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The Touch of the Sea

by Steve Berman (Editor), Nathan Burgoine (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Matthew A. Merendo (Contributor), Jonathan Harper (Contributor), Jeff Mann (Contributor), Damon Shaw (Contributor), Joel Lane (Contributor), Alex Jeffers (Contributor) , more…

3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 · rating details · 10 ratings · 2 reviews

Greek myths held that Oceanus to be a massive river surrounding the land. A Titan, son of sky and earth, he was depicted as a handsome, muscular man whose torso ended in a scaled tail. As the Olympians emerged, Oceanus retreated, his domain restricted to strange and dangerous shores, the realm of sailors' fortunes and worries. So, too, are the eleven tales within the pages...more

Paperback, 183 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Lethe Press (first published January 1st 2012)

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Community Reviews

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Jan 01, 2013 Jaya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good, short-stories, slashreaders

SlashReaders: I really liked this anthology. The range of stories was great. Within the pages of this book you will find adventure, love, angst and happy endings. I think there is a little bit of everything in here wrapped up in stories that aren't absent of sex but aren't all about the physical aspect of relationships.

I have always loved stories that surround the sea and the mythology there in. For myself, I think it has something to do with growing up beside the sea. Thus stories with mermaids...more SlashReaders: I really liked this anthology. The range of stories was great. Within the pages of this book you will find adventure, love, angst and happy endings. I think there is a little bit of everything in here wrapped up in stories that aren't absent of sex but aren't all about the physical aspect of relationships.

I have always loved stories that surround the sea and the mythology there in. For myself, I think it has something to do with growing up beside the sea. Thus stories with mermaids and other wild things appeal to me. So, this collection of stories was a joy to read. On another note, if you do read this book I would highly suggest that you read the forward by Steve Berman. I do not often read forwards or introductions to books but this one caught my attention and held it.

Of all the stories in here, I think that the first two were among my favorites:

(view spoiler)

Alright, so if you enjoy short story anthologies, I do think that this one has a lot to recommend it. Enjoy. :)(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jun 23, 2012 Hilcia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, gay, lgbt-books, fantasy, 2012-read, impressions-blog-review

It is summer time. Some of us dream of the sea and the lulling sounds of mesmerizing waves, the smell of sea salt, forever skies, and sunshine. Mariners have always referred to the sea as she . . . but when I picked up The Touch of the Sea edited by Steve Berman, I knew there would be one difference and was ready to sit back, relax, and dream some more while enjoying eleven stories of men, myths, adventures, love, and the magic of the sea.

I found the magic. It is there in mythology-based stories...more It is summer time. Some of us dream of the sea and the lulling sounds of mesmerizing waves, the smell of sea salt, forever skies, and sunshine. Mariners have always referred to the sea as she . . . but when I picked up The Touch of the Sea edited by Steve Berman, I knew there would be one difference and was ready to sit back, relax, and dream some more while enjoying eleven stories of men, myths, adventures, love, and the magic of the sea.

I found the magic. It is there in mythology-based stories as in Chaz Brechley's Keep the Aspidochelone Floating, the gorgeous seafaring myth-based story full of greedy pirates and an exciting whale hunt that become part of Sailor Martin's adventures along with his obsession and love for cabin boy Sebastian. And in The Stone of Sacrifice where Jeff Mann combines Gaelic mythology with a few of his signature erotic scenes in a story of love lost when a man unknowingly calls the god Shoney and the lure of new love becomes an obsession.

I found the dreams. They are there in stories of mermen luring the incautious or the fated to the sea, as in Out to Sea by John Howard, The Calm Tonight by Matthew A Merendo, and in Ban's Dreams of the Sea where Alex Jeffers creates a mesmerizing fable where through erotic dreams, alluring sea creatures lure men and women into the sea. And again in Air Tears, a beautiful story about changes, choices and looking forward, Damon Shaw weaves a tale where as payment for a kiss and an erotic encounter by the sea, a man may never again return to land.

I found the adventure. It is there in The Bloated Woman by Jonathan Harper and in Wave Boys, Vincent Kovar's excellent seafaring adventure full of boys with tribal rituals, pent-up desires, a kraken, youthful aggression, pride and loss. This is my favorite story of the anthology due to the strong narrative voice, the excellent world building, and characters that drew me in from the first page. I wanted more of this story . . . just more. Then, in Night of the Sea Beast, Brandon Cracraft returns to 1956 and with this period piece, he mixes monster movie making, ala Creature Features, with Greek mythology, a multiple murder investigation, and a wonderful tale of brotherhood.

And of course I found love. There's loving of one sort or another in all the stories, but some are about that second chance at love or lost love. 'Nathan Burgoine's Time and Tide mixes up old Naiad myths with a tale about accepting gifts and love when a man returns home to the call of the sea and an old lover. And there's The Grief of Seagulls by Joel Lane. His is a story of coming to terms with love lost where after grieving for ten years, a man meets his dead lover come to life for one night of passion.

Overall, the stories in The Touch of the Sea are well crafted and while all are entertaining, some tales are downright mesmerizing. They also fit this anthology perfectly so that by the time I finished reading, I could smell the sea salt and feel that sunshine. Fun!

Originally reviewed @ Impressions of a Reader (less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Len marked it as to-read

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Mar 15, 2013 Elske is currently reading it

Shelves: fantasy-au, m-m

Mar 14, 2013 Adriana marked it as to-read

Shelves: anthology-or-compilation, cool-pretty-or-hot-cover, male-male, tentacles-and-the-like, paranormal-fantasy

Mar 13, 2013 Bookwatcher ~Mary MooCow~ marked it as to-read

Shelves: anthology, glbt-gay, mermen

Jan 03, 2013 Sai marked it as to-read

Shelves: possible-yaoi

Nov 20, 2012 Justin marked it as to-read

Nov 11, 2012 Blaize rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Shelves: indie-reviews

Jul 30, 2012 Leila Anani rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mermaids-mermen-selkies, anthologies, gay-mermen

Jul 16, 2012 Gavin Atlas marked it as to-read

Shelves: bought-new, e-book

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Jun 23, 2012 Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jun 18, 2012 Stephen Mellor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jun 01, 2012 Michi marked it as to-read

May 30, 2012 Jake rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jun 13, 2012 Just_ann_now rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: anthology, on-my-kindle, 2012

May 05, 2012 Tj marked it as to-read

May 05, 2012 Jason Huffman-black marked it as wish-list

May 06, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Shelves: including-me, fiction

Apr 20, 2012 Nathan Burgoine rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Shelves: anthologies, my-writing, glbt

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About Steve Berman

Some tidbits about me...

I turned down a scholarship to Miskatonic University because I heard of the high rate of incidents against the student population.

I briefly worked for Omni Consumer Products in their Marketing Department. Great benefits, nice cafeteria, sadly too prone to executive whim.

Last year I stayed at the noted Mauna Pele resort in Hawaii. The accommodations were impressive but my tr...more

More about Steve Berman...

Books by Steve Berman

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