The UP Review Team’s Best of 2008 (mostly!)

We’ve done a lot of reviews this year – over 140 of them – and some of our team also reviewed on their own site and for others. So we’ve been busy, read a lot of fiction, some of which didn’t actually suck

Here’s our pick for the best of 2008.

Lee Benoit chose (in alphabetical order by author):
1. Lola Dances by Victor J. Banis (buy)
The tale of Terry, a kid from Lower Manhattan who escapes persecution in the Old West and finds fulfillment and personal power by living as a woman, has all the verve of a classic pulp novel and all the sensitivity of contemporary trans fiction. The conflicts are tense, the characters colorful, and the romance fresh and interesting. This one would make a fabulous movie.

2. Uneven by Anah Crow (buy)
Crow gave us a remarkable, surprising tale of a corporate mogul who achieves self-determination by confronting and ultimately embracing his need to submit. Crow deftly upends tropes of the genre, such as casting the poorer, younger Gabriel as confident, intuitive Dom. The violence of the story pushes boundaries generally unexplored in m/m D/s fiction, making this a darker, edgier offering than many I’ve read this year. The result is this searingly honest novel whose sequel I anticipate with relish.

3. Lost and Found by Syd McGinley
Lost and Found 1: Pet Rescue, Lost and Found 2: Exotic Pets, Lost and Found 3: Teacher’s Pet
The ongoing saga of a grieving Dom who must heal himself in order to find another love has one of the very best protagonists is contemporary m/m or gay fiction. Dr. John Fell is flawed, principled, demanding, and broken when the stories begin, and it is his character development that sets these stories apart from other D/s fiction. McGinley also delivers rich world-building, eschewing the hackneyed club and dungeon settings of the BDSM subculture and developing a community as unusual as John fell himself. Add to that McGinley’s spare prose, dramatic restraint, and delightful secondary characters, and you have a keeper.

4. Seventy Times Seven by Salvatore Sapienza (buy)
Billed as the story of a young gay religious brother’s crisis of faith as he prepares to make his final vows, the triumph of the tale lies in the charming voice of the main character and the message that being true to himself requires reconciling his spiritual and sexual selves rather than denying one or the other. Sapienza establishes his setting well, using pop culture and the advancing AIDS crisis as backdrops. The author’s evenhanded criticism of Catholic doctrine and his candid portrayal of the joys of faith and of gay life are also strengths of the novel.

5. On Wings, Rising by Ann Somerville (buy) (reviewed at UP)
The first of a planned trilogy, this novella represents some of the best world-building I encountered in 2008. Seldom have I seen themes like internal colonialism, prejudice, and population decline treated so engagingly in fiction. A multiplicity of cultures and species are only the beginning, though, as Somerville establishes unique characters and voices, rich backstories, taut conflicts, a romantic entanglement to root for, and surprising twists. Like all of the stories on my list, the psychological depth of “On Wings, Rising” is what truly sets it apart from the hundreds of titles I read this year.

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Paul Bens chose (in reverse order of greatness ):

5. Colin Farrell’s Penis by Philip Huang (read) (reviewed at UP)
Comedy, satire and interesting characters, all in under 500 words! Flash fiction doesn’t get any better than this. Oh…and it’s free!

4. Checkpoint by Kit Zheng (buy) (reviewed at UP)
Anyone who doesn’t think you can write amazingly full characters, some steamy sex and get in a modicum of social commentary in only 9 pages absolutely must read this story. This charming and romantic story is an example of not only how good short fiction can be, but also how m/m erotica can just soar when it is done really, really well.

3. King of Cats: A Life in Five Novellas by Blake Fraina. (buy) (reviewed at UP)
Rockstar deconstructionism at its very best. This novel has characters as messy and manipulative as life its self. Throw in a non-traditional format and characters you love one moment and hate the next, and you have a really fascinating character study. It isn’t an easy read and probably not for those who like like their m/m fiction more on the romantic side, but it is a novel that keeps haunting my mind.

2. Better by Jaime Samms (read) (reviewed at UP)
Another completely free read, this novella gets every note right, with a protagonist who is romantic, but terribly wounded from a past relationship learning to find himself and to trust men again. Samms’ characters are very masculine, and very real, multi-dimensional and appealing men who you just want to see get together…but you’re never quite sure they will. Samms expertly balances the angst and the romance of learning to love again.

