Rating: 
Summary: Tales to savor.
Review: 13 stories to ponder and reflect. Having read them all in one sitting, I find myself wishing I had paced myself versus sprinting through the varied landscapes Steve Berman creates in Trysts.The collection begins with Beach 2, a very subtle piece light on fantasy but setting the tone for the personal journeys Steve's engaging characters will travel. As you progress from Tryst to Tryst you experience the wonder, the magic and occasionally the fear that comes along with each. After finishing Trysts, you are left with a satisfying if cluttered set of voices whispering their desires and fears. You can only wonder where many of the stories end, and I hope we'll find out more in a second volume. I picked up Trysts not knowing what to expect and not having heard of it before. When I discovered it was nominated for two Gaylactic Spectrum Awards, I was hopeful the content and quality would live up to my expectations and was not disappointed. I'll echo other reviewers in that I'm looking forward to the next 13 stories, but I'll be contrary in that the most lasting stories are not those in the Fallen areas, but some of the more cleaver and subtle tales that start you on your adventure.
Rating: 
Summary: An adventure to weird and then back again
Review: Although I have literally read hundreds of books that I have purchased here on Amazon, I generally don't write reviews of them. When I read 'Trysts', however, I felt I had to make an exception. While the book is categorized by it's publisher, Lethe Press, as Gay Fiction/Dark Fantasy, it truly transcends that label. I would describe it as more of a trip into the supernatural, where you'll visit the weird, the passionate, the chosen and, ultimately, the damned. Naked bodies shimmering with supernatural slime, boys wandering into The Fallen, and the lovestruck making paper voodoo dolls, are just a sampling of what we beings will do to transcend our ordinary, dull lives. Transcend your own life by reading this amazing collection of shorts. Steve Berman is one author to watch.
Rating:
Summary: A great first collection
Review: Amazon insists on a maximum of 1,000 words. While it would be easy for me to go over the strengths and weaknesses of this collection in detail, I prefer short and sweet. Concision over verbiage. Therefore, I'll try for under 500 words just to be safe. Anyway, this is a very good first collection from a writer we need to see more from. The anthologies that I've encountered which could probably be lumped into the same category as this book have been disappointing; the editors always seem anxious to publish those who should not be allowed to get near a keyboard....ever. So it was a relief to come across this book which shows that there is talent out there. This collection is a stand-out. The best ones are historical fantasies which seem to be Steve Berman's strength: "Finn's Night" presents an adventure of Huck that you probably didn't hear about from your English teachers in school and "The Resurrectionist" is, to further wear out a worn out term, a gem. In "His Paper Doll" we have a sweet gay boy meets gay boy (with the help of a voodoo doll made of the cut up pictures from magazines) story. "Path of Corruption" is a great piece of gay horror fiction. While the stories that round out this collection still work well separately, you can't help but be teased with the idea that they could be just parts of much larger piece such as a novel.
Rating:
Summary: A great first collection
Review: Amazon insists on a maximum of 1,000 words. While it would be easy for me to go over the strengths and weaknesses of this collection in detail, I prefer short and sweet. Concision over verbiage. Therefore, I'll try for under 500 words just to be safe. Anyway, this is a very good first collection from a writer we need to see more from. The anthologies that I've encountered which could probably be lumped into the same category as this book have been disappointing; the editors always seem anxious to publish those who should not be allowed to get near a keyboard....ever. So it was a relief to come across this book which shows that there is talent out there. This collection is a stand-out. The best ones are historical fantasies which seem to be Steve Berman's strength: "Finn's Night" presents an adventure of Huck that you probably didn't hear about from your English teachers in school and "The Resurrectionist" is, to further wear out a worn out term, a gem. In "His Paper Doll" we have a sweet gay boy meets gay boy (with the help of a voodoo doll made of the cut up pictures from magazines) story. "Path of Corruption" is a great piece of gay horror fiction. While the stories that round out this collection still work well separately, you can't help but be teased with the idea that they could be just parts of much larger piece such as a novel.
Rating:
Summary: My Bedside Companion
Review: Berman's Trysts is an excellent effort. After picking up the book, I had a hard time putting it down. Though some of the stories are brief, you get a clear sense of the environments and of who the characters are - something often hard to do in a short story. The characters offer a dark sexuality that appeals to this reader. Trysts compairs favorably to the Bending The Landscape series, and like Bending the Landscape was nominated for 2 Spectrum Awards. Trysts should have a home on your book self, if not your bedside table.
Rating:
Summary: A Tantalizing Treat
Review: Disturbing, tantalizing, erotic, chilling. Every story in this collection has something different to offer the reader. From dark erotisism, to heartfelt (albeit bizzare) love triangles, these stories showcase the wide range of subjects the author has at his disposal. Especially good are Mr. Berman's Fallen stories. These shorts draw you in, and leave you hungry for more tales from this topsy-turvy world. This is an excellent first outing by Mr. Berman, and I eagerly await his next work.
Rating:
Summary: dark, erotic, and sexy... I love it!!!
Review: Don't be fooled by this books small size! Any fan of the genre will find hours of reading pleasure with this little gem. Trysts draws the reader into the dark underworld Mr. Berman creates that is as suductive as it is compelling. One story demands you read on to the next one. It was impossible to put this book down! I don't usually leave a review, but Trysts is one of these rare finds that I had to comment on. From the erotic darkness in "Path of Corruption", to the playful, whitty and fun adventure in "Finn's Night", to the magically bizarre stories that take place in The Fallen, this book has a story that is bound to please just about anyone into the genre. I was surprised that so much character depth was created for each story in such a short framework, but it works! I found myself caring, rooting, angry, and even teary-eyed at the fate befallen some of these characters. My hat's off to Mr. Berman, can't wait for the next installment!
Rating:
Summary: dark, erotic, and sexy... I love it!!!
Review: Don't be fooled by this books small size! Any fan of the genre will find hours of reading pleasure with this little gem. Trysts draws the reader into the dark underworld Mr. Berman creates that is as suductive as it is compelling. One story demands you read on to the next one. It was impossible to put this book down! I don't usually leave a review, but Trysts is one of these rare finds that I had to comment on. From the erotic darkness in "Path of Corruption", to the playful, whitty and fun adventure in "Finn's Night", to the magically bizarre stories that take place in The Fallen, this book has a story that is bound to please just about anyone into the genre. I was surprised that so much character depth was created for each story in such a short framework, but it works! I found myself caring, rooting, angry, and even teary-eyed at the fate befallen some of these characters. My hat's off to Mr. Berman, can't wait for the next installment!
Rating:
Summary: a great debut from a skilled writer
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: 13 Spine-Tingling Tales...a Great Read!!
Review: I admit that I'm a bit biased. Horror and dark
fantasy stories have always been of keen interest to
me, ever since reading "The Shining" by Stephen King.
They are the kind of books that I just can't seem to
put down. And, "Trysts" is no exception.
The thirteen stories in this collection take the
reader from a session with a ouija board to the dark,
back alleys of New Orleans, from the grotesqueries of
an artists' studio to a "Fallen Area" where nothing is
what it seems anymore. Each story has great
characters and is visually appealing and imaginative.
(Just thinking about the statues in "Cries Beneath the
Plaster" makes me shiver.) Some horror/dark fantasy
has a tendency to get stale, with the same types of
characters being overused, but Berman's have just the
right amount of uniqueness to make them stand out.
A must-read for any fan of horror/dark fantasy and a
great addition to gay fiction.
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