Same Sex: Gay SF Clone Erotica by J W SteedMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Author Peter Schutes introduces two tales of clones and gay male desire. Schutes offers an introduction that shows a love for science fiction and concerns about oppression.
That introduction also explains the unlikely genesis of this unique collection. Despite similar concepts, the stories differ in feel and setting, both going in unexpected directions while both delivering an enjoyable read.
In “Journey’s End,” author J. W. Steed brings readers to a terraformed planet. Jeremy still harbors feelings for Benny, but Benny falls for one of Jeremy’s clones. Complications arise, with Jeremy worried about his obsession with observing that new relationship. It affects his job and his interactions. The tone becomes whimsical at times, thanks to Jeremy’s observations and quirks.
“Billy Club,” by Frank Slater, takes place in a different future but a more down-to-Earth setting, with a crooked system of cloned cops. This story features much rougher characters than the first one and focuses much more on desire. The officers, all known as Billy but with different badge numbers, become entangled with local gay men in a way that might expose corruption. The first-person narrator often sounds like he belongs in an old detective movie, but he takes the story into racier territory.
View all my Goodreads reviews
Thanks for visiting my blog! Please read about my books, including the small-town fiction collection The Acorn Stories and my free eBook Degranon: A Science Fiction Adventure.
