Trysts: A Triskaidecollection of Queer and Weird Stories by Steve Berman Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Trysts: A Triskaidecollection of Queer and Weird Stories
Book Review: Queer in every sense of the word!
Summary: 5 Stars
I had heard of Steve Berman?s fiction collection, Trysts, at Amazon.com, and it sounded interesting. Matt Bauer?s striking artwork on the cover caught my interest even more. As the words he chose for his title and subtitle suggest, Berman can find something obscure or archaic, then turn it into something wondrous and unpredictable.
While Berman will certainly appeal to fans of modern horror writers like Clive Barker, his writing seems more like a reshaped, updated, and gay-themed version of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Like those 19th century authors, both of whom helped shape fantastic fiction, Berman can use a few suggestive words, emotions, or images to spawn entire worlds of fear, dread, and awe. But also like those writers, he makes us want to keep exploring the dark forests of the human mind, to see how the experience will affect us.
Of course, in Berman?s case, we mostly find modern landscapes, such as run-down apartment buildings that house demons, spiders, ghosts, and seductive hustlers. Or we find familiar situations that many gays can relate to, such as a young gay man who worries that he might not be as attractive as his gay buddy or the men in one of their favorite magazines.
These stories aren?t always dark. They can be hopeful or erotic, and they?re sometimes even funny, though Berman often adds to the intensity by mixing the fearful with those more positive elements. I loved these thirteen stories by Steve Berman, and I hope he won?t stop with the ?Triskaidecollection? that introduced me to his work.
We can now find many writers that bring the ?gay fiction? genre into the sub-genres of science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror. I?ve barely started exploring the works of such writers, but I consider Trysts a great place to start!
Book Review: Excellent read...
Summary: 5 Stars
If one buys this book, expecting it to be like another science fantasy or... fiction novel... they will be surprised to find it creates a new world of its own. With thirteen short,but amazing, stories it flips from historical, to futuristic, to surreal. Some explore sexual need (Stormed and Taken in Prague)while others show that horrible happenings are made bareable with a loving companion (Path of Corruption). The book ends with four tales set in "the fallen", a place where what you think you know has nothing to do with reality. The last section of the book hints at a subplot with a reccuring charcter Caleb. As the book is closed, the reader is left stunned and amazed, lovely unfufilled yet satistfied...because more can always come. Definatly a must read.
Book Review: a great debut from a skilled writer
Summary: 5 Stars
Edgy and irreverant, Mr. Berman is unafraid to cross boundaries with his debut title. Jumping from present-day middle America to New Orleans and then to a fenced-off magic zone, the author has a way with details that add resonance and depth to his characters. Each story is unique, yet several are interconnected in clever and highly satisfying ways. I would highly recommend this book!Book Review: Slightly Let down
Summary: 3 Stars
While it was nice to read a dark fantasy collection with a gay theme I was expecting a lot more from this book, based off of reviews I had read on amazon. Not terribly tawdry, which was a plus and very well conceptualized by the author. Some of the stories are exceptionally short and reminiscent to newsgroup or posting board fictions. Once the character of Caleb and the stories revolved around The Fallen begin, things start to get interesting. As the second part of the book progresses a continuity is desired but never achieved, which was a disappointment. So all in all the book was entertaining but not, in my opinion, a 5 star title. I would read another book by the author to see if his narrative has continuity and see what other interesting ideas come from him.Book Review: straight, but not narrow
Summary: 5 Stars
Trysts may be marketed as Gay Fiction, but trust me, the writing is so wonderful it transcends gender and sexuality. I'm a straight female and I enjoyed it immensly, and furthermore, I loaned it to my straight male friend who devoured it. So, breeders, don't be scared away by the title, if you're looking for good horror, this is it.