30 review for Bending the Landscape: Original Gay and Lesbian Horror Writing

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Sascha – Jul 16, 2019

   Two major things: some of the authors are straight, and this isn't leave-the-lights-on horror. There's a lot of good stories in here (a decent handful about southern gay ppl dealing with ghosts and other such things, which is exactly the kind of thing I love) and there's also some that are just bad. The last story, which involves a lot of torturing and murder of gay men, was really tasteless. Some of the stories feel more like bad comedy routines (true hell is the DFW airport and your nagging bi Two major things: some of the authors are straight, and this isn't leave-the-lights-on horror. There's a lot of good stories in here (a decent handful about southern gay ppl dealing with ghosts and other such things, which is exactly the kind of thing I love) and there's also some that are just bad. The last story, which involves a lot of torturing and murder of gay men, was really tasteless. Some of the stories feel more like bad comedy routines (true hell is the DFW airport and your nagging bitch of a wife, amirite?) and others are obviously men writing lesbians. Several stories were touching and emotional with horror elements incorporated (post-apocalypse settings, more ghosts) and some felt like writing exercises that should never have been published (looking at you, story #3). All in all a decent anthology, if mostly white, able-bodied and cis.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Marie-Therese – Jun 04, 2011

   The final and by far the most uneven and disappointing volume in the 'Bending the Landscape' series. Few of the stories featured here rise above mediocrity and a couple are downright dreadful-so amateurish and so poorly structured that I'd hardly expect them to pass a college creative writing class much less be selected for publication in a major anthology. Only L. Timml Duchamp's evocative 'Explanations Are Clear', Simon Sheppard's dry and witty jeux d'esprit 'What Are You Afraid Of?' and Holly The final and by far the most uneven and disappointing volume in the 'Bending the Landscape' series. Few of the stories featured here rise above mediocrity and a couple are downright dreadful-so amateurish and so poorly structured that I'd hardly expect them to pass a college creative writing class much less be selected for publication in a major anthology. Only L. Timml Duchamp's evocative 'Explanations Are Clear', Simon Sheppard's dry and witty jeux d'esprit 'What Are You Afraid Of?' and Holly Wade Matter's wrenching, beautifully imagined 'Memorabilia' really stand out. A rather sad end for an intriguing and important series.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Jennafhur – Oct 22, 2008

   This book truly has some of the most amazing gay/lesbian stories in it. Not just like gore horror stories like I originally thought upon picking up the book, but just things that horrify us such as love, loss, death, etc. Some are very sweet, some make you cry, some make you wince as your stomach churns. I definitely recommend it.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Rachel – Apr 26, 2019

   None of them really scared me. Uneven quality. The good were good stories just not.... horrifying.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   Casie Blevins – Oct 28, 2017

   Fantastic writing. Definitely recommend. If I can locate the other books in the series I will read them all.

6. 

   5 out of 5

   'Nathan Burgoine – May 19, 2010

   Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as the SF stories (gore and horror actually horrifies me, in a usually unpleasant way that I don't over-enjoy much, though thrillers and psychological suspense are really enjoyable - so about half of these just made me queasy). This is my failing, by the way, not the stories. Horror fans? This one is a great collection for you. I'm just a wuss. Still, there's something to be said even for a wuss like me in these tales! The story with the pink triangle fro Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as the SF stories (gore and horror actually horrifies me, in a usually unpleasant way that I don't over-enjoy much, though thrillers and psychological suspense are really enjoyable - so about half of these just made me queasy). This is my failing, by the way, not the stories. Horror fans? This one is a great collection for you. I'm just a wuss. Still, there's something to be said even for a wuss like me in these tales! The story with the pink triangle from Nazi Germany made me shiver down to the bone, and the opening story about a homophobic gay man whose arm ends up trapped under another man post coitus, and he feels he must eat his way out of this trap had me just about ready to vomit.

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Julia – May 16, 2010

   “Kindred” is a very sweet story about a lonely gay Georgia farmer who gets otherworldly help from his gay neighbors who have died. ‘”Til Death” by Barbara Hambly has an unhappy lesbian couple stuck in a very real and funny hell that is the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. “Passing” by Mark Tiedemann takes place in a near future where gays and lesbians are killed by the state. Howard works for the police, drugs himself, has a cover marriage to a lesbian and turns his friend in all to protect himself. T “Kindred” is a very sweet story about a lonely gay Georgia farmer who gets otherworldly help from his gay neighbors who have died. ‘”Til Death” by Barbara Hambly has an unhappy lesbian couple stuck in a very real and funny hell that is the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. “Passing” by Mark Tiedemann takes place in a near future where gays and lesbians are killed by the state. Howard works for the police, drugs himself, has a cover marriage to a lesbian and turns his friend in all to protect himself. This story would be a good companion to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Stephen Poltz – Jun 28, 2016

   “Bending the Landscape” is a series of original collections of gay and lesbian short stories in different genres: Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. This edition is Horror. I found it very interesting. As in the title of the book, the landscape of horror is bent a bit. Only a few stories are what I would call classic horror. The rest are more like speculative fiction of horrific things. They didn’t evoke outright fear and loathing as much as sadness and despair. Most are very disturbing and s “Bending the Landscape” is a series of original collections of gay and lesbian short stories in different genres: Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. This edition is Horror. I found it very interesting. As in the title of the book, the landscape of horror is bent a bit. Only a few stories are what I would call classic horror. The rest are more like speculative fiction of horrific things. They didn’t evoke outright fear and loathing as much as sadness and despair. Most are very disturbing and some are even surreal. Come visit my blog for the full review… http://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspot...

