Trysts: A Triskaidecollection of Queer and Weird Stories by Steve Berman Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.35 You Save: $5.65 (43%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.12 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Trysts: A Triskaidecollection of Queer and Weird Stories
Book Review: A Tantalizing Treat
Summary: 4 Stars
Disturbing, tantalizing, erotic, chilling. Every story in this collection has something different to offer the reader. From dark erotisism, to heartfelt (albeit bizzare) love triangles, these stories showcase the wide range of subjects the author has at his disposal. Especially good are Mr. Berman's Fallen stories. These shorts draw you in, and leave you hungry for more tales from this topsy-turvy world. This is an excellent first outing by Mr. Berman, and I eagerly await his next work.Book Review: A great first collection
Summary: 4 Stars
Amazon insists on a maximum of 1,000 words. While it would be easy for me to go over the strengths and weaknesses of this collection in detail, I prefer short and sweet. Concision over verbiage. Therefore, I'll try for under 500 words just to be safe. Anyway, this is a very good first collection from a writer we need to see more from. The anthologies that I've encountered which could probably be lumped into the same category as this book have been disappointing; the editors always seem anxious to publish those who should not be allowed to get near a keyboard....ever. So it was a relief to come across this book which shows that there is talent out there. This collection is a stand-out. The best ones are historical fantasies which seem to be Steve Berman's strength: "Finn's Night" presents an adventure of Huck that you probably didn't hear about from your English teachers in school and "The Resurrectionist" is, to further wear out a worn out term, a gem. In "His Paper Doll" we have a sweet gay boy meets gay boy (with the help of a voodoo doll made of the cut up pictures from magazines) story. "Path of Corruption" is a great piece of gay horror fiction. While the stories that round out this collection still work well separately, you can't help but be teased with the idea that they could be just parts of much larger piece such as a novel.Book Review: 13 Spine-Tingling Tales...a Great Read!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I admit that I'm a bit biased. Horror and darkfantasy stories have always been of keen interest to
me, ever since reading "The Shining" by Stephen King.
They are the kind of books that I just can't seem to
put down. And, "Trysts" is no exception.
The thirteen stories in this collection take the
reader from a session with a ouija board to the dark,
back alleys of New Orleans, from the grotesqueries of
an artists' studio to a "Fallen Area" where nothing is
what it seems anymore. Each story has great
characters and is visually appealing and imaginative.
(Just thinking about the statues in "Cries Beneath the
Plaster" makes me shiver.) Some horror/dark fantasy
has a tendency to get stale, with the same types of
characters being overused, but Berman's have just the
right amount of uniqueness to make them stand out.
A must-read for any fan of horror/dark fantasy and a
great addition to gay fiction.
Book Review: scury stuff
Summary: 4 Stars
You want a fantastical journey into lust and the possibility of romance? You want a peek at the seductive nature of evil? You want some stories so eerie and grotesque as to make you believe them to be real? Then read this book. A lot. And not at night, for some stories will leave you with some 'uncomfortable' dreams. ;)Book Review: Tales to savor.
Summary: 5 Stars
13 stories to ponder and reflect. Having read them all in one sitting, I find myself wishing I had paced myself versus sprinting through the varied landscapes Steve Berman creates in Trysts.The collection begins with Beach 2, a very subtle piece light on fantasy but setting the tone for the personal journeys Steve's engaging characters will travel. As you progress from Tryst to Tryst you experience the wonder, the magic and occasionally the fear that comes along with each. After finishing Trysts, you are left with a satisfying if cluttered set of voices whispering their desires and fears. You can only wonder where many of the stories end, and I hope we'll find out more in a second volume.
I picked up Trysts not knowing what to expect and not having heard of it before. When I discovered it was nominated for two Gaylactic Spectrum Awards, I was hopeful the content and quality would live up to my expectations and was not disappointed. I'll echo other reviewers in that I'm looking forward to the next 13 stories, but I'll be contrary in that the most lasting stories are not those in the Fallen areas, but some of the more cleaver and subtle tales that start you on your adventure.