“I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter” is a military science fiction short story by Isabel Fall, published on 1 January 2020 in Clarkesworld Magazine. The story relates the experience of Barb, a woman whose gender has been reassigned to “attack helicopter” so as to make her a better pilot. It was a finalist for the 2021 Hugo Award, under the title “Helicopter Story”. The story’s original title is taken from an Internet meme used to disparage transgender people. Some read the story as transphobic or as trolling, and at Fall’s request, Clarkesworld withdrew the story after Fall—a transgender woman—was harassed because of it. This caused a discussion among writers and critics about the merits of art that some perceive as hurtful. Uploaded is the archive.today capture of the original Clarkesworld magazine website page where the story was first published, converted to PDF.
I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter
By Isabel Fall, 2020
My sister recently came out and we’re both really into aviation. This story made me think of her which made me happy. Im not sure if I’ll send it to her, she’s at the stage where she might not appreciate someone sending her random trans fiction. I can’t vouch for the gender stuff, that isn’t my experience, but the characters and plot are both interesting and clearly well researched. I hope Isabel fall is doing well and is still a massive aerospace nerd, wherever she is.
This story kinda opened me way up. I’d probably still be trans without it, but I don’t think I’d be the woman I am now without it. Not every experience is universal, but this one resonated with me deeply, and wherever she is, I hope Isabel Fall knows that she helped make me, gave me language, and opened me up to a community where I found joy and love.
I think it’s brilliant. Makes me want to reread with a highlighter and annotations, or get a book club to discuss over.
I particularly liked the ending, but so many little nuggets of truth about gender with just enough abstract head scratchers.
She understands that you can’t truly discuss gender without discussing empire. Just amazing, so well written and clever. I hope she writes more someday. Afaik there’s no printed edition, so I printed my own. My local library is amazing and has free weekly printing, so every week I print more zines of this story. (And if you’re in Minneapolis, look for them in little free libraries…)