Erotic Anthologies

Collections of Sexy Short Stories

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The Mammoth Book of Erotica presents: The Best of Donna George Storey
Robinson UK, July 2012

Maxim Jakubowski released a series of ebooks called "Mammoth Presents the Best of…." which are collected stories from his excellent Mammoth Book of New Erotica series. The volumns explore the extraordinary variety of the erotic experience and explicit sexual drama in all its forms from some of the best writers in the field.

There are are nine volumes released in July, including collections by Maxim himself, Donna George Storey, Alison Tyler, Kristina Wright, M. Christian, Thomas Roche, Lucy Taylor, Michael Hemmingson, and Marilyn Jaye Lewis.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Anything for You: Erotica for Kinky Couples by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Ed)
Cleis Press, August 2012; ISBN-10: 1573448133

Rachel Kramer Bussel is at the top of her game in BDSM erotica and now shares the pleasure in a one-of-a-kind book, custom-made for couples. Anything for You is stimulating reading, both for experienced players and those just discovering the joy of tying up your lover or bending over for the one you love These explicit stories of obsessive desire unlock the door to a world of obsessive desires, the passion that lies just beneath the skin.

Bondage is the stuff of fantasy for a shockingly large segment of the population and true happiness is discovering what makes your partner tick. In this case, it might well be the tickle of rope on naked skin, or a firm paddling. Rachel Kramer Bussel's is a guidebook to great sex, told story by delicious story of uninhibited, adventurous sex sure to keep the home fires burning Each boldly wrought tale shared with your lover is another door opened into the erotic mindscape.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Stretched - Erotic Fiction that Fondles the Imagination by Tinder James (Ed)
Rubicund Publishing, March 2012; ISBN-10: 0984371435

Review by Ashley Lister:  This is a wonderful collection of short stories. The anthology promises to stretch the imagination of readers and, personally, I’m not sure how it can go about fulfilling that sort of claim. But I do know it contains a wealth of first-rate erotic stories from some highly talented writers.

Ordinarily I’d cherry-pick my way through a collection like this, discussing stories from some of my favourite authors such as Robert Buckley (brilliant), Jeremy Edwards (exceptional) and Kristina Lloyd (marvellous).
However, because this collection features authors I haven’t previously encountered, I thought I’d just mention one from a writer I’ve only just discovered.

‘Of the Glabrous Flesh’ by Bernie Mojzes is as intelligent as any other story in this collection, perceptive in the way it describes intimate detail, and blessed with the level of background detail that one would expect from a writer who is used to working in fantastical genres.

“There are, of course, the lips, perhaps the most prominent of the glabrous flesh. Certainly the most often presented for display, the most decorated, the most visible and the most expressive.”

One pair, parted slightly, is glistening full and red against a white background (a flicker of fluorescent light). The gentle swell of their surface is a topography rippled with minute creases; this close, they are mountain ranges, river valleys. The air that breathes across this hot, and tastes of life.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Suite Encounters: Hotel Sex Stories by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, June 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447900

Suite Encounters features hotel erotica in all its forms, from honeymooners having sex on the beach to loving couples on vacation to coworkers heading downtown for secret quickies, not to mention exhibitionist thrills (and chills) of getting it on in the pool on the roof at The Standard Hotel in front of everyone! The award-winning editor of the Best Sex Writing series, among many others, Rachel Kramer Bussel knows the winning formula of stories of sex in every possible setting — luxury hotels, seedy motels, spas, SRO's and everything in between.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lustfully Ever After: Fairy Tale Erotic Romance by Kristina Wright (Editor)
Cleis Press, May 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447870

In Lustfully Ever After, classic fairy tales are reimagined for an adult audience with twists (and kinks) to keep readers entertained. In Michelle Augello-Page's romantically charged BDSM tale "Wolf Moon," Little Red Riding Hood is the big bad wolf, while Kristina Lloyd rewrites "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" as a scorching hot MFM threesome in "The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces." Shanna Germain's "Mirror Mirror" shows the sensual Sapphic side of Snow White's stepmother and Andrea Dale pens a contemporary version of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" in the poignantly erotic "Steadfast."

