A Swallow in Ties: A Case Study of Russia's Ban on Queer Books
Dublin Core
Title
A Swallow in Ties: A Case Study of Russia's Ban on Queer Books
Subject
Russia
Russian literature
LGBT Fiction
Romance fiction
Queer literature
Soviet Union
Ukraine
Description
The current collection displays the multiple iterations of Summer in a Pioneer Necktie, a Russian coming-of-age queer novel. Publication and subsequent explosion in popularity of the book sparked heated debate on the ethics of teenage queer fiction in the country, leading to public scrutiny of authors, publisher, as well as other queer authors and their publishers. Although the prohibition of "LGBTQ+ propaganda" has been legislated for a while at the time of the book's publication, its direct application to this specific novel brought about the ripple effect of widespread, actionable rhetoric of public disdain.
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie set the precedent for systemic censorship of queer literature in Russia's newest history. This collection aims to tell the story of the women writers, as well as the reception of their novel abroad.
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie set the precedent for systemic censorship of queer literature in Russia's newest history. This collection aims to tell the story of the women writers, as well as the reception of their novel abroad.
Creator
Nadia Ivanova
Date
2026
Contributor
Nadia Ivanova
Relation
The "Know Thy Shelf" Digital Exhibit, Faculty of Information
Language
English
Russian
Type
Collection
Collection Items
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie: The Book
A print paperback book published and purchased in Russia before the ban on LGBTQ+ literature. The book contains annotations and bookmarks supplied by collection owner.
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie: The Text
Full text of Summer in a Pioneer Necktie by Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova published by the authors on a non-profit fanworks hosting platform Archive of Our Own.
Pioneer Summer, a novel
A print hardcover book published in the United States, currently accessible, for example, via the Toronto Public Library.
What the Swallow is Silent About
A sequel to Summer in a Pioneer Necktie. An example of print paperback book published in Russia before the ban on LGBTQ+ literature.
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie and What the Swallow is Silent About: Censored Covers
Alternate covers of Summer in Pioneer Necktie and What the Swallow is Silent About after the December 2022 ban on queer literature "propaganda".
Summer in a Pioneer Necktie: Original Cover
Mockup of original cover of Лето в пионерском галстуке (Summer in Pioneer Necktie). Summary on the back is a blurb of Harvard Square, a novel by André Aciman, also published by Popcorn Books in 2021.
Pioneer Winter, a novel
Cover of the book set to be published in the United States in November 2026.