Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

A Literary Supplement of Independent Value, 23 Nov 2008
I guess few people (but for the greatest fans of Queer as Folk - any version) will reach for the book. This isn't anything surprising and quite natural for a volume promoted as a follow-up or a prequel to the TV series. However, in this particular case it is a mistake.
The book obviously has special charms to the viewers who dreamed of nothing else but getting to know how their favourite characters had lived before the series started. Their appetites should be satisfied with the volume (and the other two) completely.
Yet the book has more to offer then an average tie-in. The characters taken from the series were used rather liberally her and almost as pretext for a decent novel about gay teenagers trying to cope with their homosexuality and to fight a place in the society where they would fit or at least be out of harm's way. Brockton manages to present them in a credible manner, inventing for them adventures which just as the TV series teach the reader tolerance for others and (should the reader belong to the others in question) ways of dealing with intolerance.
No matter if you found the book while looking for more QaF material or a gay novel - try to forget it is "just a tie-in" and give it a chance. It's really worth it.

A great prequal, 03 Nov 2005
I read this with a pinch of salt to start with, having waatched the first season already, but I have sice read it about seven times and am now reading it for the eighth. There's always something else that you pick up on in this book. I love the emotion that has gone into it and you can picture Brian, Mikey, Sharon and her "on-again-off-again" boyfriend, and lets not forget the two unrequiteds - Andy and Mikey, and Mikey and Brian. Reading this book was one of the most pleasing things I have done... A very good read and would say that it's a must if you want to get the background on the characters in the series.

Queer as folk - back again, 31 Mar 2003
As a great fan of the original British QAF, I must say I was a bit sceptic towards the American version. But no, Mikey, Brian and the rest of them are great! It's a must for any true lover of the first series. If you've either read the Scripts or seen the series, then check this book out!

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

A Literary Supplement of Independent Value, 23 Nov 2008
I guess few people (but for the greatest fans of Queer as Folk - any version) will reach for the book. This isn't anything surprising and quite natural for a volume promoted as a follow-up or a prequel to the TV series. However, in this particular case it is a mistake.
The book obviously has special charms to the viewers who dreamed of nothing else but getting to know how their favourite characters had lived before the series started. Their appetites should be satisfied with the volume (and the other two) completely.
Yet the book has more to offer then an average tie-in. The characters taken from the series were used rather liberally her and almost as pretext for a decent novel about gay teenagers trying to cope with their homosexuality and to fight a place in the society where they would fit or at least be out of harm's way. Brockton manages to present them in a credible manner, inventing for them adventures which just as the TV series teach the reader tolerance for others and (should the reader belong to the others in question) ways of dealing with intolerance.
No matter if you found the book while looking for more QaF material or a gay novel - try to forget it is "just a tie-in" and give it a chance. It's really worth it.

A great prequal, 03 Nov 2005
I read this with a pinch of salt to start with, having waatched the first season already, but I have sice read it about seven times and am now reading it for the eighth. There's always something else that you pick up on in this book. I love the emotion that has gone into it and you can picture Brian, Mikey, Sharon and her "on-again-off-again" boyfriend, and lets not forget the two unrequiteds - Andy and Mikey, and Mikey and Brian. Reading this book was one of the most pleasing things I have done... A very good read and would say that it's a must if you want to get the background on the characters in the series.

Queer as folk - back again, 31 Mar 2003
As a great fan of the original British QAF, I must say I was a bit sceptic towards the American version. But no, Mikey, Brian and the rest of them are great! It's a must for any true lover of the first series. If you've either read the Scripts or seen the series, then check this book out!

Fantastic, a real insight into an author's mind., 27 Feb 2002
Having read Christopher Isherwood's 'Berlin Stories'I was intrigued to read more and 'Christopher and his kind' surpassed what I could have hoped for. This honest and open book lets the reader meet the real characters of many of Isherwood's novels, including, I think, the real Christopher Isherwood. A must for anyone who has read any of his books and was left wondering who are these people? A fantastic book, must be read. (All Auden fans will also find a different Auden than perhaps expecting, worth a read just for that!)