This delightful collection of fairy tales will lead you down a magical path into forbidden romance and erotic love. You won’t need those bread crumbs to find your way home—for home is where the heart is and the authors of Lustfully Ever After know your heart’s most wicked and secret desires.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Going Down: Oral Sex Stories by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, May 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447897

When you look back on the best sex you ever had, oral sex will be a part if the picture. Rachel Kramer Bussell, editor of the award-winning oral sex collections Tasting Him and Tasting Her is back with more lip-smackingly superb oral sex erotica for ALL with Going Down. The primal sense of taking in the essence, taste, smell and sexy up-closeness of a lover is a powerful aphrodisiac that affects one physically, mentally and emotionally. Once you have your lover in your mouth, the heat of desire, passion, and lust focus before your eyes and tie your arousal directly to them. These fictive fellatio stories, sizzling sixty-ninings, and talented tonguings will give readers lots of new ideas to try at home.

In Going Down, lovers both give, receive and explore the many ways oral sex can be an act of love, tenderness, devotion or pure sexual act that lets readers revel in the emotion and sensuality of it all. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy this sexy read of explicit stories to get you hot and bothered with more than a mouthful. Giving head never read so good until now!

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Bound by Lust: Romantic Stories of Submission and Sensuality by Shanna Germain (Editor)
Cleis Press, April 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447927

Imagine finding a partner who is just as naughty, kinky and dark as you are, a lover who wanders the hardware store with you in search of new ‘toys,’ a man who can wrangle both you and the dishes into submission, a woman who accompanies you to office parties and play parties. Think that heady combination of: sweet and sexy, dirty and romantic, love and leather.Bound By Lust is a romantic, couples-focused erotica with a BDSM slant. The couples range from newly blossoming relationships, lont-time loves and reunited flames. BDSM aspect of this is both naughty and nice — bondage, spanking, domination, submission, power-play, pain and pleasure, or whatever your dirty mind can think of. Bring on the rope and rough stuff, the dens and dungeons, the corsets and clamps and cuffs. Romance can be a little rough and still have VERY happy endings!
Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Mammoth Book of The Best of Best New Erotica by Maxim Jakubowski (Editor)
Running Press, April 24, 2012; ISBN-10: 0762444355

The very best of over ten years of the Best New Erotica series and other erotica titles compiled by Maxim Jakubowski. Stories have been taken from all volumes of The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica with the exception of recent volumes 8 and 9. They have also been drawn from the Mammoth Book of International Erotica, Mammoth Book of Historical Erotica, Mammoth Book of Erotica, Mammoth Book of New Erotica and Mammoth Book of Short Erotic Novels.

The anthology is likely to include stories by Thomas S. Roche; Poppy Z. Brite; Alison Tyler; Lucy Taylor; Matt Thorne; M. Christian; Michael Hemmingson; Mike Kimera; Tara Alton; Marilyn Jaye-Lewis; Savannah Lee; Heather Corinna; Carol Queen; Donna George Storey; Lauren Henderson; Vicki Hendricks; O'Neil De Noux; Cara Bruce; Mark Timlin; Graham Joyce; Conrad Williams; Claude Lalumière; Kristina Lloyd; and Mitzi Szereto.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Curvy Girls: Erotica for Women by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Seal Press, April 2012; ISBN-10: 1580054080

From the editor of Dirty Girls comes a new anthology of steamy stories for women who don’t fit into a size zero—or two, or four—and the men and women who love them.

