If
you enjoy these writings . . . Many of the writings at this domain
are available free. If you like them, you are welcome to make
a donation, buy an e-book
or two, or tell other
readers about these writings.
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FICTION
¶ Where to start: Browse
all fiction series | New stories | Upcoming
fiction |
Search for stories by tag (keyword)
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Site map.
¶ Turn-of-the-Century Toughs (historical
fantasy and science fiction): The
Eternal Dungeon | Life Prison
| Commando | Michael's
House |
Waterman.
¶ The Three Lands (fantasy): The
Three Lands.
¶ Sweet Suffering (fantasy, historical
fantasy, and science fiction): Princeling
| Darkling Plain |
Master/Other.
¶ Whisper of Secrets (mystery
novels and contemporary fiction): Hidden
News | Unmasked.
¶ Main Street Leather (contemporary
love stories and satire): Loren's
Lashes | Leathermen,
Fan Fiction Writers, and Other Rebels | Leather
in Lawnville.
EVERYTHING ELSE
¶ Nonfiction: Articles
| Online nonfiction.
¶ Join the conversation:
Blog
| List | Social
networks | Shared universes: Works
set in Dusk Peterson's worlds by other authors and artists.
¶ Information: Love
in Dark Settings Press FAQ | About the author
| Booktrailer videos | Copyright
| Contact the author.
Dusk Peterson writes fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary fiction. Suspense plays an important role in many of the tales; the conflict in those tales is both external and internal. Peterson's stories are often placed in dark settings, such as prisons or wartime locations. The mood of the stories, however, is not one of unrelieved gloominess: friendship, heterosexual romance, gay love, and faithful service are recurring themes.
If
you enjoy these writings . . . Many of the writings at this domain
are available free. If you like them, you are welcome to make
a donation, buy an e-book
or two, or tell other
readers about these writings.
A 2011 holiday gift story for Dusk Peterson's readers.
ExcerptShe released him and twirled in a circle. "Wednesday! Beautiful Wednesday!"
"Better than Fridays or Saturdays?" He paused to remove and light a hand-rolled object that he had taken from a magenta box that was brightly labelled "JOINTS." A professor, passing by, did not so much as break stride.
"Much better. It's my date day with you." She boosted herself up onto the wall of the bridge over the campus pond and stood on its top, posing on tiptoe like a girl in a musical.
"God, you must be hard up for boyfriends." He leaped up beside her and took her in his arms.
"After the last one?" She rolled her eyes. "Lend me one, will you?"
"Sorry, you're not their type." He released her, jumped down, and offered her his hand in a svelte manner. With mincing stride, she climbed down, doing her best to look like the girl in the musical. He eyed her as she reached the ground. "You did that well."
"Oh, God, no, not here . . ."
But it was too late; Gary proceeded to leap back onto the wall. He proclaimed to the world in a shout: "I am seeking the man of my dreams!" Then he carefully climbed down. Mincing.
¶ Available as online fiction: Plus Love.
To
receive notice of e-book publications and free fiction, subscribe to Dusk
Peterson's e-mail list or
blog.
A cycle of historical fantasy series by Dusk Peterson about disreputable men on the margins of society, and the men and women who love them. The novels are set in an imaginary version of Maryland and other Mid-Atlantic states between the 1880s and 1910s. One of the series in the cycle, Waterman, combines elements of the 1910s with retrofuturistic imagery from the 1960s.
The cycle: The Eternal Dungeon
| Life Prison | Commando
| Michael's House | Waterman.
The
Eternal DungeonThe Eternal Dungeon is a historical fantasy series set in a land where the psychologists wield whips.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ The
Eternal Dungeon genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ The Eternal Dungeon e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
Honored in the Rainbow Awards 2011 in three categories, including winning one of the two Best Fantasy categories.
"A deeply moving philosophical work . . . The characterization is very
good and even bold, and the world building, while narrow, is solid and
hints at a vast and real world that exist beyond the confines of the story.
The overarching plot development is excellent, and is an extensive metaphor
for the major themes of the book. The writing is eminently readable, and
the author's decision to intersperse in-story historical analysis alongside
the events taking place works beautifully." One of the Rainbow Awards
judges.
REVIEWS
"The reader is immersed seamlessly into another world filled with lush characters. The world building is intricately woven into the narrative, creating the framework of politics, religion, and culture that gives the story substance and the characters background." Five-star review by Caethes Faron at Amazon.
