Cool Thing: The Best New Gay Fiction from Young American Writers [Paperback]

Blair Mastbaum (Editor), Will Fabro (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2008

Lambda Award-winning novelist Blair Mastbaum and writer Will Fabro have put together a fun and edgy anthology of hot new fiction by young gay writers. With works by Mastbaum, Fabro, Mark Edmund Doten, Michael Tyrell, Sam J. Miller, and more, Cool Thing has something for everyone.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Blair Mastbaum won the Lambda Literary Foundation Award for Debut Fiction and garnered critical praise for his debut novel, Clay’s Way. Author John Rechy (City of Night) called it the “gay Catcher in the Rye.” He lives in Brooklyn, NY. Please visit him at www.blairmastbaum.com.

Will Fabro has been published in Fresh Men and Userlands, as well as in New York Press. He curated the reading series “This is Not the New Minstrel Show,” which showcased up and coming queer writers. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
 

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (November 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786720115
• ISBN-13: 978-0786720118
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,879,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Blair Mastbaum is the author of the Lambda Award winning Clay's Way and the Ferro-Grumley-nominated novel Us Ones In Between, as well as the co-editor of Cool Thing: Best Gay Writing by Young American Writers. A former model for such houses at CK and Versace, he is now writing a memoir of his modeling days called Hommeboys. Blair produced the Sundance Film Festival selection Ellie Parker, starring Naomi Watts and directed by Scott Coffey. He lives in Portland, Oregon and Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underground Edge, December 20, 2008

By 

KEEPitREAL (LA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cool Thing: The Best New Gay Fiction from Young American Writers (Paperback)

There's a lot to like about this anthology. Each story offers a glimpse into the deliciously warped minds of young gays, allowing the reader a chance to view the world through a rainbow-sprinkled lens. For the most part, the stories are edgy and sinister, while some offer glimpses into the sweeter side of life. There's some beautiful poetry to be found within many of these pieces, and it's great way for gay fiction fans to see where genre is headed in the future. Gone are the days of how-to pamphlets, AIDS, and coming-out stories. For these young writers, there is no out. Gay is a way of life, and for once, that's a joy to see.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Future for Fiction, May 16, 2009

By 

T. Moore "GayFictionLover" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Thing: The Best New Gay Fiction from Young American Writers (Paperback)

It's good to see gay fiction headed in a more risk-taking direction than the typical, humdrum coming out tales. Here, authors like Blair Mastbaum, Bennett Madison, Anthony Paull, and Wil Frabro craft grand tales in the vein that is a diverse as the GLBT community itself. Most of the tales are dark, edgy, and full of fire. While a few add a breath of campy humor and laughst to the mix. I will be interested to see where the days takes these talented writers.

2.0 out of 5 stars Is this the voice of gay Gen Y?, February 4, 2012

By 

Rufferdawg - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Thing: The Best New Gay Fiction from Young American Writers (Paperback)

This is an anthology of well-written -- for the most part -- pieces by twenty-something gay men. The dominant moods they sketch are ones of alienation, disaffection, boredom, violence and a degree of self involvement bordering on narcissism. It's refreshing to find work where being gay isn't anything that the protagonist is concerned about one way or another, but there doesn't seem to be anything else these characters get too excited about either. Even the sex and violence seem like things that were resorted to in order to momentarily banish the ever present ennui of their lives.