Status Updates From The Lavender Menace: Tales ...

I devoured "Lesser Evil," by THE 'Nathan Burgoine.

Now, looking forward to reading "The Plan," by Charles "Zan" Christensen.

I finished devouring "The Ice King," by THE Tom Cardamone.

Sometime in the morning, after I wake up, I shall happily begin reading "Lesser Evil," by THE 'Nathan Burgoine.

Near the end of "The Ice King," by THE Tom Cardamone.

After that, "Lesser Evil," by one of my all-time favorite Gay male authors, 'Nathan Burgoine.

I finished reading "After Balenciaga," by Marshall Moore, and also read "The Third Estate," by Lee Thomas. Also, dripping with prophecy, of what is happening currently in the United States.

Now, I AM at "The Ice King," written by the editor of this Anthology, THE Tom Cardamone.

I completed reading "The Meek Shall Inherit," by Jamie Freeman. In a word, wow!

Soon, I shall read "After Balenciaga," by Marshall Moore.

I finished reading "The Web," by Steven Bereznai, and currently reading "The Meek Shall Inherit," by Jamie Freeman.

Given all the "The Handsmaid's Tale"/Christofascism taking place in the United States, a short story that was included in an Anthology of Queer Short Stories published in July, 2013, seems quite telling. And prophetic.

Near the end of "The Web," by Steven Bereznai.

I admit, I first thought it had something to do with superheroes/supervillains with Internet-like powers, but I should have gone with a simpler idea. Think an older, more muscular, Gay male Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

A few pages into "The Web," by Steven Bereznai.

I have been a fan of THE Tom Cardamone since I first saw him with THE Trebor Healey at a book reading event at a Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Manhattan/NYC, back in 2016 or 2017.

I have already read "Light and Dark," by Damon Shaw, and looking forward to reading "The Web," by Steven Bereznai.

Why am I still reading this?

🙄

That was the dumbest fucking story

I’m embarrassed by how poorly written and bland these tales are.

I get that we want representation in all forms of media but the reason most people don’t buy into these types of stories is because they are solely geared to a specific stereotype.

Everything wrong with gay cinema is present here. It’s all about the nudity or sex instead of the narrative.

If that first short is what I’m getting into then this is going to be a rough ride.

Snow and Stone - 3 stars
Scorned - 3 stars
Your Changing Body - 4 stars, really loved this device
The Origin of the Fiend - 2 stars, enjoyed the 2nd person risk but too confusing.

Lesser Evil - 5 stars, wow. Dark but goood.
The Plan - 4 stars
The Knights Nefarious - 4 stars. Campy, absurd, and delightful.

After Balenciaga - 5 stars, must be the shortest in the collection but what a delightful premise!
The Third Estate - 5 stars, fantastic
The Ice King - 3.5 stars, uh hello wow. Um. Spoilers to follow in full review.

Light and Dark - 3 stars, loved the fairytale vibes.
The Web - 3 stars, delightfully campy
The Meek Shall Inherit - 4.5 stars. Wow. Talk about really subverting the trope here.