"I've read The Eternal Dungeon twice, and both times, I finished with the feeling of having left a real world behind. It draws the reader from story to story, leading you on with deeper insights into its characters, and plot twists that take you completely by surprise." Five-star review by Catana at Amazon.
"[The] omnibus was really a tour de force, but one that was worthy to be taken. With almost 1000 pages, it's actually 4 books in one, and even 1, at almost 250 pages each, is for any 'modern' standard (of fast reading) a long book." Five-star review by Elisa Rolle at Amazon.
"If you fear reading [these stories] because the physical manifestation of torture doesn't appeal, you'll miss a truly great read. The Eternal Dungeon is in essence the story of psychology. It's a story about the mind, not the body. It's a story about madness and sanity. It's the story about love given unreservedly to one who feels undeserving of that love. It's a story about sacrifice on every level." Five-star review of the first novel in the omnibus, by A. B. Gayle at Goodreads.
"You've taken some incredibly deep themes, psychologically and emotionally
speaking, and woven them into characters that, by all accounts, the reader
should have no sympathy for. [They] are not characters I would have ever
expected to find myself empathizing with but before I knew it, I found
myself wrapped up in [The Eternal Dungeon's characters], and their
struggles to become more than what nature made them. You deserve a great
deal of kudos for that alone and then you topped it off by setting them
in well-thought-out, detailed worlds that left me enthralled. The entire
'Eternal Dungeon' premise and its connections to psychiatry is, by itself,
incredibly intriguing I've found myself pondering the intricacies of
that
connection for hours, and coming up with new ideas each time." Hope
of Dawn in a letter to the author.
Life
PrisonLife Prison is a historical fantasy series about male desire and determination in Victorian prisons.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Life Prison
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Life Prison e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"Combining a historical background similar to that of Victorian England with a skilled perspective into the nature of human relations and a wide range of characterization, 'Life Prison' is a real page-turner . . . This is a story and an author not to be missed." Five-star review of the first story in the series, by Frost's Fancy at Rainbow Reviews.
"Written in the first person, Life Prison is a dark, eloquent, and absorbing psychological tale that delves into the mind of a killer who, perhaps incongruously, manages to evolve into a sympathetic character in spite of the horror of his crime." Five-star review of the first story in the series, by Lisa at Goodreads.
"[Outside the prison, Merrick] would be a criminal, a reject of the
society; inside he is a man." Five-star
review (with major spoilers) of the first story in the series, by Elisa
Rolle at Amazon.
Commando is a historical fantasy series that imagines what the South African Boer War could have been like if it had been fought on American soil.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Commando
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Commando upcoming fiction.
Michael's
HouseMichael's House is a historical fantasy series set in a Progressive Era slum.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Michael's
House genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Michael's House e-books and series resources.
"The relationship between . . . Michael and Janus is one of those unforgettable pairings that will live with the reader long after they finish the story." Five-star review by A. B. Gayle at Goodreads.
"Tease away the outer layers [of the story], and a whole fascinating world of triumph over tragedy emerges." Four-star review of the first novella in the e-book, by British Bull Dog at Rainbow Reviews.
"'Delicate' may seem like an odd word to use for such a story, but it's
written with a delicacy that reveals the humanity of its characters rather
than exploiting them. Whipster is a deeply moving story about survival
in the underbelly of a culture that despises the people it uses and casts
them off like so much garbage." Five-star
review by Catana at Goodreads.
WatermanWaterman is a historical fantasy series and retrofuture series inspired by the Chesapeake Bay oyster wars, boarding school rivalries in the 1910s, and 1960s visions of things to come.
The series is part of the Turn-of-the-Century
Toughs cycle. ¶ Waterman
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Waterman e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"What I love of Dusk Peterson's stories is that they are all fantasy . . . with deep roots in real history. While reading one of his books, whatever the historical period he picked and reinvented, you have the feeling [of being] plunged in a true historical novel, sometime even more an historical essay than a romance, but in the end, Dusk Peterson manages also to give you the romance, and odd as it sounds, most of the time his romances are among the most romantic I have ever read. Why odd? Since I think I have never heard Dusk Peterson associated with the romance world; so here is my suggestion to all the romance readers: go and pick one of Dusk Peterson's [e-books], this one in particular is a good pick, and give him a try, I'm sure you will not be disappointed." Five-star review by Elisa Rolle at Amazon.
"The underlying theme of the stories is inherited power relationships, the effect on individuals of being unable to fit into the established hierarchies, and the wisdom of learning from those below you." Four-star review by Catana at Goodreads.
