Triptych of Terror: Three Chilling Tales by the Masters of Gay Horror

by John Michael Curlovich, David Thomas Lord, Michael Rowe

Just in time for Halloween, here are three spooky tales. A gay teen in a conservative small town discovers that Halloween means so much more than costumes and candy. In an industrial town, an overzealous televangelist learns that on Halloween you might not get the chance to "do unto others" before they do unto you. A Celtic legend born on Pride Day takes out its vengeance on the streets of Greenwich Village on Halloween.

Genres: Horror, Gay

272 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2006

About the author

Also writes under pseudonyms: Michael Paine and J.M.C. Blair.

Reviews

[Vince Liaguno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rowe creates a masterful work with In October, embracing the novella format like no writer in recent memory - so well as to fashion a thoroughly satisfying story. His depiction of Mikey’s teen angst is dead-on, uncannily capturing the emotional loneliness and physical torments that mark the high school experience certain to resonant with every reader – gay and straight alike - on some level. From the beautifully tender and believable scene in which Mikey admits his homosexuality to a receptive Wroxy to the harrowing roadside gay bashing that leads him to seek out otherworldly intervention, Rowe brings the reader into the experience with a remarkable ability that few writers today possess. It is no small feat that Rowe can make us care so deeply for the characters and a testament to his ability as a writer that he does so within the concise format of an 100+ page novella. In October is a deeply-felt metaphorical homage to the horrors of coming out and an unsettling depiction of the straight world in which we do it. Rowe’s tale of teenage anguish and loneliness is an exquisitely told cautionary tale, rich in visceral images of horror and the erotic.

Read the rest of the review here.

[Timothy Sherrill · Rating 2 out of 5]

If these are the masters of gay horror, the genre is better left dead.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this nearly a decade ago and what remains in my mind is disappointment with how utterly predictable and banal the stories are. Just tacking a bit of man on man sex action or a few predictable right-on pronouncements on gay issues onto formulaic Halloween stories doesn't make for good or interesting story telling. At this late date I can't imagine anyone picking up this book except second hand and I would say don't. There are a lot better stories out there. This is of, questionable, antique interest only and, seriously, if you want something to wank over there are far better stories available in any number of formats on the internet usually free, plus there are loads of nice pictures as well. Why bother with this sort of tripe!?