. Those listed below have multiple books listed on GoodReads.

Mark Rogers (2 spaces): GRs author, photographer whose books show a comical side of dogs and cats
Mark Rogers (3 spaces): GRs author books about Magdalene, horror, thrillers
Mark Rogers (4 spaces): GRs author humor, also uses A.J.A. Gardiner
Mark Rogers (5 spaces): reference books
Mark Rogers (6 spaces): GRs author of The B.U.R.N.O.U.T.S. Chronicles
Mark Rogers (7 spaces): GRs author thrillers, Tiajuana Noir series
Mark Rogers (8 spaces): novelist, editor for Fiction House

Reviews

[W. Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is a tribute to the importance of love and a powerful commentary on the dangers of religion being used to justify institutional discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. I wish love really did conquer all, as it does in this book. But, this book is certainly prompts valuable reflection.