One of the things I really enjoy about Clive Barker’s Imajica is that one of the main characters, Pie ‘oh’ pah, is neither male nor female. It’s a sort of alien called a Mystif, able to interpret and reflect the desires of, and change it’s physical characteristics for anyone viewing it. Right down to physical anatomy - if someone desires breasts and a vagina, a penis, neither, it’s body morphs to accommodate those desires.

However, when the character is first introduced, it is shown as a man, an assassin caring for it’s family, playing lullabies for it’s children while it’s wife bustles about their small trailer. Thoughout the book, Pie reveals itself in many different forms, even showing it’s true, non-illusionary form to the main character.

I find that I struggle a little to remind myself that Pie isn’t a man or a woman. Since it is introduced as a man, it’s tough for me to break that mentality; I’m used to seeing Pie as a man, having viewed it as a man for many chapters before learning it’s true identity. I imagine that’s a similar feeling to that of the families of trans* people, but I’ve realized it really doesn’t matter how I view Pie ‘oh’ pah’s gender. It is an extremely loyal, loving and self-sacrificing friend and partner. THAT is what matters.

And, in a lot of ways, that’s probably what Mr. Barker wants me to get out of that character. That gender and identity are fluid, and that it’s the character of a person that really matters.

Good on ya, Clive. Ahead of your time back in 2002.

Beautifully said.  :) 

Though I myself had no trouble seeing the character as genderless/any gender while reading the book (I was especially delighted by the fact that it could both impregnate others and be impregnated itself!), I found that I had a difficult time using the pronoun “it” when talking about it, in spite of the fact that Barker consistently uses that pronoun himself once Pie’s true nature is revealed.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  We really do need a new set of pronouns for such characters/people.  I don’t like referring to a sentient being with the same pronoun as I would a rock, ya know?