Unleashed: Red hot erotica

by Saskia Walker

Book Review by Ashley Lister

Anthologies of collected authors are, invariably a good investment.  Aside from the diversity of approaches that can be used to tackle an anthology’s central theme, it’s always entertaining to encounter a range of new and unfamiliar writers. 

Through the opus of the anthology I’ve encountered work by a disparate group of writers including Mitzi Szereto, Maxim Jakubowski, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Jeremy Edwards and Alison Tyler.  I wouldn’t have come across the work of any of these writers if it hadn’t been for the success of multi-authored anthologies.  And, having found the pleasure each of them has to offer through short fiction, it’s made me seek out more of their writing, knowing that they’re competent authors who tell a story that I can enjoy reading. 

Some of them excel in short storytelling.  Others are outstanding novelists.  Few people recognise that the short story is an art form distinct from the novel.  Instead of seeing short fiction as a stand-alone art, they see short stories as a condensed novel: which is not how it works.  Mastery of one form does not automatically suggest competence in the other.

However, when you come across the work of a writer like Saskia Walker, you find yourself in the hands of an author who can proficiently write novels and short fiction and make either genre irresistible.

Unleashed is a collection of short stories for the Saskia Walker aficionado.  Written with Ms Walker’s distinctive voice – never telling the story, always allowing events to unfold before the reader – Unleashed comprises a collection of twenty delicious erotic shorts all written by the inimitable Saskia Walker.

Anthology readers will undoubtedly have encountered some of these stories before.  Each addition to this collection has been previously published in one or more of the most prestigious erotic publications.  But this is the first time a single-authored collection of Ms Walker’s short fiction has been made available.  And it’s a have-to-have for anyone who enjoys the pleasure of well-written erotica.

It’s hard to select my favourite story from this collection.  The diversity of styles and approaches that Ms Walker takes are made to appeal to the eclectic reader and she shifts from vanilla to kink with the authorial mastery of someone who knows what the reader wants even before the reader was aware of that desire.  Nevertheless, if I had to pick one short story that exemplifies the quality here, I’d go for ‘Winter Heat.’  Ostensibly nothing more the reminiscence of a mature women reflecting on her first time, ‘Winter Heat’ incorporates a wealth of description, passion and imagery that will leave the reader breathless.  Admittedly, living in Yorkshire, Ms Walker has a better grasp of describing snow and cold with more conviction than most writers this side of Antarctica, but perhaps it’s her attention to these little details that emphasise the physicality of her writing.  Below is a short section from ‘Winter Heat.’ 

His smile was wickedly suggestive, and I gave an embarrassed laugh, realizing what I’d revealed.  But then he moved closer, growing serious, his hand stroking along my jaw to lift my face with one finger under my chin.  “What something else were you thinking of, Missy?”

My feet shuffled nervously in the snow, my back shifting up against the wall.  I glanced away from his stare – then back, compelled to look at him, even though I couldn’t bring myself to reply to his question.  He gave a dark chuckle, eyes on my lips, strong hand still holding my jaw.  He bent and brushed his mouth over mine, barely, tantalizingly making my lips hum with sensation.  Breathless, I stared at him.

Ashley Lister
May-June 2010

Unleashed by Saskia Walker
(eXcessica, May 2010)
Available at eXcessica

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© 2010 Ashley Lister. All rights reserved.

About the Author: Ashley Lister is a UK author responsible for more than two-dozen erotic novels written under a variety of pseudonyms.His most recent work, Swingers: True Confessions from Today's Modern Swinging Scene Virgin Books; ISBN: 0753511355), a non-fiction book recounting the exploits of UK swingers, is his first title published under his own name.
Ashley’s non-fiction has appeared in a variety of magazines, including Forum, Chapter & Verse and The International Journal of Erotica. Nexus, Chimera and Silver Moon have published his full-length fiction, with shorter stories appearing in anthologies edited by Maxim Jakubowski, Rachel Kramer Bussel and Mitzi Szereto. He is very proud to be a regular contributor to ERWA.
Websites: www.ashleylister.co.uk / ashleylister.blogspot.com

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