Masters Of Midnight (edition 2003)

In the first story, by William J Mann and entitled His Hunger, Jeremy’s investigations take him to the mysterious recluse Bartholomew Craven. When he eventually locates Bartholomew’s weird house he finds himself held prisoner, and subject to strange erotic dreams involving handsome men, and at the mercy of Bartholomew.

Michael Thomas Ford’s Sting is a captivating mystery. Ben Hodge, leaving behind him the tragedy of his lover’s death, has just moved to Downing where he is the new librarian. It is not long before he learns of mysterious killings that have occurred in the town’s history and continue today. His interest in these killings and the mysterious Titus Durham could be very dangerous; or could it just prove to be the chance of a new life for him.

In the third story Bradon’s Bite by Sean Wolfe, we encounter father and son vampires. Bradon lives with his over protective vampire father Victor, but Bradon is half vampire and half human, his mother being human, although she supposedly died giving birth to him. All goes well even if Bradon is reluctant to take his blood until he comes of age and has to hunt for himself. This causes problems which result in Bradon seeking his own friends which in turn leads to the realisation that he is gay, but also to disaster on his first gay date. When his father learns Bradon’ inclinations their relationship goes from bad to worse; but maybe Bradon has a solution, and maybe there are options that he is not aware of yet, and maybe there is someone he can love safely. The story starts of unremarkably yet quite charmingly with Victor trying to raise his five year old son, but gradually becomes more involving as the plot develops towards its satisfying conclusion. This interesting story is however let down a little by the at times rather stilted dialogue.

The final story, Devoured by Jeff Mann, Derek McClaine loses his lover Angus in1730 in a homophobic attack which he himself survived, then to become a vampire. Now in the present day he has found a lover who just might replace Angus, but when his new lover is similarly in jeopardy Derek is determined there will be no repeat of the fatal events of 1730. This well paced and interesting story provides occasional glimpses of Derek’s life while following the present day events.

The four fairly substantial stories make for a varied and interesting collection of erotic vampire themed tales. ( )