User:Apocsynth/Jose Luis Zarate

José Luis Zárate (1966) was born in Puebla, México. He is famous for literary works such as “The Route of Ice & Salt” and “Xanto: Novelucha Libre” as well as his contributions toward film, and his ability to convey queer storylines within both science-fiction and fantasy genres.

Biography
Professionally, Zárate has used his art to portray famous characters from both modern and classical fiction as members of the LGBT community. As an out and proud member of the community himself, Zárate was able to build these narratives organically- and received critical acclaim for his depictions of both Dracula and Superman in particular. Not much is known about Zárate's personal life. However, as an award-winning author, he furthers the craft within his own hometown; and continues to break down barriers for LGBT creators, with his back catalogue of both original stories, and queer-coded retellings.

Notable works

 * Xanto: Novelucha Libre The story of a man who believes himself to be a famous wrestler by the name of "El Santo". However, as it is revealed to him that his musings of being a superhero wrestler are in fact hallucinations; he also becomes aware of an world-ending threat, which only he alone can stop.
 * The Route of Ice & Salt is Zárate's most notable work is a part of a trilogy. This story is meant to be Zárate's queer-coded interpretation of Dracula, where he is depicted as a tortured soul with internalized homophobia; rather than a creature of the night.
 * Las Fases Del Mito is a compilation of Zárate's works which unite them as an interweaving anthology. This collection also includes his take on superman as a Queer coded and flawed individual, who doesn't always give in to the greater good.
 * Hyperia is yet another compilation from Zárate. This is a collection of his short stories and vignettes.

Spanish novels and stories

 * The Mask of the Hero. Ajec Group. Spain, 2009.
 * The size of the crime, e-book, Keep reading. Spain 2012.
 * Les Petits Chaperons (micronouvelles), trans. by Jacques Fuentalba. Outwold. France, 2010.
 * Castles that catch fire. La Regia Cartonera, 2012.
 * How humanity ended. Tlaxcalteca Institute of Culture, 2013.
 * The traveler. 1987.
 * Voluntary Permanence. National Polytechnic Institute. 1990.
 * Magic. Ediciones Papuras, Querétaro. 1994.
 * The hidden races. Times Editors. Black Series Collection. 1999.

Major awards

 * Puebla SF Short Story National Award in 1987 for "Xanto"
 * Honorary Mention for "La Mascara Del Heroe" at the UPC awards (2000)