In this voluptuously erotic collection, editor and best-selling author Rachel Kramer Bussel showcases the sensual side of having “more to love,” from the sexiness of big butts and plus-size corsets to the irresistible allure of pregnant bellies. No aspect of full-figured female sexuality is left unexplored, whether heterosexual or same-sex, raunchy or romantic, femme or butch. Bussel also includes seductive stories featuring characters of varying ethnic and racial backgrounds, exploring how different cultures approach size and eroticism. From trysts between long-time partners to one-night stands, from vanilla encounters to kinky romps, Curvy Girls is an all-inclusive celebration of the sensuality of larger women—in all their curvy glory.

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Swap: Explicit Stories from the World of Swinging
Mischief imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, February 2012

Swinging, swapping and all the connotations of partner exchanges invariably produce exciting premises for erotic fiction. Aside from the obvious thrill of sexual liaisons, these stories also have the human element that makes the reader wonder how they would react in such an encounter. It’s an exciting way for the reader to become involved with the text.

The Swap is a collection of nine short stories all written around the theme of partner exchanges and sexual sharing. Authors include Charlotte Stein, Monica Belle, Madeline Moore and Penny Birch. The quality of the writing is superb and the focus on the theme is unwavering. The following is a sample of the high quality of writing found inside this book:

You asked me if I remembered that night at Tabitha’s party. The one where I caught Michael kissing and groping our flirty hostess. Where I ran off to the toilet for a cry, but instead somehow ended up with your stiff cock in my hand. I replied that I could barely remember twenty minutes ago, let alone twenty years, but that was a lie. Actually, I do still clearly remember the illicit exhilaration of holding your erection for the first time, even though the episode is now half my life away. It was the sheer size of you that sent the cold tingle pouring from my belly and into my veins. It was only the second one I had ever seen in the flesh, and I had never considered Michael small in that department. I couldn’t tell you but it felt huge in my palm, like a thick slab of warm fillet steak. I tried to imagine it inside me and the thought almost made my legs give way. ‘Dirty Reunion’ by Scarlet Rush

As publishers Mischief are showing their skills here with an exemplary collection of short themed fiction. It’s good to see collections of this calibre available for download on e-readers and I’m sure I’m not alone in looking forward to seeing plenty more titles being released from this imprint.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Obsessed: Erotic Romance for Women by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, August 2011; ISBN-10: 1573447188

Review by Ashley Lister:  Obsessed is a strong word. It implies an unhealthy emotional state that is driven more by compulsion than considered opinion. Not a particularly pleasant or desirable mentality – but one with which the majority of us can sympathise to some extent.

And it’s an ideal and appropriate state of mentality for the majority of characters in these exciting stories presented by Rachel Kramer Bussel. Obsessed is an anthology of short stories written by some of the genres most respected and celebrated erotic romance writers. Favourite authors include Donna George Storey, Justine Elyot, Emerald, Charlotte Stein, Kristina Wright, K D Grace, and many other wonderful writers whom I can’t name here for lack of space.

Below is an example of the exemplary quality of writing you can expect in this anthology, this excerpt from the wonderful Andrea Dale’s ‘Raven’s Flight’.   

He had glossy black hair, long enough that he’d drawn it back into a short ponytail; biceps perfect for nibbling; and then there was the tattoo.
Ink as black as his hair curved and swooped across the muscles of his back. It was Celtic – not the newfangled tribal kind, but the real knot work-form-early-manuscripts king – and it depicted a raven flying over the ocean, with the sun blazing overhead.
Right then and there, I had the overwhelming compulsion to lick his tattoo, trace every spiral and intricate knot and line with my tongue.
I wanted it so badly, I trembled, deep inside.

It’s writing of that high calibre – consistently delightful throughout the book – that makes me want to rush out and get a second copy book so I can share it with a friend. Make sure you secure your copy today.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Irresistible: Erotic Romance for Couples by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, February 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447625

Review by Ashley Lister: I have to admit I almost shrieked with delight when a copy of this book landed on my desk. It ticks so many boxes for my personal preferences that I’m surprised my name wasn’t in the dedication.

