This a great book that covers the growing area of biomineralization. The concepts and the processes of biomineralization are well explained. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about biomineralization.

Read this book for what it is, and you'll enjoy it very much. This is not meant to be a literary masterpiece. That much should be clear from the subtitle of the book: "Erotic Tales of the Vampire". Don't expect an all new and brilliant monster epic, and you'll like this book.

I want to praise the publisher for mixing two well-known names (William J Mann and Micheal Thomas Ford) with two names I am not familiar with (Sean Wolfe and Jeff Mann). The diversity of the stories and writing styles are fresh and keep the reader engaged. Much better than reading a long book with one style from one author.

The two Manns (William J and Jeff) have a similar style. Both of those stories, though decent, are my least favorite. They seem to try to be more than what they are. A little superficial for my taste, but not badly written.

I like Sean Wolfe's story very much. It doesn't take itself too seriously, and is comfortable being a short entertainment piece. It doesn't try to be more than what it is. I was entertained and appreciate the "humanness" that the story brings to erotic vampirism. It is both erotic and interesting. Though I haven't heard of Wolfe before, I'm sure we'll hear more from him in the future.

It is Ford, though, who is the star of this book, and a good reason for naming him as the main author. Most of us are familiar with his non-fiction material, which has won several Lambda Literary awards. His fiction writing here is no less brilliant. Ford's talent for putting the reader in the middle of the story and for character description are perfect. I love his story, and look forward to more fiction from Ford in the future.

If you're a fan of vampire fiction at all, you'd be crazy not to get this book. The variety of stories and writing style is fresh and refreshing. The writing is good. It is both erotic and frighteningly engaging. A must have for serious fans of horror, and especially vampire fiction!

MASTERS OF MIDNIGHT contains four novellas in which vampires play a prominent and erotically gay role. The authors have different visions of vampires leading to highly original and entertaining tales.

"His Hunger" by William J. Mann. Thirty years ago in Cravensport, Maine murders and disappearances occurred with no explanation. Jeremy thinks the story will make a good human-interest piece, but he also has a personal stake in the story as one of the vanished was his father. However, he is in peril after visiting Bartholomew, a vampire who plans to enslave Jeremy and convert the writer's lover.

"Sting" by Michael Thomas Forge. Following the suicide of his lover, Ben becomes head librarian in Downing, Arkansas. He sees customer Titus put his hands into beehives. When the two men become lovers, Titus explains that he is a vampire and the bee venom prevents his blood craving. Titus feels strongly about stopping his kind who kills innocent children.

"Brandon's Bite" by Sean Wolfe. His father was a vampire while his mother was mortal. His father taught him how to survive as a vampire. As an adult Brandon discovered he was gay so his father disowned him. Brandon can choose any victim he wants but fears love because he believes he cannot control his urge for blood.

"Devoured" by Jeff Marin. Three centuries ago two Scottish lords shared a secret passion for one another. When they were caught, Angus was killed but Derek was changed into a vampire. He avenged his friend's death before immigrating to West Virginia. Now an affluent businessman, he finally has a chance to love again but must first take care of Matthew's homophobic enemies.

Harriet Klausner

Unlike a previous reviewer, I AM a fan of gay vampire fiction, and of gay horror in general. I picked this book up because I'd read some of the authors' previous work in books like QUEER FEAR I and II, SONS OF DARKNESS, and BROTHERS OF THE NIGHT (all edited by Michael Rowe, in case you want to look them up). So how does this collection stack up? William J. Mann's contribution is an obvious ode to the glorious old cult supernatural soap opera, DARK SHADOWS, and if you read it that way it's a lot of fun. Sean Wolfe and Jeff Mann are new names to me, and although Wolfe's story didn't grab me, I really liked the second Mr. Mann's ability to bring out the most in his setting. But I have to say, it was Michael Thomas Ford's "Sting" that kept me up way past midnight. I saved it for last, because it sounded the most interesting, and was it ever. This novella is totally unique, not just in gay horror but in ALL horror. His writing is gorgeous, and the imagery he creates is both beautiful and terrifying. I defy anyone to read his descriptions of the Death Puppet and be able to sleep with the lights on. I, too, would love to see this story made into a film, especially if George Clooney plays Ben!

