GCS-2 Anthology of Gay Stories, Volume 2

INTRODUCTION

In an anthology of gay short stories it is most important to select only the top material which has been recently written.

Such quality material is rare and publishers of this series are proud to present these wonderfully well-written stories by the top authors in the field, enclosing them all between the covers of this book—a rare collector’s item.

What constitutes a good short story? The primary requisite is that it be brief and to the point. It must have good characterization, be told in as few words as possible, and what is left unsaid must be understood by the reader.

A good short story should be a mind-expanding experience. The reader must visualize a great deal from little reading He must grasp what is not there; he must fantasize and be able to assume what the author is telling him. Finally, he must receive a sense of pleasure, a feeling of accomplishment, and he must be satisfied in what he has read.

The story does not have to have a happy ending for life is not always like that. Sometimes poetic justice results and the devil gets his due, but too many times there is no justice and the scoundrel escapes unscathed. In the story, the incidents must be well told. They must lift the reader into another world and set him down into a conclusion which the author feels the story justifies. If it is not to the reader’s liking, so be it. But if the story or ending is controversial, thought provoking, then the writer has accomplished his mission. To fire up the imagination of the reader is good.

These, then, are the essentials of good short stories. We, the publishers, feel that we have captured these qualities in this collection of short stories and are pleased to bring them to you, our readers, for your pleasure—and for your disagreement or edification. But, whatever the outcome, they’re yours to enjoy!

—The Publishers