Best Gay Love Stories 2005

by Nick Street (Editor), Jim Gladstone (Contributor), Jay Quinn (Contributor)

Simon Sheppard"(Kinkorama)," Jay Quinn "(Metes and Bounds)," Lawrence Schimel "(Boy Meets Boy)," and Jim Gladstone "(The Big Book of Misunderstanding)" are just a few of the leading gay writers who present new stories of gay love and longing in this collection of passionately romantic original fiction.

Nick Street is a writer and editor living in Los Angeles.

Content:
Passing / J.A. Deveaux --
Deep trouble undercover / Vincent Diamond --
Pop music / Jim Gladstone --
Catching up / Simon Sheppard --
Tokens to tomorrow / Gavin Austin --
The love of my life / Dale Chase --
Magi / Scott D. Pomfret --
To another city / David Masello --
Lover's morning hold / Waide Aaron Riddle --
Meet the Wilkinses / Tom Mendicino --
The law of love / Rhysenn S. --
Rearview mirror / Schuyler Bishop --
Derelict / Steve Berman --
Feast / Lou Dellaguzzo --
Märchen to a different beat / Lawrence Schimel --
The best I can do under the circumstances / Gary McCann --
Coral song / Jay Quinn --
The end of the show / Timothy Lambert --
Thirty-three years / Michael Huxley --
promises in every star / Greg Herren --
A man's man / Steve Attwood --
Ruins / Curtis C. Comer --
Me too / David Puterbaugh --
Vamp / J.D. Roman --
Adam & Steve / Bob Condron.

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies, Gay Fiction

301 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Nicolas Chinardet]

There are many anthologies of gay short stories floating out there, usually, but not always, with a date in their title, like this one. Usually, but not always, the stories gathered in those books are of varying merit and quality. Unlike these ones.

In his introduction, the editor says that putting this book together, after a break up, turned out to be "something of a tonic. It was just the right task at just the right time." Being a died-in-the-wool spinster myself, my feelings were slightly more ambivalent but there is no denying that those stories of love, of many kinds of love, which often include explicit physical love, as well as the romantic kind, are all much better written than what is usually, but not always, found in this sort of collection. Some of the stories even go beyond that, being amusing or even quite moving. Not a bad selection at all.

[Ricki]

Stories in a wide array of genres all featuring gay men.

[Kirsty (alkalinekiwi)]

Like most of the short story collections I have read I liked some of them more than others. Though I didn't find any stories in this collection that I wanted to skip over.
Some favourites from this collection included:
Marchen to a Different Beat - Hansel from the fairy tale is now a teenager wishing for love and a date to the prom.
A Man's Man - set in Nelson, New Zealand in a retirement home.
Deep Trouble Undercover - an undercover cop falls for a suspect.
Me Too - communication problems between partners.
All in all a good collection of stories on different themes and variations of love.

[Richard Thomson]

This should be re-titled "Best Gay Pseudo-Erotica." Except for one story, they all involve hardcore sex, drug abuse, or AIDS. Some people might equate "love" and "sex," but I don't. I guess that's why I didn't relate to these stories and appreciate them. They ARE written quite well, though. I just don't think they should all be in a compilation of love stories.

[Dilo Keith]

I enjoyed this, but accidentally bought two copies and have listed it for swapping. I don't completely agree with the reviewer who objected to calling these love stories. There are many aspects to love, and these well-written stories are not just about sex.

[Liam Ostermann]

I reread this collection during COVID lockdown, I know I read it previously. I didn't hate it, probably enjoyed it. During COVID I consumed it like lots of fun, but insubstantial things, indiscriminately as a form of comfortable time filling. I can not imagine ever reading it again.

[Todd]

Still searching for a clean, gay love storie. This book has one and overall was a fine read.

[Discoverylover]

Some of the stories in this were more enjoyable than others. I particularly liked the one with the train, and the ghost story was creepily good :D

[Cecil]

While I enjoyed most of the stories, I found myself wanting more from them. It was like reading an entire book of excerpts from novels.

[Rafael Abanes]

dd