9. 

   5 out of 5

   Natasha – Apr 28, 2016

   My expectations certainly weren't high going into this book, so I can't say I was surprised that the majority of the stories weren't captivating or even good. Several only loosely fell into the Horror category, and I found myself speed-reading through some stories just to get to the next one. They weren't all lackluster, and it was refreshing to know I'd find diverse queer characters on every page, but I definitely won't be reading the other two books in the series. Favourites: Triangle, In the My expectations certainly weren't high going into this book, so I can't say I was surprised that the majority of the stories weren't captivating or even good. Several only loosely fell into the Horror category, and I found myself speed-reading through some stories just to get to the next one. They weren't all lackluster, and it was refreshing to know I'd find diverse queer characters on every page, but I definitely won't be reading the other two books in the series. Favourites: Triangle, In the Days Still Left, Broken Canes, Keep the Faith, and 'Til Death.

10. 

    4 out of 5

    Erin Sterling – Apr 25, 2010

    Short stories, some more horrific than others, all of which featuring gay and lesbian characters. Memorable ones: a married man has an affair with another guy while drunk and decides on a gruesome way to get out of the bedroom, a widowed teenager in a hick town in love with another girl gets followed and beat-up by the other girl's boyfriend/husband, an evil antique of the pink felt triangles used by the Nazis to identify homosexuals, teenagers who hear a motorcycle crash but who no one believes Short stories, some more horrific than others, all of which featuring gay and lesbian characters. Memorable ones: a married man has an affair with another guy while drunk and decides on a gruesome way to get out of the bedroom, a widowed teenager in a hick town in love with another girl gets followed and beat-up by the other girl's boyfriend/husband, an evil antique of the pink felt triangles used by the Nazis to identify homosexuals, teenagers who hear a motorcycle crash but who no one believes until it's too late.

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Ruthie – Dec 01, 2014

    I first picked this up sometime in 2003 and have revisited it several more times in the past decade. I'm pleased to say that I enjoy it just as much every single time. This anthology delivers some well-crafted new classics of its genre. Particularly, Mark W. Tiedemann's novella "Passing" is one of the best and most haunting stories I've ever read. Highly recommend! I first picked this up sometime in 2003 and have revisited it several more times in the past decade. I'm pleased to say that I enjoy it just as much every single time. This anthology delivers some well-crafted new classics of its genre. Particularly, Mark W. Tiedemann's novella "Passing" is one of the best and most haunting stories I've ever read. Highly recommend!

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Jim – Jun 15, 2011

    I had higher hopes for this collection but so many stories were dull and didn't feel like horror. A couple of decent ones in here with good writing that weren't trying too hard. I felt the same way about the Science Fiction collection in this series. I have the Fantasy one but I don't think I can bring myself to try it after two duds. I had higher hopes for this collection but so many stories were dull and didn't feel like horror. A couple of decent ones in here with good writing that weren't trying too hard. I felt the same way about the Science Fiction collection in this series. I have the Fantasy one but I don't think I can bring myself to try it after two duds.

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Alyssa Rye – Aug 12, 2013

    Awful. If "horror" means horrific then this book takes the cake. If there was a rating lower than one star it would receive it. By far the worst book I have read. Not horror at all. Was not worth my money. Awful. If "horror" means horrific then this book takes the cake. If there was a rating lower than one star it would receive it. By far the worst book I have read. Not horror at all. Was not worth my money.

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Angel S – Aug 20, 2009

    This was nowhere near as good as the fantasy Bending the Landscape. Most of the stories weren't really horror, and a lot weren't well written. There were a few I liked. I'll have to go through it again and put down the stories/authors I liked. This was nowhere near as good as the fantasy Bending the Landscape. Most of the stories weren't really horror, and a lot weren't well written. There were a few I liked. I'll have to go through it again and put down the stories/authors I liked.

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Allison – Jul 02, 2014

    Really well-done on the whole - varied, skillful, deeply unsettling. Some of them made me feel actual nausea. Mostly in a good way. If you know what I mean.

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Mike – May 01, 2011

    A sound collection of stories, mindful, thought provoking, and subtle. This was a happen-chance find at the bookstore and has picqued my interest in the other two installments!

17. 

    5 out of 5

    drew –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    K. –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Wil –

20. 

    5 out of 5

    Jackie –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Agnieszka Kotwasińska –

22. 

    5 out of 5

    Janine Davis –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Alice –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Inguma –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Tony –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Dale –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Jackie Lee –

28. 

    4 out of 5

    Nicole –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Natalie –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Cameron –