Best Gay Sci-Fi / Fantasy: Paradox by Chris Quinton

This wasn’t really a time travel story, but the feeling was like reading one. Phil is travelling on a country road near Bath and he has an accident; alone and trapped in the car, he goes into a semi-coma that basically transport him back to the Roman Empire age and in the body of Caius, a younger man who was in an accident in the same point, only, more or less, 2000 years before. While Caius wasn’t really an expert in deception, Phil is and he is able to recognize that Caius’s accident wasn’t casual, but a plot to kill him. Problem is that, among the people around him, and possible suspect, there is also Rianorix, a barbarian who resembles strongly Ryan, Phil’s partner in the XXI century, and a man Phil was starting to find quite attractive.

If I have to be sincere, I enjoyed a lot the XXI century plot, and wasn’t really drawn into the Roman Empire one; and that is probably a good thing, cause the real romance is the modern one. Phil and Ryan are both bisexual, but they are also coming from a past where it was better to not being open on their sexual preferences; and so they haven’t confessed to each other, and when they start to feel a sexual interest stirring between them, they try to deny it.

While the story is pretty much a friends with benefits plot, or maybe even an office affair, sex isn’t really on the front stage; actually, when they really have a sexual encounter, it happens in blackness, both literally than practically. Despite that, the story is very sensual, and I had the physical perception of both characters, and the attraction between them, even without the graphic detailed sex.

Amazon: Paradox
Amazon Kindle: Paradox
Paperback: 316 pages
Publisher: Silver Publishing (May 21, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1614956766
ISBN-13: 978-1614956761



Updates: http://www.goodreads.com/user/updates_rss/2156728?key=011e4dd0a1ff993d8c2322e691d6229ed9bbf74b

Hiram Ortiz (1958 - September 23, 1994)

Hiram Ortiz was an hairstylist and makeup artist on stage shows (Madonna's Girlie Show) and films (Romeo is Bleeding).

He died of complications from AIDS September 23, 1994, in Miami. He was 36. During his extensive career, Ortiz worked on such feature films as "Romeo Is Bleeding,""Zelly and Me,""Heart of Midnight" and "Pet Semetary." He did Talia Shire's hair and makeup in the "Rocky" films.

On Broadway, Ortiz crafted hair and makeup designs for Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich in the revival of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman."

He also worked on Lauren Bacall during her run with "Woman of the Year" in 1981. Ortiz was involved with "Chicago" and the "Hurlyburly" in 1984.

He designed makeup for several American Playhouse productions on PBS, and during the 1980s, Ortiz worked on such network shows as "Saturday Night Live, ""Late Night With David Letterman" and the 1987 Tony Awards.

Lately Ortiz was the hair and makeup designer for Madonna's Girlie Show Tour.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Ortiz grew up in Miami Beach and made his home in New York City for many years. He spent the last years of his life in Miami.

Source: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117906514?refcatid=25&printerfriendly=true

( Further Readings )

Michael Harvey (1944 - September 23, 1993)

Michael Harvey was a real estate investor and theatrical producer who brought Sweet Bird of Youth and Happy End to Broadway.

Michael Harvey, a theatrical producer and real estate investor, died on September 23, 1993, at his home in Manhattan. He was 49.

The cause of death was AIDS, his companion, Theodore Dell, said.

Among his Broadway and Off Broadway productions and co-productions were "The Grass Harp" (1971); "Why Hannah's Skirt Won't Stay Down" (1974); "Four Friends" (1975); "Kennedy's Children" (1975); "Sweet Bird of Youth" (1976), starring Christopher Walken; "Happy End" (1977), starring Meryl Streep, and "The First" (1981), with Lonette McKee.

In 1992, he became co-owner of Pride Institute, a gay and lesbian drug and rehabilitation treatment center in Eden Praire, Minn.


AIDS Quilt

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/28/obituaries/michael-harvey-theatrical-producer-49.html

( Further Readings )

GayRomLit Ebook Giveaway: Lloyd A. Meeker - Traveling Light

I asked to all the authors joining the GayRomLit convention in Atlanta in October (http://gayromlit.com/grl-authors) a personal favor, a special Ebook Giveaway: everyday I will post 1 book from each author, and among those who will leave a comment, I will draw a winner. Very easy and very fast ;-) I will send a PM to the winner, so remember to not leave anonymous comments!

And the ebook giveaway goes to dianaq

Today author is Lloyd A. Meeker: Lloyd Meeker can't help what he writes – stories rising from the between places, the mystical overlapping between the worlds of matter and spirit, and the eldritch beauty that dwells there. He's in love with adventure and magic, loves plunging into stories full of both, and wants to take you along. Mostly he's in love with love, and believes deeply in the power of love to overcome any challenge. He’s known it in his own life, and seen it in the lives of many others. In addition to his written work which includes novels, essays, poetry and short stories, he has served since 2008 as one of the judges in the Queer Foundation’s annual National High School Seniors Essay Contest. Its goal is to promote effective writing by, about, and/or for queer youth, and to award scholarships to the winners. Finalists are selected from schools across the United States by members of the National Council of Teachers of English. Happily ensorcelled by music, subtle energy healing, and the wonders of nature, Meeker lives with his very understanding husband in southern Florida, surrounded by friends and family, orchids, and giant hibiscus that take his breath away every morning.
Website: http://www.lloydmeeker.com
Most recent title : Traveling Light
Publishers: MLR Press, Torquere Press, Bold Strokes Books, Arsenal Pulp Press, Wayfarer Press

Traveling Light by Lloyd Meeker
Paperback: 284 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (March 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1608203174
ISBN-13: 978-1608203178
Amazon: Traveling Light
Amazon Kindle: Traveling Light

An eye for an eye... Ian McCandless is a hospice nurse, training to become a shaman. When his mentor orders him to make peace with his estranged family, Ian reluctantly agrees, anticipating just another conflict-filled visit. On their way from the airport Ian's older brother Will interrupts a convenience store robbery and is shot, dying in Ian's arms and calling to him for vengeance. Ian uses his shamanic abilities to track down the killer, but his quest soon turns into a hunt for revenge---forbidden to any shaman. Ian's pursuit jeopardizes his relationship with the spirit world, endangers the lives of those he loves and threatens to banish him from the only path that gives his life meaning.

Kindly offered by MLR Press