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

A Literary Supplement of Independent Value, 23 Nov 2008
I guess few people (but for the greatest fans of Queer as Folk - any version) will reach for the book. This isn't anything surprising and quite natural for a volume promoted as a follow-up or a prequel to the TV series. However, in this particular case it is a mistake.
The book obviously has special charms to the viewers who dreamed of nothing else but getting to know how their favourite characters had lived before the series started. Their appetites should be satisfied with the volume (and the other two) completely.
Yet the book has more to offer then an average tie-in. The characters taken from the series were used rather liberally her and almost as pretext for a decent novel about gay teenagers trying to cope with their homosexuality and to fight a place in the society where they would fit or at least be out of harm's way. Brockton manages to present them in a credible manner, inventing for them adventures which just as the TV series teach the reader tolerance for others and (should the reader belong to the others in question) ways of dealing with intolerance.
No matter if you found the book while looking for more QaF material or a gay novel - try to forget it is "just a tie-in" and give it a chance. It's really worth it.

A great prequal, 03 Nov 2005
I read this with a pinch of salt to start with, having waatched the first season already, but I have sice read it about seven times and am now reading it for the eighth. There's always something else that you pick up on in this book. I love the emotion that has gone into it and you can picture Brian, Mikey, Sharon and her "on-again-off-again" boyfriend, and lets not forget the two unrequiteds - Andy and Mikey, and Mikey and Brian. Reading this book was one of the most pleasing things I have done... A very good read and would say that it's a must if you want to get the background on the characters in the series.

Queer as folk - back again, 31 Mar 2003
As a great fan of the original British QAF, I must say I was a bit sceptic towards the American version. But no, Mikey, Brian and the rest of them are great! It's a must for any true lover of the first series. If you've either read the Scripts or seen the series, then check this book out!

Fantastic, a real insight into an author's mind., 27 Feb 2002
Having read Christopher Isherwood's 'Berlin Stories'I was intrigued to read more and 'Christopher and his kind' surpassed what I could have hoped for. This honest and open book lets the reader meet the real characters of many of Isherwood's novels, including, I think, the real Christopher Isherwood. A must for anyone who has read any of his books and was left wondering who are these people? A fantastic book, must be read. (All Auden fans will also find a different Auden than perhaps expecting, worth a read just for that!)

A minor or even not-so-minor classic., 08 Jul 1999
The fact that this book was ever allowed to go out of print is a disgrace -- thank goodness it is finally being reprinted. As a dissection of the English class system, as a "gay novel," as simply a piece of literature, it is one of the most brilliant and poignant and subtle and funny works of the late 20th century. This is the sort of elegantly written, in some ways understated book that gets called "a minor classic," but judging from the way it lingers in the mind, from the way it discombobulates one's thinking on any number of subjects (including the afore-mentioned class system and homosexuality), it may not be a minor classic but just a classic, period.

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

A Literary Supplement of Independent Value, 23 Nov 2008
I guess few people (but for the greatest fans of Queer as Folk - any version) will reach for the book. This isn't anything surprising and quite natural for a volume promoted as a follow-up or a prequel to the TV series. However, in this particular case it is a mistake.
The book obviously has special charms to the viewers who dreamed of nothing else but getting to know how their favourite characters had lived before the series started. Their appetites should be satisfied with the volume (and the other two) completely.
Yet the book has more to offer then an average tie-in. The characters taken from the series were used rather liberally her and almost as pretext for a decent novel about gay teenagers trying to cope with their homosexuality and to fight a place in the society where they would fit or at least be out of harm's way. Brockton manages to present them in a credible manner, inventing for them adventures which just as the TV series teach the reader tolerance for others and (should the reader belong to the others in question) ways of dealing with intolerance.
No matter if you found the book while looking for more QaF material or a gay novel - try to forget it is "just a tie-in" and give it a chance. It's really worth it.