1. I was an Alien Cat Toy by Ann Somerville (read) (reviewed at UP)
Hands down, no question, the very best read I had this year — the story that I recall fondly nearly every single day — is I was an Alien Cat Toy by Ann Somerville. Classic science fiction with a gay twist, this absolutely free novel on the author’s website is possibly one of the best examples of family-building, world-building and fascinating characters I’ve ever read. Taking a stand-by concept in SF — stranger in a strange land — Somerville creates heartbreaking characters…feline and human…and gives them depth, dignity and romantic souls all wrapped up in beautiful prose and expert story construction. A wonderful example of how m/m romance and sci-fi can be blended seamlessly together. And, I dare you to get through it without crying. I just dare you.

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BookUtopiaMom chose (in order of greatness):

1. Mahape a ale Wala’au by Paul G. Bens (buy) (reviewed at UP) (reviewed at Book’s site)
The author is a master wordsmith. Every word in this short story is beautifully crafted, and proves that prose in erotica can be as lyrical as anything you might find in so-called literary fiction. Hands down one of my absolute favorite stories I’ve read in years.

2. Death of a Pirate King by Josh Lanyon (buy) (reviewed at Book’s site)
As a fan of the Adrien English mysteries, the fourth installment gutted me. More than that, it took a character I hated and wrapped me up in his emotions until I was able to let my loathing go. My emotional investment with the characters in this series drives me back, again and again.

3. The Englor Affair by J.L. Langley (buy) (reviewed at UP)
Hot and completely escapist fiction that took the weaknesses of the first novel and strengthened them.

4. Interstitial by Ann Somerville (buy) (reviewed at UP) (reviewed at Book’s site)
The tightly choreographed action in this sci-fi story steps this above other entries in the genre. The scenes are vivid, the characters real, and there’s no time to take a breath as you careen through its pages.

5. Master of None by Lee Benoit (buy) (reviewed at UP) (reviewed at Book’s site)
While the romance never really worked to its best potential for me, I find myself thinking about the lead in this at the most random times. Adiun is one of those characters that lingers long after the story is over. It helps that his characterization is supported by such a rich fantasy world.

[Book adds - "On a side note, I find it ironic that three of my five favorites are UP reviewers, but I read and reviewed both Paul's and Lee's stories prior to joining the review team. Getting the opportunity to "meet" them later through UP was merely good luck." ]
[Admin notes - "It's true! Book also did her round up of best stories and covers in 2008 across all genres, over at her site]

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Blake Fraina chose, in no particular order:

1. Clearcut by Nina Shengold (buy) (literary fiction)

2. On Wings, Rising by Ann Somerville (buy) (reviewed at UP) (fantasy)

3. Before I lose my style by Mike Kaspar (buy) (modern comedy of manners)

4. Call me by your name by Andre Aciman (buy) (literary fiction)

5. Huntsman 2, Bareback by Amber Green (fantasy/thriller) (buy) (reviewed at UP)

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Jaime Samms chose (in no particular order)

1. At Swim, Two Boys by Jaime O’Neil (buy) (reviewed at UP)
An older title, but one well worth the read, even with the not-so-happy-ending

2. Tom and Sean by Ann Somerville (read) (reviewed at UP)
Because my list wouldn’t be complete without PWP, and this is the best one I’ve read in a long time.

3. Regularly Scheduled Life by K.A. Mitchell (buy) (reviewed at UP)
It’s just a good, well-crafted, well-rounded story.

4. Twisted Brand by Clare London (buy) (reviewed by Jaime)
The love stories were my brand of angsty. I thought the world building was fantastic (and it was better than the first book)

5. Nikolai by Angelia Sparrow (buy) (reviewed at UP) (reviewed by Jaime)
I just liked the MC, his mouthiness, his spunk. And, you know, it was fascinating how she got all that sex in there.

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Ann Somerville chose (in order of greatness)
1. Mahape a ale Wala’au by Paul G. Bens (buy) (reviewed at UP)
(10/10).This is the first piece of erotica I’ve ever read by a gay male author that spoke to me as a woman. It’s an exquisite piece, perfect in every way.

