Product Description

A new tradition to perk up every gay man’s Christmas!

Upon A Midnight Clear: Queer Christmas Tales shatters traditional views of Christmas to portray what it is like to be gay during the most inescapable American holiday. In this stirring anthology of tales filled with holiday cheer and chaos, acclaimed authors including Greg Herren, Felice Picano, and Jim Grimsley bring to life the heartache, struggles, breakthroughs, and the bonds of love and family that are never more apparent than at Christmastime. This collection provides what Christmas has always been missing for gay men—the comforts of tradition.

This collection marks the long-awaited transition of gays into commercial Christmas culture, providing the proof that gays have traditional holiday narration of their own. Edited by novelist Greg Herren, author of Murder in the Rue Dauphine and Bourbon Street Blues, and editor of Shadows of the Night: Queer Tales of the Uncanny and Unusual (Harrington Park Press), Upon A Midnight Clear contains a world of insight into the struggle of gay men to deal with Christmas in America.

Upon A Midnight Clear brings you insiders’ perspectives into the lives of gay men at Christmas:

In "Our Family’s Things," Jay Quinn tells the story of an abandoned lover and father who is left to fend for himself
Jim Grimsley’s "Comfort and Joy" tells the story of a man who, after meeting someone who strikes a cord in his lonely heart, finally comes out—to his family and himself
Warren Dunford’s "Secret Family Recipe" tells the story of a mother plotting to poison her son’s live-in lover at Christmas dinner
"Skating," by Stephen Soucy, illuminates a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, who is now trying to help his former lover move on
In Marshall Moore’s "In the City of Warm Red Light," a gay holiday party ignites a straight woman’s insecurities—and leaves one guest aflame!

This one-of-a-kind anthology gets right to the heart of Christmas. Upon A Midnight Clear marks the beginning of a new tradition for gay men. These stories will have you laughing, crying, and begging Santa for more!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1357582 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 218 pages

Review
"One of the most original anthologies in GLBT literature. Focusing on gay men and how they have experienced Christmas, -- Patricia Nell Warren, Author of The Front Runner, The Wild Man, and other bestsellers

Customer Reviews

15 short stories - you will find something you like!
In his introduction to this short story collection, Greg Herren points out that gay people often feel left out during the holiday season. Either we are heading back to fanily gatherings (which may be equal parts annoyance and comfort), or we may be left alone because our friends or partners are leaving to do so. It's a very family oriented holiday, one to which our extended "families" often have problems adapting. And there really aren't any purely-gay Christmas stories ... until now.

"Upon A Midnight Clear" is a collection of 15 holiday-themed stories by an impressive list of gay fiction authors, including Jim Grimsley and, Felice Picano. The length of each story ranges from 5-34 pages, and they are too numerous to review individually here. Just be aware that some are rather dark, and may not do much to brighten a lack of "holiday spirit," except perhaps to let you know you're not alone.

Especially noteworthy:
"It's A Life" by M Christiansen is a creative ten page remake of the final scenes of the holiday classic "It's A Wonderful Life", with George Bailey the president of the Castro (San Francisco gay area) Merchants Association.
"Skating" by Stephen Soucy tells of a ghost who appears to his grieving partner, to help him get on with his life.
".. a very special Christmas" by Kevin Allman points out that many of our best Christmas memories have to do with the corny Christmas specials we saw on TV during our childhood, including the campy "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special" (which, coincidentally, is being released for the first time on DVD next month).
Jay Quinn's "Our Family Things" realistically explores the feelings surrounding the breakup of a gay couple together for many years.
"The Snow Queen" by Quentin Harrington is a spooky tale about a mysterious stranger who captures and imprisons guys he picks up at gay bars.

Holiday
I did enjoy reading this collection. I also found it truthful, and sad that so many queer Christmas stories are kind of bleek.