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Some collections of short stories this month. I am not usually a short story reader, but dip into some every so often. I think I must be getting married soon, because the list includes something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue! Something oldThe Life to Come and Other
Stories The stories in this collection were written between 1903 and 1958, and like Maurice (completed in 1914), some where not published until after Forster's death. Spanning such a long time, the stories show Forster's changing attitudes and writing style. Reading the stories now, it is sometimes difficult to understand his reticence to publish as the stories would be considered very "tame" today, but they serve as a gentle reminder of gay life in conservative England in the first half of this century. Also like Maurice, many of the stories feature encounters across class boundaries, usually with a tragic ending. For example, in my favourite story, "Arthur Snatchfold", a casual encounter between a country milkman and a city gentleman ends in jail for the milkman, but it is a beautiful story, and in some ways a positive statement, because of the reactions of both the players in the drama. Similarly, death for the young country gentleman in the arms of a fantasy gardener lover in "Dr Woolacott" brings release from a boring life and defeat for the conservative doctor, and thus a (semi-) happy ending. The bizarre ending of "The Classical Annex" provides some much needed humour in a somewhat depressing collection. If you are a Forster fan, then this book is not to be missed, and if you have never read Forster then this is an interesting showcase of his gay short story writing ability.
Something newSkinned Alive An interesting collection of stories from the author of A Boy's Own Story and The Beautiful Room is Empty, again rather depressing as a whole, but with sufficient humour and White's unique writing style to keep you going till the last page. The eight stories cover a range of situations and continents, from camping out with straight friends in America to lessons learnt from street pick-ups in Greece. The title story has lots about table manners and the complexity of affairs, while other stories focus more on AIDS and its affects and people and relationships. While there is not much more explicit sex in this collection, it is definitely a '90's collection with a very different flavour from The Life to Come.
Something borrowedOff Limits: Tales of
Alien Sex This collection borrows from many genres - it is not a gay collection (though some of the stories have gay related themes), but it is not really classic sci-fi either - there are few real aliens and not a lot of real sex with them. Instead the stories focus more on the alien nature of sex between humans in its many forms. Many the stories involve prostitution in some form - strange goings on in brothels in wartime Spain, transsexuals created to replace women after a new sexual plague, a young Asian boy forced into prostitution in America, and genetically engineered comfort women who are very addictive. In between there are tattoos on penises and women growing beards, and in a classic story by Robert Silverberg two crab-like aliens actually end up having sex with each other to try to fend off the amorous advances of an earth woman. While the range of stories and subjects is very eclectic, the unifying theme of alien-ness and sex ties them together well. An interesting change from the run of the mill collection, even for me - and I am not a sci-fi fan. Authors include Robert Silverberg, Lisa Tuttle, Susan Wade and Elizabeth Hand.
Something blueFlesh and the Word Gay erotica hits the mainstream in this collection where John Preston himself comments that publishing some of these stories in a "respectable" book is like trying to convert underground porn into socially acceptable erotica, the only difference between the two being the name and status of the publisher! Preston uses the stories in Flesh and the Word chart the history of gay porn from the early 50's in underground publications through to the post-AIDS erotica in magazines and novels today. He has gathered together examples from some fine gay writers, including some stories not published before. Authors include Anne Rice, Edmund White, Larry Townsend and Alan Hollinghurst. The stories range from blatantly pornographic S&M fantasies such as the two Elliot stories by Anne Rice, through some classic erotic situations like schoolboy circle jerks, voyeurism, the gym workout that develops into something else and rape by the older brother, and into the bizarre with chemical treatment to increase equipment size and extreme S&M using super-human powers. One of my favourite stories, Brian's Bedroom, is highly changed erotica (without sex) as someone explores the bedroom of an unknown person. Because of the range of stories and writing styles and the commentary from Preston, the book can be enjoyed both at the "one-handed reading" level and from a historical prospective tracing the development of gay erotica (how's that for a justification for buying some dirty books!!). Since the original book was published, three additional anthologies have been added to the series, but they are still on my to be read list.
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