Primarily, the book is a collection of erotic short stories concerning couples in established relationships. As innovations go, this is something seldom approached by erotica publishers who tend to focus on the dynamics of new relationships rather than existing ones. And yet, for those of us who are already in relationships, this approach to fiction is a reminder that sex continues after the initial thrill of first meeting.

In addition, the book is edited by the wonderful Rachel Kramer Bussel – a name synonymous with quality collections of erotica.

And, finally, the book genuinely contains fiction from some of my favourite erotic storytellers in the whole world. 

This is from the opening story, ‘Twice Shy’, by Heidi Champa.

     There is nothing like a good fuck first thing in the morning. I stretched my arms up over my head, enjoying the tired and sore feeling in the muscles of my back and legs. The deep rush of satisfaction that filled my body made me want to stay in bed, but work was calling. I knew as soon as that shower turned off, it would be time for me to get out of bed and start my day. The door to the bathroom was wide open, and I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of the pounding water, knowing it was covering his naked body.
     God, we had just finished, but the thought of him soapy and wet got me going again. It was like my body had already reset, already forgotten how hard he had just made me come. I rubbed my hands over my naked skin as I listened to the water falling onto the tile of the shower floor.

Trust me, even though the start is strong, it just carries on getting better. And this is from the anthology’s final story, ‘Pink Satin Purse’, written by Donna George Storey.

     I’m finally going to do it. Tonight.
     Natalie actually said the words out loud to the empty room. Although her voice was brave, her tongue suddenly felt shamefully heavy in her mouth, even tingling, provocatively, at the tip.
     Nervous as she was, she couldn’t pass up this perfect opportunity to translate her guilty fantasy into action. She and Keenan had a rare evening alone—their daughter off to the movies with friends, their son invited to a sleepover birthday party. Her husband would already be expecting special date-night sex, something a bit edgy with plenty of loud moaning. However, he probably wouldn’t be expecting what she would propose they try tonight. Or rather what she would command him to do.

It’s fair to say that those two stories are wonderful and everything between is equally good. It’s equally fair to say that this whole collection is genuinely Irresistible. 
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Luscious: Stories of Anal Eroticism by Alison Tyler (Editor)
Cleis Press, Revised edition February 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447609

"When I pick up a book of erotica," says Alison Tyler, "I don’t want to read about 'beautiful' and 'loving.' I want to read about sweaty and heart-stopping." Tyler indeed found these latter qualities, in a wealth of variations, when she collected the 27 stories for this smart, raunchy anthology celebrating anal sex. Seasoned erotica authors explore the pleasures of every imaginable strategy for indulging in this popular but still taboo sexual activity. With feather-light foreplay, tickling, teasing, and more, Luscious is a reminder that dirty is not only not a bad word, it can also make what happens bent over a Harley, on the Appalachian trail, or in an anal sex classroom — some of the kinky locales in this collection — irresistibly arousing.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Red Velvet & Absinthe: Paranormal Erotic Romance by Mitzi Szereto (Editor)
Cleis Press, September 2011; ISBN-10: 1573447161

Review by Kristina Wright:  Keeping the tradition of Gothic literature alive, perennial editor Mitzi Szereto gives us Red Velvet and Absinthe: Paranormal Erotic Romance. As Szereto states in the introduction, her goal was to not only offer readers an anthology that was reminiscent of the Gothic classics, “but take things further by adding to the brew a generous portion of eroticism that’s far less restrained than what transpired between Cathy and Heathcliff.” And so she does! This scrumptious collection will thrill the fans of Gothic literature with a titillating collection of stories that inspire shivers of both desire and dread.

The best word to describe Red Velvet and Absinthe is atmospheric.  These stories are written to draw you into a world unlike any you’ve ever known and make you believe in the things that lurk in the shadows. The authors have done an admirable job of paying tribute to the Gothic masters and mistresses of old, putting a new spin on familiar Gothic tropes. In most of the tales, things are not always as they seem and the reader is left breathless with anticipation right up until thFe end. All of the stories are sensual treats and the level of eroticism varies from what you might find in a more traditional Gothic story to contemporary literary erotic explorations.

