The book you are holding is exceptional. Many of the writers here you would not ordinarily find between the same covers. Some are at home with literary fiction, or the field of horror and dark fantasy; some usually write high fantasy adventure or science fiction or academic books. Some you find in works of poetry, or in gay glossies with covers featuring muscular young men wearing hard hats and little else. What has brought them together is the fascinating scope of gay male fantasy.

The question most frequently asked was; "What exactly do you mean by 'dark fantasy'?" It's a nebulous term, I admit, but very useful for getting across the other-world, over-the-top quality of certain kinds of sexual turn-ons. For some, however, the term 'dark fantasy' was elusive. John Preston was confused as to why he was being invited. "I'm pretty down to earth," he said on the phone. "Basically I'm just a take-'em-to-the-basement-and-make- 'em-cry kinda guy." Exactly. Major fantasy stuff, and dark, as in the dark side of the mind. This isn't a book about life styles. It's a door to all the half-acknowledged dreams and beckoning desires we've only allowed ourselves to think about in secret. It's a box of bizarre and titillating dreams. A place to take fetish one step beyond.

So, go ahead. Strip down. Open the lid....

Caro Soles, Toronto 1993