As far as beach reading goes, this book is the ultimate beach read. I would have loved to have had this book around 15 years ago when I needed it. Now, I just see it as 4 paint by the number stories that portray gay life as shallow, unsatisying and sadly hollow. Many of these stories end up with the same plot twists (which any astute reader can see coming a mile away)and cookie cutter characters who seem to think only of sex, liquor and men (not always in that order.) The worst offender is Ben Tyler, who wraps up the collection. Tyler has a lot to learn about writing, with his junior high-level style writing and jaw droppingly bad similes. The other three stories fare a bit better ... but not much. Characters fall in love in minutes, hearts are broken, men are cast aside like Kleenex, and the reader is supposed to think "Oh, what romance!" The two middle stories, "A Perfect Husband" and "The Outline of a Torso" fare somewhat better since the writing style is a bit more professional, but the stories themselves are a bit weak and suffer, as the other two stories do, from protagonists who are so self involved and shallow that they left me cold.

This leads to the question as to why I bothered to even give it 2 and a half stars? The reason being is that while this book is not something I liked or go for, why CAN'T we have such books? After being fed a steady diet of similar stories in our lifetime from a heterosexual point of view, the gay community should also have a variety of nice, frothy reads, even if I realized I don't like this style book. As I said, had this book been around 15 years ago when i needed it, I'd have loved it. No doubt there are guys out there who need this book now ... and it's important that it's here, whether I like it or not.

4 simple stories of finding and rediscovering love, gay-style... I find that in 3 of them, they fall in love way too fast and the resolutions are way too pat and too perky. BUt who wants to read a party-pooper of a book in the bright, sunny days of summer anyway. But they are all charming in their own way.

But I gave this book 5 stars just because of 1 story - Andy Schell's The Outline of a Torso. It is light, unassuming and sweet at the start but suddenly, you willingly allow yourself to get swept up in the story in order to discover the tangled relationship between Rusty and Ethan. Schell sets up situations and uses other supporting characters to pave that way for a happy ending, but he does it so cleverly that I wished that he could have turned this short story into a novel. I would have loved to delve deeper into this rediscovery of first love.

I didn't know what to expect when I purchased Summer Share. The only reason I bought the book was because I wanted to read more gay authors and figured that I could hit 4 birds with one stone. It was the ultimate surprise!

I immediately became engulfed in the worlds that each author created. In this world, true love was paramount and although each protagonist had his share of heartbreaks, each man never gave up hope that one day they would find what they were searching for.

I would recommend this work to anyone, and will probably make my friends read it. If you enjoy reading love stories or are weary of every falling inlove again, this is the book for you! It will change your perspectives and give you hope!

A woman 107 years old, slowly reveals that she is the original Biograph Girl to a writer who is looking to create a free lance article on aging. Richard Murphy discovers the story of his life. As others become involved in this project, inclujding his twin brother, Ben, who is looking for a cinematic project after a dearth of ten years from his only success. Florence Bridgewood becomes Florence Lawrence. Asa she changes, Flo begins to understand the process of her life. Richard and Ben revisit their rivalry, their love lives, successes and defeats. Ultimately they discover what Flo sees - everything is where it is supposed to be.

Mann's style involves interspersing chapters of Flo's narrative of her life to Richard and Ben with chapters from the present. This demonstrates many similarities of the early period of film making with the contemporary. This style also helps create characters as foils from one period to another.

Flo's life is intriguing, albeit sometimes contrived as the McKinley chapter appears. But one is able to see through Mann's writing how Bridgewood becomes Lawrence who becomes Bridgewood again. These metamorphoses help all main characters understand how change can be developmental or harmful. Ultimately the reader can judge whether what could have been.

Florence Lawrence, the world's first movie star. Never heard of her? Well, neither had I, as a amateur film buff, until I picked up William Mann's delightful, compelling book, "The Biograph Girl".

In this entertaining story, he weaves fact and fiction together flawlessly, creating a wonderful "what if" scenario that is very realistic. What if Florence Lawrence didn't die after ingesting ant paste, but lived out an entirely new life under another name, only to resurface as a fiesty 106 year old?

The older Flo is dynamic, witty, and easy to love. She is both honest and coy, a great character to drive the plot but also maintains her air of mystery throughout the story.

All of the supporting characters in the story are wonderfully drawn, have complete lives of their own, and are all consumed by this lady and her story. Mann steers away from stereotyping characters, for example Sister Jean, who is Flo's caregiver, could have been saintly and pristine. Instead, Mann makes her worldwise, and harbors a secret past. Richard's ex-porn star boyfriend is part of a committed relationship. Anita is an aspiring actress who holds her career back for love. Mann avoids the obvious, which is delightfully refreshing.

This book is a very easy read, and one that you won't want to put down. In fact, I hope this book propels people to start looking at the early history of film once again, not as an archaic dinosaur, but as a living, thriving, and very real entity as symbolized by the lovely Flo.

I heartily recommend this book!