A great prequal, 03 Nov 2005
I read this with a pinch of salt to start with, having waatched the first season already, but I have sice read it about seven times and am now reading it for the eighth. There's always something else that you pick up on in this book. I love the emotion that has gone into it and you can picture Brian, Mikey, Sharon and her "on-again-off-again" boyfriend, and lets not forget the two unrequiteds - Andy and Mikey, and Mikey and Brian. Reading this book was one of the most pleasing things I have done... A very good read and would say that it's a must if you want to get the background on the characters in the series.

Queer as folk - back again, 31 Mar 2003
As a great fan of the original British QAF, I must say I was a bit sceptic towards the American version. But no, Mikey, Brian and the rest of them are great! It's a must for any true lover of the first series. If you've either read the Scripts or seen the series, then check this book out!

Fantastic, a real insight into an author's mind., 27 Feb 2002
Having read Christopher Isherwood's 'Berlin Stories'I was intrigued to read more and 'Christopher and his kind' surpassed what I could have hoped for. This honest and open book lets the reader meet the real characters of many of Isherwood's novels, including, I think, the real Christopher Isherwood. A must for anyone who has read any of his books and was left wondering who are these people? A fantastic book, must be read. (All Auden fans will also find a different Auden than perhaps expecting, worth a read just for that!)

A minor or even not-so-minor classic., 08 Jul 1999
The fact that this book was ever allowed to go out of print is a disgrace -- thank goodness it is finally being reprinted. As a dissection of the English class system, as a "gay novel," as simply a piece of literature, it is one of the most brilliant and poignant and subtle and funny works of the late 20th century. This is the sort of elegantly written, in some ways understated book that gets called "a minor classic," but judging from the way it lingers in the mind, from the way it discombobulates one's thinking on any number of subjects (including the afore-mentioned class system and homosexuality), it may not be a minor classic but just a classic, period.

horney, 04 Feb 2004
hi this book is the most hornest book i have looked at at the moment i love it i would by it so many times infack i think i will recormend it ot you any one who whants to get it go for it

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the popular Gravitation manga series suggests that this is a "highly charged, hilarious story about two lovers drawn together despite the overwhelming odds".

In fact, this is one of the worst books I've had the misfortune to read. This reads like the worst kind of fanfiction - derivitive, cliche ridden and poorly plotted. Main character Shuichi is so irritating in this (and there are so many exclamation marks!!!) that I was practically grinding my teeth, while I actually felt sorry for his cold lover Yuki. Instead of chemistry between them, all I felt was bewilderment that Yuki put up Shuichi - whose antics come across as childish, ridiculous and awful, rather than touching and kooky as I presume they are intended.

The text is large sized, and the style of writing suggests that this is aimed at eight year olds - but, without wishing to spoil, there is a drawing and short scene at the conclusion which is definitely 16+ So I fear that if you are an adult who actually likes their books with - you know - good writing and good characterisation you're in for a disappointment.

This is supposed to be a comedy romance but, alas, it has neither a convincing romance or any comedy (other than in the "this is so bad it's funny" sense).

Trust me: feel glad I've read this novel so that you don't have to!

John Patrick Has Done It Again, 19 Jun 2001
Once again John Patrick has managed to bring together an exciting blend and mix of short stories and put them into one very interesting book. 36 short stories and 2 mini novels make the book a good read from cover to cover. Some stories being more erotic than others, but definately they are all very thought provoking. Well worth a read.

Erotic, explicit and believable stories of sexy teen boys., 21 Apr 2005
A thoroughly well written book recounting a whole series of truly believable and hotly explicit stories of sexual encounters between young teenage boys and between boys and older men. The author really captures the steamy and obsessive preoccupation of boys with their bodies and often overwhelming sexual desires, gratified in the easiest way possible at that age, with other boys, especially if one is stuck in an all boys school. The book is in no way too American and can be very strongly recommended, particulary if like me you are yourself a "graduate" of an all boy secondary schooling!

Crazy Sexy Cool - and very intelligent, 29 Nov 2004
[..]

