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Review

Like most anthologies of its type, Rough Trade, edited by Todd Gregory, has a few really fine stories, a few that are less compelling, and a very small number that are not particularly well written. Overall it is an enjoyable read for those who like these kinds of stories. As the preface explains, "rough trade" refers to men who will have sex with gay men (usually for money) but who are not necessarily gay themselves. They often have an aura of danger lurking about them, which may be part of their attraction for some. The not-too-exaggerated tagline on the cover reads "Dangerous Gay Erotica." Some of the stories are indeed about rough sex but not necessarily about rough trade. The "rougher" stories include "The Fratboy and the Faggot" in which a Peeping Tom gets more than he bargained for after spying on his hunky neighbor. There are a couple of good stories about the inevitable connection between wrestling and sex ("The New Boy" and "Wrestler for Hire"), only one of which really contains much violence. In fact several of the stories are more romantic than anything else, even the ones that actually involve potential rough trade. A few are even poignant, particularly the final longer story called "Blue Boy." None of the entries disappoint in that they all contain lots of sex, often graphically described and generally hot! Most of the stories are rather short and the entire book could be read in one sitting but it is better if they are savored a few at a time.

 -- Roy Liebman