If one is fond of stories about old Hollywood, or murder mysteries, or simply want a days EXCELLENT entertainment this is the book for you. It tells the fictionalized story of Florence Lawrence, the first movie star. She is 106 years old and discovered by a journalist who, after some good investigating, finds out she is the long 'dead' star who died of eating ant paste in the 30's.

I have to say I read this 457 page book non-stop over one lovely Sunday and it kept me from glancing up at the Tv, or any of a number of disctractions...it was wonderful and magical and a thrill to read. I recommended it to anyone--young, old, interested in history or just simply needing a day or twos entertainment!

After reading (mostly) glowing reviews, I decided to give this book a try, despite the tired subject matter cited in the cover blurb. The fluid writing kept me expecting more than the book actually delivered. Gay ghettos, open relationships, youth-obsessed culture... Anyone who's ever picked up a single issue of Genre or Out knows enough about these subjects to have written this novel. The language and the structure are stong, but not strong enough to carry the thin plot, wherein the protagonist mostly laments the fact that he can't have a deeply satisfying relationship with every beautiful man he meets. Supporting characters, most of whom spend time finding and discussing what "paths" they should follow, don't do any more growing than the main character.

This lack of character growth was my main problem with the novel. The characters rehash every conversation that has been part of the urban gay forum for the last ten years, but only from the perspective of people who are in the urban gay life. That the (exclusively sex-driven) culture of the novel is the only possible culture is taken for granted by all characters, thereby removing any real tension between opposing viewpoints. When an open relationship between the protagonist and his primary partner begins to lack "passion" for the partner, the question of whether opening the relationship is part of its downfall is never seriously considered. Similary, the problem of youth-obsession is solved through anonymous sexual encounters at roadside rest stops, where the protagonist is still made to feel young. Less "sophisticated" - but equally valid - views such as monogamy never provide a contrast for the characters to make compelling arguments for their current, unfulfilling lifestyles.

One minor character, introduced near the end as a sort of "voce ex machina," has had what he feels is a full life and beautiful relationship, but is introduced so artificially, and briefly, that it doesn't have much impact beyond distraction. And in the end, distraction - from one man to the next, from one self-imposed dramatic episode to the next, is all these characters seem to desire or achieve. They don't need to find all the answers, but the story itself should ask more questions.

The writing is promising enough that I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another book by Mann, if the novel had more perspective than the characters.

At a time in my life when I was thirsty for gay culture, gay films, and especially gay novels, I encountered The Men From the Boys.

While not my favorite gay-themed novel, it is one of the better ones that I have read.... . It is hard to find an average, every day gay novel to read at times, about an average, everyday gay man in average, everyday circumstances.

But while yearning for just such a find, in reading this novel, I found so many extraordinary features to gay life that perhaps had never dawned upon me before. Jeff, the central character of the novel, is in his thirties, as I am now. And, true to the description the author applies to this time of life for gay men, he is 'gay middle-aged.' It struck me as horribly realistic that the author would describe the character as such, middle-aged, amidst a youth-obsessed culture. But, like it or not, it is the truth. And William Mann, the novelist, captures this in the pages of this book.

The story centers on the past and present relationship of Jeff and Lloyd, his lover of several years, as well as Javitz, a former lover, stricken with AIDS. While at times I felt as though Javitz was thrown in as 'comic relief' to the severity of the novel in the disintegration of Jeff and Lloyd's relationship, feeling that there is no longer any passion left, Javitz is utterly recognizable in gay culture and society. Every city has a Javitz, the jaded, bitter, but unwaveringly, hysterically funny friend. Javitz's AIDS affliction is not a major plot point, but very poingantly portrayed in the novel.

This book is about so many different things, it is hard to list them all. The obsession of gay men with youth and beauty, the horrors of AIDS, the fickle nature of gay relationships, and the lack of determination to work out problems when they arise, the bitter, vengeful nature of many gay men, and the occasional loneliness of gay life, just like any other lifestyle. Although not the best gay novel I have ever read, this is one of my favorites.

I read this book after recently ending a 10-year relationship, and I thought it was absolutely true to reality and my feelings. It's the story of a gay couple's 7-year itch, the meaning of passion when sexual desire cools, life and love in the era of AIDS, and the effects of change on your life. I heartily recommend this book and am waiting anxiously for Mann's next.

If you are looking for a real novel with interesting characters, I'd look elsewhere. I found "Where the Boys Are" incredibly predictable and cliche-ridden. The answer to the central mystery is too clearly telegraphed early on in the book, and it just gets worse towards the end. The protagonist must have done a LOT of X and K to not have come to the obvious and clumsy answer before the very end of the novel.

