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Review

When Richard Labonté’s name appears as the editor of an anthology it generally can be assumed that the stories will be of high quality. Best Gay Erotica 2011, the latest in the popular long-running series, is no exception. There are two lengthy centerpieces to this collection, one being the ironically-titled vampire tale “Saving Tobias.” Combining the usual lore of the undead with an unexpected poignancy rare in such stories, it should resonate with readers looking for something different in this well-worn genre. The other long piece, “The Last Picture. Show.” [sic] by well-known author James Earl Hardy, almost reads like the true life reminiscence of an African American porn film star, so realistic does it seem. A story on a somewhat related theme, “Counterrevolution,” envisions the offering of a college class in pornography film production. Another rewarding entry is the raw teen-centered “Attackman,” that reveals a bullying star high school athlete is not quite what he appears to be. The protagonists of the hot “Bodies in Motion” could well portray the same characters several years later. Among the more highly charged of the anthology’s offerings is the expertly-written “Closet Case,” in which the narrator uses a variety of S and M techniques to bring out the hidden desires of the title character. The most offbeat entry is Shane Allison’s “I Dreamt” where nearly every single sentence begins with the title words in an almost hypnotic stream of consciousness. Although a very few of the stories do not quite measure up this is a very worthy entry in the series.

 -- Roy Liebman