As is befitting the subtitle, Paranormal Erotic Romance, there are number of paranormal elements to be found in the stories. Shape-shifters, werewolves, vampires and otherworldly creatures are well-represented with interesting interpretations and twists.  My favorite stories in this collection include Janine Ashbless’s poignant “Cover Him With Darkness,” Charlotte Stein’s creepy “Dolly” and Zander Vyne’s shocking “La Belle Mort.” Each story is so well-written and so delicious that it’s enough to make you put the book down and contemplate what you’ve just read—and then reread it all over again.

Despite the short format, each author in Red Velvet and Absinthe delivers a complete and complex erotic tale. Mitzi Szereto is known for choosing the very best of literary erotica for her anthologies, and this book is representative of the very best of the genre. With fifteen unique stories (as well as an introduction by Szereto and a foreword by paranormal author Kelley Armstrong), gans of paranormal and Gothic stories will find a few favorites among this collection—and be eager to share their opinions (and maybe copies of the book) with friends.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

One Night Only: Erotic Encounters by Violet Blue (Editor)
Cleis Press, January 2012; ISBN-10: 1573447560

Have you ever had one chance - or one night - to have hot, reckless sex? One Night Only is a compendium of the most refined zipless fuck fantasies imaginable. Chance encounters, secret oral sex, frenzied public sex... The expertly crafted characters in these riveting stories gotta have it, and they need it now.

In "Subway Subterfuge" by May Deva a young woman is attracted to a hot guy on the subway; next time she spots him, they move to the back of the crowded car where we find out she's the one driving the anonymous public frisson.

"Maid Service" by Jan Darby centers on a downwardly mobile young lady who's currently working as a maid when a guest, an attractive man, catches her in the room, they flirt over the chocolate rose on the pillow, and he coaxes her into some slightly kinky sex, which she very much wants.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Women in Lust: Erotic Stories by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, November 2011; ISBN-10: 1573447242

Review by Kristina Wright:  “The characters in Women in Lust may vary in the objects of their lust, and how they go about acting on their urge, but what connects them is that pure impulse for a lover,” says editor Rachel Kramer Bussel in her introduction to her latest lust-fueled anthology. Impulsivity is a driving force for many of the characters in these stories—the need for a physical, and often emotional, connection that transcends their day-to-day existence. Women in Lust is about primal urges, the desires that drive women to choose sexual partners who might not always been “good” or “right” for them, but yet still fulfill something in them that no one has before.

In Women in Lust Bussel presents twenty stories from some of the most brilliant erotica writers around. Portia da Costa, Charlotte Stein, Justine Elyot, K.D. Gracce, Shanna Germain and Donna Storey, among others, deftly explore the idea of feminine lust from a variety of perspectives. Here are the stories of familiar lovers, new lovers, lovers who know more about us than we know ourselves.

Bussel is brilliant at choosing stories that ring with authenticity, from the Japanese happy ending massage story “Cherry Blossom” by Kayar Silkenvoice to Bussel’s own academic offering, “Hot for Teacher.” Donna George Storey’s “Comfort Food” is a particular favorite, with a fortyish divorcee discovering the many talents of a hot young chef. Some stories are laced with a kind of psychological tormrent that makes them all the more erotic, such as Justine Elyot’s “The Hard Way,” a delicious role playing story complete with handcuffs, Charlotte Stein’s blindfold story “Guess,” a sensuous treat for the reader who waits in anticipation for the story to unfold, and Shanna Germain’s “Beneath My Skin,” an edgy and unique story of knife play.