If you are looking for a mindless read that you can zip through in one day on the beach, this book is OK. If you want a real novel, try something by Alan Hollinghurst or Mark Merlis. They can write creative fiction that gives you something to chew on... somehting a bit more substantial than the dialog of "Queer as Folk".

Boy,this one was tough. I LOVED The Men from the Boys; it is one of my favorite newer gay novels, so I was very excited about this. But, I have very mixed feelings here.

Pros: Mann makes some wonderful observations about the gay lifestyle in relation to AIDS in this era, the self destructiveness of certain behavior, etc. But that's about it.

Cons: 1) Wow. There is a "mystery" that runs almost to the very last page of the novel. A mystery that any reader will solve a few pages into the setup. I mean it is ridiculous to believe that ANY gay man wouldn't have thought out the angle to that story - never mind a character who is an educated, writer. It becomes REALLY torturous as we keep waiting for him to figure it out.
2) The other main character has become almost too new-agey spritual. To the point where some dialogue is really annoying and makes you almost cringe. 3) Eva. Hello? Really - yeah, we'd all put up with that. 4) I guess these two great characters now just seem ... dumb.

Flip side: if you haven't read the first book, it does have it's fun moments and some good social observations. But as a sequel it is a letdown. It's like Mann wanted to write a sequel but didn't have a real story so he concocted this strange platform for the boys return.

Wow, I just finished Where the Boys Are and I have to say that it is a touching novel in so many ways. More than the plotline of the book, this is a story about relationships, love, friendships, and families. There are so many things within the story that I can relate to my own life. It's full of insightfulness to life and love, and makes the reader understand that relationships are complex, not cut neatly from the same cloth.

I took great comfort in the fact that I could see myself in many of the characters (except the psychotic Eva and all-too innocent Anthony). I think most readers will be able to relate to these characters. It's refreshing to read a novel where life is does not always go the way we want it to, that there are not always happy endings, building and staying in relationships can be a struggle, and that life is unpredictable...that we have to take what we get. As Lloyd says in the book..."If it's meant to be, it will happen."

I found the book both intriguing and comforting. It's one of those rare novels that I hated to see end because I loved being a part of these character's lives. It's also a book that I find I keep going back to and re-reading certain things because they touched my heart and soul. In so many ways, this book makes me realize that we all have struggles in life to combat, and that we have to face them and be strong...and maybe we'll come away a little wiser in the process.

Thanks for the great read. I'm sure I'll keep this book to re-read again in the future. I highly recommend it to anyone who's experienced any of the gay circuit culture. Finally, a realistic representation of a gay culture (and the fact that this is only a small part of these character's lives) that so many are quick criticize without understanding the positive side of finally belonging to a group/tribe.

I believe that I have read all of William J. Mann's published works and really enjoyed them. So it was with great expectation that I approached his new work "Behind the Screen". Sadly, I left the book disappointed and somewhat confused.

Mann's attempt to write a comprehensive history of gay Hollywood was admirable, but somehow, he's gotten in the way of his own work. One of my problems with the book is the way in which it was written. As you read any biography, there is a risk of proposing too many names for the reader to handle. Right in the first chapter, as he explains early gay stars, we are innundated with so many names that it is virtually impossible to keep track of anyone after awhile. Talking about people is very important to a biography, but when the reader has little to no knowledge or connection with the names, they merely blend together in a confusing mass of lexiographic confusion. I'd hope it would improve, but sadly, found each successive page more frustating than the last, and I failed to get through chapter three.

However, I found a somewhat easier way to read the book. I began looking up celebrities I wanted info on, and just reading those sections. He still manages to litter each page with an abundance of names, but because you may know the celebrity, there is something more to hook into.

Mann has an ability to write books that are amazing. Just read "Wisecracker" and "The Biograph Girl", both which celebrate early morning lore. Maybe he should try to concentrate on writing more about individual celebrities than a sweeping work that leaves us confused and frustrated.

With a very educated writing style based on much research, Mann has presented a profoundly interesting history of gays in Hollywood. I couldn't put this book down. The details are vastly interesting. E.g., I didn't know that gays were accepted in movies and expected to appear in them from the beginning of theie appearance in movie theaters until the depression hit and the immoral right (the Catholoic church and the federal censors) pounced on Hollywood in the early 30s and used gays as a scapegoat, as did Hitler the Jews later in WWII. There are innumerable cultural, societal, and political details herein, making this a great read. An additionally wonderful read is his previous book on gay actor William Haines, also an outstanding tome.

