31 review for Wilde Stories 2016: The Year's Best Gay Speculative Fiction

1. 

   4 out of 5

   DrCalvin – Feb 18, 2017

   The literary quality of the Wilde Stories collections have improved nicely as I've been reading them, and I think this volume is perhaps the most polished. But, this collection of gay fantasy/horror starts off very bleak, and I found that the greatest weakness of the stories: unhappy endings, or unhappy nows, and not even "grandly" unhappy, just generally bleak. Does gay speculative fiction really have to be like that? The second half felt a bit more varied, in tone, style and mood of stories, w The literary quality of the Wilde Stories collections have improved nicely as I've been reading them, and I think this volume is perhaps the most polished. But, this collection of gay fantasy/horror starts off very bleak, and I found that the greatest weakness of the stories: unhappy endings, or unhappy nows, and not even "grandly" unhappy, just generally bleak. Does gay speculative fiction really have to be like that? The second half felt a bit more varied, in tone, style and mood of stories, which earns it a third star. My favorite stories: The Ticket Taker of Cenote Zací by Benjamin Parzybok. A dark, tense story which sets up a horrifying premise and then juggles it deftly until the last word. This is probably the spookiest story in the collection, and I truly appreciated the language, environment and that it dared go all the way. Left me unnerved Utrechtnaar by Paul Evanby, about time-travel and history that is buried. Interesting premise, deftly drawn characters and good writing. To the Knife-Cold Stars by A. Merc Rustad, a classic cyberpunk plot that fills its pages well. Which is harder than it sounds for short stories, that can feel like a great beginning. I also like the imagery in this story.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Richard Parent – Jun 15, 2018

   My review for this series: This is an excellent anthology series. The stories are thought-provoking, imaginative, and affecting. These days it feels as though gay culture has been largely assimilated into the mainstream (at least, it feels this way up here in progressive-ish northern New England), and for those of who remember how liberating and exhilarating it felt to finally discover that there were others like us and a whole culture of novels, movies, and songs about our experience, this serie My review for this series: This is an excellent anthology series. The stories are thought-provoking, imaginative, and affecting. These days it feels as though gay culture has been largely assimilated into the mainstream (at least, it feels this way up here in progressive-ish northern New England), and for those of who remember how liberating and exhilarating it felt to finally discover that there were others like us and a whole culture of novels, movies, and songs about our experience, this series feels like a homecoming. By curating this series, Steve Berman scratches an itch I didn't know I had. If you're gay and if you like speculative fiction, you owe it to yourself to check this series out.

3. 

   4 out of 5

   Jerry L. Wheeler – Sep 12, 2017

   Another varied collection of fantastic and fantastical gay short fiction from some of the finest writers in our community. Especially noteworthy are Jonathan Harper’s “Wallflowers,” Richard Bowes’ “The Duchess and the Ghost,” and a wonderful story about a Mayan “tourist attraction,” Benjamin Parzybok’s “The Ticket Taker of Cenote Zaci.” Great entry in the series.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Will – Sep 25, 2016

   This is the kind of book that you read all at once and then keep close at hand to keep referring back to. 2016 was a great year for gay spec fic, with stories by veterans in the field such as Richard Bowes, and new-comers who are on their way to becoming the next big thing, like Sam J. Miller. The stories collected here are wonderfully diverse, from near future to the surreal. These stories were largely published in major magazines originally, so I'd read a few of them before, but this collectio This is the kind of book that you read all at once and then keep close at hand to keep referring back to. 2016 was a great year for gay spec fic, with stories by veterans in the field such as Richard Bowes, and new-comers who are on their way to becoming the next big thing, like Sam J. Miller. The stories collected here are wonderfully diverse, from near future to the surreal. These stories were largely published in major magazines originally, so I'd read a few of them before, but this collection is valuable because it is a book I'll keep going back to because I know I can find brilliant spec fic in which I don't have to be disappointed when the main character has a bromance throughout the story and then suddenly meets a pretty girl at the end. It's amazing how many brilliant stories I missed throughout the year too, such as "Imaginary Boys" by Paul Magrs, which instantly became a new favorite. This is a great resource to discover new writers (whether they're new or you're new to them) in the field of gay spec fic, and just an all-around essential book for anyone who needs more gay spec fic in their lives (and who doesn't?)

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Tyrannosaurus regina – Aug 28, 2016

   While of course there are stories I liked more than others, overall this year's crop of gay speculative fiction is very strong. "To Die Dancing" in particular is going to terrify and haunt me for a very long time. While of course there are stories I liked more than others, overall this year's crop of gay speculative fiction is very strong. "To Die Dancing" in particular is going to terrify and haunt me for a very long time.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Jared – Jul 18, 2017

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Wordcatcher –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Beata –

9. 

   5 out of 5

   John –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Matthew Bright –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Brad Hutchinson –

12. 

    4 out of 5

    Edmund A –

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Edward –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Kevin –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Jennifer Bradshaw –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Alan Woo –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Cristhian –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Rick –

19. 

    5 out of 5

    Jason –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    DZMM –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Chelsea –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Seoung –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Mark Catalfano –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Bob –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Andyhat –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Ben –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Meril –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Starr ❇✌❇ –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    E. – Apr 09, 2018

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Amy –

31. 

    4 out of 5

    Matthew Mcguinness –