It’s lovely to see stories with female characters of a variety of ages and body sizes, as well as at different places in their lives. Women in Lust includes stories about twenty very different women who all say yes to their secret desires. Lust is the driving force here and it’s the thread that ties all these stories together into a beautifully edited collection.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Best Erotic Romance by Kristina Wright (Editor)
Cleis Press, December 2011; ISBN-10: 157344751X

This inaugural collection of erotic romance features the very best of the genre. In erotic romance, the sexual component is critical to the development of the romantic relationship. Each of these masterfully written tales contains the essence of true romance: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying, optimistic ending. What sets Best Erotic Romance apart is the scorching hot sex and the happily-ever-after (or happy-for-now) ending. Award-winning romance writer and editor Kristina Wright and her cast of terrific romance writers have crafted stories that touch the hearts and minds of readers, and linger in the memory for a long, long time.

Review by Kitty Stryker:  Romance novels are known for their lurid covers, their over-complicated plots and their steamy erotic scenes. But what if you want to skip past the soap-opera stories and get right to the juicy stuff? Then you should probably pick up Best Erotic Romance, the first anthology to offer stories where the sexual and the romantic are entwined.

Many of these stories involved lovers who had been apart by circumstance, but they each injected a fresh look at reconciliation. But not all these loves were lost- some allow you along for the ride as they fall in love with each other and you fall for them, and others are long term couples keeping the fires burning. All the stories have an optimistic ending that will leave a song in your heart and a smile on your lips—the passionate, emotional encounters will leave you breathless.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance by Kristina Wright (Editor)
Cleis Press, October 2011; ISBN-10: 1573447218

Steamlust is romantic erotica that reflects the excitement, fantasy, and rebellion of steampunk. Not sure what steampunk is? Think Victorian elegance and aesthetics meets futuristic invention and exploration. The genre of steampunk has transcended the Victorian (or Edwardian) eras — in Kristina Wright's inventive anthology, it can be any time period, real or imagined, that blends elements of science, history, fantasy, and technology.

Steampunk erotic romance is shiny brass and crushed velvet, mechanical inventions and romantic conventions, sexual fantasy and kinky fetish. It's steam powered sexy romance! Editrix extraordinaire Kristina Wright creates a lush and fantastical world of women-centered stories and romantic scenarios, a first for steampunk fiction. Fetishizing the wardrobe, language, fantasy and rituals of steampunk, Steamlust includes alternate histories, second worlds, time travel, and contemporary settings.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

The Erotofluidic Age by Vinnie Tesla
Circlet Press, April 2011

Reviewed by Lisabet Sarai:  Vinnie Tesla's at it again. When I reviewed the Circlet Press gender-bending collection Up for Grabs, I commented that Mr. Tesla's pseudo-Victorian erotic extravaganza "The Ontological Engine" was "worth the price of the book all by itself". Now Circlet has published nearly two hundred pages of outrageous excess set in the same world, where scientist Daedalus Tesla, his trusted assistant Mr. Victor Dalrymple, Victor's irrepressibly lascivious wife Eleanor, and a cast of equally engaging characters pursue their dubious and dangerous research into Ontological Engineering - attempting to reshape reality through the power of erotic energy.

The Erotofluidic Age comprises three novellas - "The Ontological Engine", "Miss Pierce's Position" and "The Terminando" - each one more inventive and more pornographic than its predecessor. In the first, Daedalus Tesla encounters a woman of truly astounding sexual capacity, and harnesses her erotofluidic energy to unintentionally create a trio of lovable but sexually insatiable monsters. "Miss Pierce's Position" introduces the lady engineer Minerva Pierce, who despite Daedalus' scorn at the notion of a female scientist turns out to be very much the man the team needs in order to solve a thorny ontological problem. Victor Dalrymple narrates "The Terminando", in which he and one of Tesla's creations travel to and then become stranded in an alternative England where ontological engineering is well-established  and the power of sexual arousal is the prime motive force.