If Neal Gabler's "An Empire of Their Own" dealt with "How the Jews Invented Hollywood," then William Mann's "Behind the Screen" could be also be called "How Gays and Lesbians made Hollywood!" Mann's book is a serious chronological of the golden age and the people who created it; they just happened to be gay. A very informative book, research extensive, it covers new territory with wit and style dealing with something new in Hollywood history; it is an excellent read. Mann's interviews are astute with survivors of this golden age, a history of a Hollywood movie gay life, that was both creative and glamorous, never to be seen again. It covers the totality of a gay experience in studio era Hollywood and Mann has captured the influence of these men and women behind the screen. Not just movie stars, the book deals with gay directors, that reads like a who's who of Hollywood's creative best, along with the gay set and costume designers who gave Hollywood a look and influenced the taste of the entire world. The material is rich and covers gay producers, character actors, writers, cameramen, agents, executives, etc. It is all enthralling and provides a long needed important volume in Hollywood history. It also chronicles gays who played a part in union organizations, at a time when the studio bosses only concern was profit and greed, along with mentioning their meritorious service during World War II. It makes such contemporary military follies as "don't ask, don't tell," an insult to the memory of these valliant Americans. It is greatly recommended to anyone interested in the movies and how people with great taste and style, something so lacking today, influenced an entire period of our culture.

After hearing William Mann describing his book on NPR, I was surprisingly disappointed by Wisecracker. Mann is to be lauded for his thorough research and conscientiousness in presenting all plausibilities and possibilities in documenting the life of gay movie star turned interior designer Billy Haines. In the end, however, I was left feeling rather unsatisfied and regretting my investment of time in reading 464 pages. For me, the factual meat of the story could have been condensed into a two-part Vanity Fair article that would also have allowed for a splashier and more illustrative use of photographs. For instance, if the Jack Warner estate was arguably Haines' greatest work why not show interior photographs? Documented evidence of Haines' efforts would have allowed the reader to make up his own mind rather than being left with the implied and ironic assessment that openly gay movie mogul David Geffen engaged in a form of desecration through the total renovation of the estate that now belongs to him.

Billy Haines was a real-life antithesis to Norma Desmond. His career and life were much more successful and fulfilling after he left pictures. He was admirable for living an openly gay life at a time when such a lifestyle was rare and took courage. His story is worth telling and knowing, but to fill almost 500 pages, a fictionalized biographical approach, in the manner of Dominick Dunne or Gore Vidal, would have allowed Mann to be less scholarly and more evocative. Mann is a respected author of fiction. The story could have been a far juicier and enjoyable read but Mann would have had to have loosened his tether to documented fact. The book Mann wrote is commendable, but I believe there is a better book that could have been written.

William Mann gives us quite a gift in his book "Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star". He paints for us a picture of Hollywood in its hey-day, and in the aftermath of scandal. He allows us insight into the fascinating world of silent films. But mostly, he gives us a long forgotten but much endearing star, Billy Haines.

Prior to reading this book,I knew nothing about Billy Haines and his remarkable career, and I am somewhat of a movie buff. Billy once was an MGM top star, and the #1 Movie Star in 1928, only to give it all away for love. He went on to become one of Hollywood's most respected interior decorators, styling the homes of many stars and even an occasional conservative politician! What makes Billy full of class is not his brief but glorious movie career, but his attitude towards his life and love.

Through Mann's extraordinary research, thorough examination of sources, and testimonials, he brings to us the life of an incredible person. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enojys biographies, or life stories!

I got much more out of this biography than I expected. I wanted to learn more about Billy Haines, and his struggle to be openly gay in Hollywood, and about his long marriage to Jimmie Shields. But, what I learned was how alot of people in Hollywood were gay, and openly so, but then became closeted later. Stars I never knew were gay, Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert and many others. The book was fascinating. Lots of gossip, Hollywood stories, movie star information, but more than all that its a book about the amazing life of Billy Haines, and more than 50 year love affair with his companion Jimmie Shields. The book was well researched and never really left me wanting more. I recommend this book as a source for Hollywood lovers, and for gay men and women. A story all would enjoy, and a life worth reading about.

"Grave Passions" could have been better -- much better. Though the collected short stories of horror and suspense all do have a decidedly LBG cast to them, they all seem to have been wearily written by the contributing authors, some of whom are personal favorites of mine. Writers who can captivate with the imagery of their description, like porn star/writer/publisher Scott O'Hara and author Felice Picano, are really only just going through the motions of trying to scare the reader. For those looking for something scary to read in bed, you'd do better to cross over to the "straight" side and read all of the "Hot Blood" erotic horror anthologies that continue to be published -- and continue to be successful. "Grave Passions" is lacking that spark of magic that "Hot Blood" appears to have -- so much so, it can't even claw its way out of a dull and dreary grave if its (un)life depended on it