As an ardent reader of yaoi manga I had to run into Chris Kent one day or rather, night. My first thought on flickering through the pages was: great stuff, yummy and steamy!
But as I read more thoroughly, it turned out that there really is profound meaning behind the entertaining surface. The stories are sometimes hilarious, often funny and always very well written. Once in a while they are deeply moving, especially in the endings.
There is a slight tendency to overdo the "political correctness" e.g. the older man usually tells his younger partner that as great as their love-making was, they must renounce physical encounters from now on for the sake of good friendship. Of course the understanding young man sees it the same way, and both end up fly-fishing chastily ever after.

On the whole, Kent's writings are little gems of yaoi storytelling, and possess qualities that purely "sexy" stories seldom can boast of: they contain clever thoughts and convey messages that make you think. Highly recommendable!

Beautifully erotic, 31 Oct 2001
This book contains different styles of short story about boys in erotic love with other boys.

It was a wonderful book to read, particularly because there is so little in this genre. The different styles seemd like experiments for another novel like Boys of Swithins Hall.

The sexual encounters are explicit, and drawn from life. The book was such fun that I recommended it to all my friends. Now I recommend it to you

What a wonderful collection of stories, 22 Oct 2001
Erotic. Blissfully erotic. The title was pleasingly misleading. I bought this alongside Boys of Swithins Hall thinkkiing "Ah well, short trousers it is", but it's short stories intead. Gay short stories. Gay short stories about teenage boys doing what comes so very naturally.

It was a tough book to put down. Compelling, yet each short story complete in itself. A book for a long lonely evening.

I wish there were more of such books in the mainstream publishers.

A Literary Supplement of Independent Value, 23 Nov 2008
I guess few people (but for the greatest fans of Queer as Folk - any version) will reach for the book. This isn't anything surprising and quite natural for a volume promoted as a follow-up or a prequel to the TV series. However, in this particular case it is a mistake.
The book obviously has special charms to the viewers who dreamed of nothing else but getting to know how their favourite characters had lived before the series started. Their appetites should be satisfied with the volume (and the other two) completely.
Yet the book has more to offer then an average tie-in. The characters taken from the series were used rather liberally her and almost as pretext for a decent novel about gay teenagers trying to cope with their homosexuality and to fight a place in the society where they would fit or at least be out of harm's way. Brockton manages to present them in a credible manner, inventing for them adventures which just as the TV series teach the reader tolerance for others and (should the reader belong to the others in question) ways of dealing with intolerance.
No matter if you found the book while looking for more QaF material or a gay novel - try to forget it is "just a tie-in" and give it a chance. It's really worth it.

A great prequal, 03 Nov 2005
I read this with a pinch of salt to start with, having waatched the first season already, but I have sice read it about seven times and am now reading it for the eighth. There's always something else that you pick up on in this book. I love the emotion that has gone into it and you can picture Brian, Mikey, Sharon and her "on-again-off-again" boyfriend, and lets not forget the two unrequiteds - Andy and Mikey, and Mikey and Brian. Reading this book was one of the most pleasing things I have done... A very good read and would say that it's a must if you want to get the background on the characters in the series.

Queer as folk - back again, 31 Mar 2003
As a great fan of the original British QAF, I must say I was a bit sceptic towards the American version. But no, Mikey, Brian and the rest of them are great! It's a must for any true lover of the first series. If you've either read the Scripts or seen the series, then check this book out!

Fantastic, a real insight into an author's mind., 27 Feb 2002
Having read Christopher Isherwood's 'Berlin Stories'I was intrigued to read more and 'Christopher and his kind' surpassed what I could have hoped for. This honest and open book lets the reader meet the real characters of many of Isherwood's novels, including, I think, the real Christopher Isherwood. A must for anyone who has read any of his books and was left wondering who are these people? A fantastic book, must be read. (All Auden fans will also find a different Auden than perhaps expecting, worth a read just for that!)