"Finally someone who is good at writing stories which appeal to my quirky
intellectual mind and deliver the goods (so to speak). Extremely satisfying."
Anne Blue, publisher of Kanallje Press.
The
Three LandsThe Three Lands is a fantasy series on friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace.
¶ The Three Lands genre/theme
tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ The Three Lands e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"I find the characterisations so sharply delicious, dark and shocking and yet engaging. . . . I like to savour each part." Clare London, author of The Gold Warrior.
"Even in Dusk Peterson's darkest stories there is hope and, when it's needed, redemption. . . . These are powerful stories, beautifully written, with characters who will linger in your memory." Five-star review by C. S. McClellan, author of Hidden Boundaries, at Smashwords.
"There's something very special about Dusk's dark fic. Dark, very, but
there's this smidgen of light in every cavern Dusk throws a reader, and
the brightness of that light is practically overwhelming by the time you
get to the end of the novel, and it is like crawling to the opening of
a cavern. It's like getting a miracle." K.
M. Frontain, author of The Soulstone Chronicles and former associate
editor for Wild Child Publishing and Freya's Bower.
A soldier courts a young woman on the eve of battle. An aircar chauffeur tests the boundaries of his enslavement. A despairing captive in a Renaissance prison must choose whether to obey the deadly command of a lord. . . .
Sweet Suffering is a cycle of fantasy, historical fantasy, and science fiction series on friendship, heterosexual romance, gay love, and faithful service amidst hardship and transformation.
The cycle: Princeling | Darkling
Plain | Master/Other.
Princeling is a fantasy series set in a world where war has lasted for generations.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Princeling
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Princeling upcoming fiction.
Darkling Plain is a collection of fantasy tales about young people in times of conflict.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Darkling
Plain genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Darkling Plain upcoming fiction.
Romantic and poignant, Master/Other offers speculative fiction stories exploring the dangers and sweet bonds of power.
The series is part of the Sweet Suffering cycle. ¶ Master/Other
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Master/Other online fiction and series resources.
"Dusk Peterson writes beautiful original fiction about the psychological, not the physical. Peterson's work is quiet, intimate, and focuses on internal conflict." Remy Hart, author of the Northern Corporate Dominion series, at The Control Panel.
"Outstanding original stories. Fascinating look into the human psyche." Aesthetic Kismet at wwink.
"Dusk writes some amazing stories, filled with angst and pain, but also
with love and compassion and understanding." Nigel
Puerasch, author of "Redhead" and "An Ozzie Christmas Tale."
Whispers of Secrets is a cycle of mysteries series and contemporary series on the hidden secrets underlying ordinary contemporary life.
The cycle:
Hidden News | Unmasked.
Hidden News follows the fortunes of a journalist who is a little too inclined to show an interest in the less savory aspects of life in his small town.
The series is part of the Whisper of Secrets cycle. ¶ Hidden
News genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Hidden News online fiction.
Unmasked is a contemporary fiction series on a challenging topic.
The series is part of the Whisper of Secrets cycle. ¶ Unmasked
genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Unmasked online fiction.
"No excuses or apologies are made [for the characters' actions], simply an honest, objective exploration of the human character, and the resulting masterpiece is powerful enough to change my perspective of the world . . . I beg you all to give this story a try, despite the sensitive content, because here is a story about love, about friendship, about forgiveness and acceptance and understanding, and I guarantee it will send your world lurching, as it has mine." E-witness.
"The strangest and most compelling love story that I have ever read . . . There are parts where my heart absolutely aches for the characters and their specific struggles." Kat.
"I was so captivated by the interweaving plotlines as we slowly learned
more about the characters through posts that I made it through the whole
thing in one sitting. A beautifully written and haunting tale." Orion.
Leather is a world of rich pleasure palaces and endless sensual
delights, where dreams can be pursued without limit, provided that a man
has the strength to stand the test. . . . But in the rural town of Mayhill,
population 32,000, leather life is a little different.
Main Street Leather is a cycle of contemporary series with love stories and satire on transgressive sexuality in past decades and the present.
The cycle:
Loren's Lashes |
Leathermen,
Fan Fiction Writers, and Other Rebels | Leather
in Lawnville.
The series is part of the Main Street Leather cycle. ¶ Loren's
Lashes genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Loren's Lashes e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
"Not a cliche in sight, and the characters are realistic enough to jump off the page." Jean Roberta, author and BDSM book reviewer.
