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Rating: 
Summary: Fine Anthology of Off-beat Stories
Review: "Bend Sinister: The Gay Times Book of Disturbing Stories" is an outstanding collection of one poem and twenty-seven short stories depicting gay male characters and themes in gothic or [unusual] situations. The book cover touts the presence of Neil Bartlett ("Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall"), Christopher Bram ("Father of Frankenstein" and "The Notorious Dr. August"), Francis King, Michael Wilcox, and Richard Zimler, all of whom do a fine job, as do most of the rest. There are stories set in locations around the world, although the U.K. is prominent. The poem ("The Changeling Lover" by Ian Young) is one page long; the stories range from four to thirty-one pages. Although there are variations in themes and styles, the authors eschew gimmicky formats and diction, sticking to storytelling. This anthology is the best of its type I have ever read..... The publishers did a great job on this paperback book. The covers are extra wide and folded, letting them act as bookmarks. Each story is introduced by a single page with the story and author's name on the front and a blank page on the back, a respectful framing. The editor, Peter Burton, provides an introduction on the origins of the collection and on the impact of gays on gothic, ...writing at the beginning. At the end, he gives a list for further reading. ... This anthology is beautifully done at a bargain price.
Rating:
Summary: SCARY!
Review: I love this book. It's really scary and creepy and it's refreshing to read some horror stories with gay characters. My favourite story is "T@ngled" by Stuart Thorogood as I love his other book, "Outcast". It's a horrible tale about the internet and internet chat rooms. Almost makes you too scared to go into one again. Buy 'Bend Sinister' and you won't regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: Neither Bent, nor all that Sinister
Review: The stories in this book are - by the vast majority - neither bent nor sinister. Indeed, out of the full selection of twenty-seven short stories and one poem, two stories (and the poem) merit comment:
'The Changeling Lover,' by Ian Young is a disturbing enough poem, about someone throwing themselves down into the grave of a dead lover, and holding their corpse to their body, etc. I was disturbed, so check, but it wasn't exactly bent.
'T@ngled,' by Stuart Thorogood was damned disturbing, but for all that it worked in the gross-out/horror factor, it was basically a ghostly rape story, and as such, didn't exactly read like queer erotica so much as violence.
'Touching Darkness,' by Patrick Roscoe was the one and only title I felt delivered. It reminded me a little of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' in that you're pretty sure a character is descending in insanity, and yet, you're not entirely sure which character is the one going crazy. The tale has enough queer content to be bent, and a dark and sombre plot-line that makes the check for sinister easy to fill in.
Most of the stories, though, don't even read like stories. More like exerpts, in which a gay character is at best mentioned. What was disturbing about having a moonlit conversation with the ghost of King Arthur in 'Legend of Albion' by Graeme Woolaston? I have no idea. I couldn't even find the gay content in that one. And 'Famished' by Neil Bartlett was just sort of... well, dumb. Two hot gay guys who seem identical mention they're famished to an old guy who is swimming at a nudge beach. It scares him. The end. What?!
So - to say the least, a disappointment. Skip this one.
'Nathan
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