A minor or even not-so-minor classic., 08 Jul 1999
The fact that this book was ever allowed to go out of print is a disgrace -- thank goodness it is finally being reprinted. As a dissection of the English class system, as a "gay novel," as simply a piece of literature, it is one of the most brilliant and poignant and subtle and funny works of the late 20th century. This is the sort of elegantly written, in some ways understated book that gets called "a minor classic," but judging from the way it lingers in the mind, from the way it discombobulates one's thinking on any number of subjects (including the afore-mentioned class system and homosexuality), it may not be a minor classic but just a classic, period.

horney, 04 Feb 2004
hi this book is the most hornest book i have looked at at the moment i love it i would by it so many times infack i think i will recormend it ot you any one who whants to get it go for it

Hot guys in and out of sexy underwear., 10 Nov 2007
This is a book of gay erotic short stories tailor made for anyone turned on by guys in and out of bikinis, thongs, jockstraps etc. The straight guy in the tight bikinis turns out to have been egging on his locker room admirer all along. Two room mates live together for years before they shed their boxers and their inhibitions by the washing machine. A jockstrap tells all about the sex life of the guys who have worn it.
What all these stories have in common is that hot guys turn on other guys with their underwear and, because of the effect they have by wearing it, end up not wearing it.

Romping Homosexually Through the Four Seasons of Gay Men's Lives, 23 Oct 2008
This collection of stories attempts to depict the stages of gay men's sexual lives, depicting the trajectory of youth to old age as an extended conceit of short narratives related to the similarity thereto of Nature's progress through the seasons of the year, from Spring to Winter. Each season has four or five short stories apiece, with a short introductory introduction and quoted definitions for each group of tales, and there is also an intervening novella that traces a particular gay man's life and loves through the "seasons" of his own life, from youth to old age.

The idea is a good one, but Sean Wolfe's realisation of his literary project gives variable results. The narratives of middle age (to varying degree) and of old age (to more uniformly fizzling than sizzling effect) are (not unexpectably) less gripping and erotically "aroused" and arousing than those of youth and early manhood (spring and summer of life, as Wolfe conceives them). Wolfe's "politically correct takes" on gay "marriages" or "civil unions" becomes obsessive and, well, downright smary (and not a little "gay-lib"-propaganda-driven) rather than fulfilling or exciting to the reader; there must be more to such gay sexual living than the twee bourgeois sentimentality that Wolfe conjures, putting aside the appropriateness or lack of it to comparing gay partnerships with heterosexual marriage. The same applies to his depiction of sexuality in old age, which is too sentimentalised to be effective; this reviewer knows from his own experience, quite apart from whether it was appropriate and moral or not utterly so (e.g. from such experiences as a most exceptionally randy and satisfying, night-long "romp in the sack" in Boston, making very physical love in vigourous mid-twenties with a man in his ruggedly responsive eigties) that there is more to inter-generational sex and its dynamics than Wolfe seems able to imagine with any vividness, that author being too exclusively concerned with the fraity and sagging sexual drive and performance of advancing years.

At his best, Wolfe writes some very hot, explicit, and vivifying prose narratives, the kind of thing that generates the kind of sexual and emotional heat so evident, visually, in the impassioned, horny depiction of two young men locked bodily together and deep-kissing that the photographic image reproduced on the front and back covers of this quality paperback book so enticingly conveys. One weakness in all of these tales and in all of the "seasonal" sections of the book is the stilted, cliché-infested dialogue that occurs within the tales; Wolfe is better at narrating actions than in conveying what these men speak to one another in bed or otherwise. Some common, but irksome grammatical defects slightly mar the effect of Wolfe's writing; writing in good, normative syntax by no means lessens the impact that prose can project. Wolfe's fiction certainly falls short of the level of imagination and evocation, sexual and other, of a writer like the Australian, Rusty Winter.

Probably a series of stories without the straight-jacket, at least for Wolfe himself, of such a confining concept (seasonality and stages of life) that Wolfe employs in this particular book would allow Wolfe to exercise his considerable powers of sexual depiction and interpersonal, erotic narrative much more effectively. As the book is, however, there are enough powerfully conjured sexual and psyho-sexual moods and actions to make it worthwhile to acquire this book and to read it, selectively and a bit of the book at a time.

Badly written awful rubbish - don't waste your money!, 15 Feb 2008
The description of this novel based on the