2. Almost like being in Love by Steve Kluger (buy) (reviewed at UP)
(10/10). Hysterically funny, deeply moving, what you would want every romance you read to be like.

3. Collision Course by K A Mitchell (buy) (reviewed at UP)
(10/10). Hot, funny, involving, fantastically well-written. I would eat this author’s brains if it would help me write this well.

4. Bad Case of Loving You by Laney Cairo (buy) (reviewed at UP)
(9.5/10). Awful title, fabulous story. Funny, warm, sad, humane.

5. Whistling in the Dark by Tamara Allen (buy) (reviewed at UP)
(9.5/10).One of the truly pleasurable discoveries of 2008 and of all time. If she never writes anything else, Ms Allen deserves to be in the M/m Hall of Fame for this beautiful novel.

Honorable Mentions
Hart and Soul by Nica Berry (reviewed at UP)
Erotic, imaginative, and deeply satisfying

Maloney’s Law by Anne Brooke (reviewed at UP)
Broke my heart and made me want to hug the narrator. Gorgeous

Servants of the Seasons series by Lee Benoit (reviewed at UP)
A work of great imagination, with vivid and memorable characters.

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Lydia Thorne has had a very busy year – getting her PhD, changing jobs, changing states and homes – so she hasn’t read much m/m this year. So this is her best of all time pick, rather than just for 2008.

1. Mind Fuck by Manna Francis (buy) (reviewed at UP)
If I were being completely honest here, I’d probably just pick my five favorite stories from Francis’ Administration Series and call it a day. That would not be particularly interesting, however, so I’ll limit myself to the wonderful story that started it all. Toreth and Warrick are wonderfully rich and vivid characters and the sparring nature of their relationship is brilliant. The murder mystery component of the story is gripping, the sex is kinky-hot, and the dystopian setting is pitch-perfect. One of the first original slash stories I ever read, Mind Fuck has become my polestar for good m/m fiction.

2. The God Eaters by Jesse Hajicek (buy) (reviewed at UP)
Another oldie but goodie, The God Eaters is just rip-roaring fun and a real page turner. Again, the lead characters are nicely fleshed out and Hajicek does a good job of making the traditional bad boy/good boy pairing feel fresh. Hajicek also does a nice job of introducing classic fantasy elements to an Old West setting in a way that also feels fresh and original. Part prison story, part chase story, and all wrapped up in a slowly building romance that’s sweet but not cloying, The God Eaters is the sort of story that appeals to all sorts of readers.

3. Bloodraven by P. L. Nunn (buy) (reviewed at UP)
Pam Nunn’s fiction is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Her writing isn’t always the cleanest or most correct, but damn does the woman know how to tell a story that’ll keep glued to the screen and squirming. Nunn has this great ability to make me discover kinks I never even knew I had, taking something I would never have guessed could seem sexy and just make it scorching hot with her inspired combination of sex and violence. Who else could make ogres sexy? Sometimes Bloodraven goes perhaps a bit too far with its graphic depictions of torture and destruction, but the fact that Nunn writes so vividly that she can get a genuine reaction out of a jaded reader like me just shows she has a gift for bringing the pain.

4. Pride by Remy (read)
Yet another story that’s been available online for years, this first story in Remy’s powerful Northern Corporate Dominion series is the rare m/m read that really stuck with me long after my first reading, making me ask myself difficult questions and really think. It takes place in an alternate universe where slavery is a fundamental backbone of society. Lukas, a slave since boyhood, meets Jens, a young man only recently enslaved, in a prison-like depot while awaiting sale and reassignment. Although unflinchingly brutal in its portrayal of slavery, the core friendship and romance between Lukas and Jens is a bright thread of humanity that ties the piece together. Lukas is an intriguing, pragmatic point of view character whose inherent strength and decency uplift this punishing story.

5. First Against the Wall by Manna Francis (read)
Okay, I said I’d only pick one from Francis, but FATW is too good to go unmentioned. I sincerely hope Casperian sticks with Francis all the way in The Administration series to this installment, because I’m dying to have it in print. All of The Adminstration is superb, but FATW is really the payoff that comes from so many thousands of words spent getting to know Toreth and Warrick and the complex games that define their relationship. Although the word “love” never actually gets used, this is really one of the most swooningly sweeping love stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.