"Don't ever expect Dusk to avoid a topic because of current social taboos,
but do expect the ethical aspects of actions to be explored." Parhelion,
author of Hurrah for Hollywood.
The series is part of the Main Street Leather cycle. ¶ Leathermen,
Fan Fiction Writers, and Other Rebels genre/theme tags (with minor
spoilers).
¶ Leathermen, Fan Fiction Writers, and Other Rebels e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
The series is part of the Main Street Leather cycle. ¶ Leather
in Lawnville genre/theme tags (with minor spoilers).
¶ Leather in Lawnville e-books, online fiction, and series resources.
Runner-up, 2006 Rauxa
Prize for erotic fiction ("given annually for an erotic story of exceptional
literary quality"), for the short story "Spontaneous" in the Leather,
Licking, and Lawnmowers collection.
REVIEWS
"[Dusk Peterson] has a realistic and sarcastic tone to his works, with this edge of sweetness underneath." LitGal.
"The writing is smooth, accessible and witty. I have no hesitation in awarding this single author anthology full marks." Five-star review by British Bull Dog at Rainbow Reviews.
"The reader was given a very intimate view of the characters' philosophies and personal struggles, but the stylistic approach was campy and darkly comedic, so the reader never feels aggressively accosted with the satirical social commentary. . . . I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark sexual comedy with principles and heart. You don't have to be gay, and you don't have to be in the BDSM or the leather scene to enjoy these stories. The writing is simply wonderful: campy, self-deprecating, sarcastic, and very, very funny." Five-star review by Cheryl Anne Gardner at Amazon.
"It's so great to see the Leather culture taken out of the normal 'club hub' and thrown into suburbia." James Buchanan, author of the award-winning gay BDSM novel Hard Fall.
"Fiction hasn't been capturing my attention for a long time now but
you've sucked me into your Lawnville world from the first sentence of each
tale." Barbara Sheridan,
author of the gay erotic novel Blood Brothers, in an e-mail to the
author.
Dusk Peterson (writing as H. E. Peterson)
wrote an afterword to Lovers' Legends: The Gay Greek Myths,
by Andrew Calimach (Haiduk Press, 2002), exploring the modern relevance
and spiritual significance of male/male Greek mythology.
Buy the book or e-book: Lovers' Legends (hardback, directly from the publisher) | Lovers' Legends (hardback at various retailers and PDF e-book at Google eBooks).
"Drag Queens, Leathermen, and Telling the
Truth: Franny and the Life of John Preston" is an essay by Dusk
Peterson in the 2005 Arsenal Pulp edition of John Preston's Franny,
the Queen of Provincetown. The essay describes the way in which the
author's gay activism and his participation in leather life shaped his
views on gender.
Buy the book: Franny, the Queen of Provincetown (paperback, directly from the publisher) | Franny, the Queen of Provincetown (paperback at various retailers).
Ted Carter's poetry collection Aphrodite
(Skarlet Press, 2010) includes an introduction by Dusk Peterson about the
circumstances in which these sensuous New Orleans poems were written.
Buy the book or e-book: Aphrodite (paperback at Lulu) | Aphrodite (paperback at various retailers) | Aphrodite (PDF e-book at Lulu).
Dusk Peterson's online nonfiction
is listed on a separate page.
To
receive notice of e-book publications and free fiction, subscribe to Dusk
Peterson's e-mail list or
blog.
As war threatens and the foundations of his life crumble, his only hope
for rescue lies with a man who has every reason to hate Carle.
As Linnet is drawn into memories of a dark young man she once knew,
she must deal in the present with a boy who is headed toward danger, as
well as a child-like baron who may force her to betray her past.
Unless otherwise noted, all rights reserved on Dusk Peterson's fiction.
Unless otherwise noted, all rights reserved on works at this domain
by other authors and artists.
Dusk Peterson's nonfiction at this domain is licensed
under a Creative
Commons Attribution Noncommercial License. Dusk Peterson's videos
are licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike License.
Cover designs: Dusk Peterson. Permission is granted for the reposting and reprinting of the banners, covers, and story summaries (blurbs) for the purposes of providing information on Dusk Peterson's writings. Please link to duskpeterson.com if possible.
Constructive criticism, enquiries, and idle chit-chat may be sent to
Dusk Peterson at
duskpeterson(at)fastmail.fm. Please note that I am generally online only
once every week or two. Time-sensitive e-mail should be sent to both me
and my personal assistant,
Jo/e Noakes.