Tesla's prose brilliantly captures the convolutions and indirections of Victorian language, but his erotic vision has more in common with Robert Crumb than the anonymous authors of The Pearl. With influences that range from Mary Shelley to Gilbert and Sullivan, Tesla out-punks most steam punk by a generous margin. The Erotofluidic Age is sly, clever, hilarious and unrelentingly smutty. Don't miss it!
Available at:  Amazon (Kindle Edition)

Take Me There: Trans and Genderqueer Erotica by Tristan Taormino (Editor)
Cleis Press, October 2011; ISBN-10: 157344720X

Review by Jean Roberta:  Tristan Taormino, former editor of the annual Best Lesbian Erotica series, has always preferred the kind of erotica that features unconventional gender roles, toys and BDSM to “sweet romance.” There have been a few anthologies of transgender erotica before now, but they are still very rare compared to the steady deluge of erotica for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. Through her experience as a sex educator, an editor and the partner of a transman, Tristan Taormino has access to a large “genderqueer” community, including erotic writers. She has collected stories that are sexy, poignant, suspenseful and witty, but never disrespectful to those who identify as something other than the gender on their birth certificates. There are transgender performers and educators in this mix, including Kate Bornstein and S. Bear Bergman, who co-edited a non-fiction anthology, Gender Outlaws.

What does “genderqueer” sex look like? In these stories, it takes any form that qualifies as “safe, sane, consensual.” As the gay-male narrator of Patrick Califia’s Christmas story, “Big Gifts in Small Boxes,” says to the female-to-male trick who has nervously invited him home:  “I think you’re handsome as all perdition, and I like you besides, so I figure that ought to be enough for us to figure out something we can do that’s more fun than not.” The sex in these stories is usually the result of personal negotiation, and it seems especially intimate for that reason; nothing can be taken for granted.

A surprising number of these stories are set in the past, when the terms “transgender” and “genderqueer” would not have been widely understood. “Sea of Cortez” by Sandra McDonald is a stunningly evocative study of men on a ship during the Second World War, and “Dixie Belle” by Kate Bornstein places Mark Twain’s character Huckleberry Finn in a New Orleans whorehouse during the American Civil War.  War creates social upheaval, and in these stories, those who have never fit comfortably into a rigid gender role can find space to breathe amidst the turmoil.

This collection of stories really deserves an award for the courage and imagination that went into it.  This reviewer looks forward to more from this largely-hidden continent of experience.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

This Is The Way The World Ends by Catherine Leary (Editor)
Freaky Fountain Press, March 2011

Review by Kitty Stryker:  Freaky Fountain Press has a talent for finding edgy stories that really grab you, and their apocalyptic anthology "This is the Way the World Ends" is no exception. Each of the ten stories are raw and gritty, and many have a science-fiction bent. These are dystopian tales of survival and defiance, and the sex ranges from desperate or angry to hot and loving. I particularly enjoyed that the steamy scenes feel incidental while adding to the story, making them both intellectually and erotically stimulating.

This is not your mother's erotica collection by any means—they have a trigger warning list at the end of their PDF so you can avoid stories that might distress you, an ingenious and considerate solution I appreciated. It's an intense read. But if you have a taste for rough, smutty, apocalyptic scifi that will leave you feeling breathless, you should discover This is the Way the World Ends. I found it awesome.
Available at:  Amazon (Kindle Edition) | Amazon UK

Nice Girls, Naughty Sex by Jordan LaRousse & Samantha Sade (Editors)
Seal Press, February 2011; ISBN-10: 1580053432

Review by Ashley Lister:  Anyone who has ever visited oystersandchocolate.com will know what to expect from this title. oystersandchocolate.com is a sensational website that contains erotic fiction from some of today’s best erotic writers. Nice Girls, Naughty Sex follows the website’s tradition of providing readers with plenty of pages of high quality, highly exciting, erotic fiction.

One of the (many) things I enjoyed with this anthology was the way LaRousse and Sade have gone to the trouble of categorising the content. Dividing stories into Vanilla, Dirty Martini, Licorice Whips and Oysters, with explanatory notes in the introduction, means readers can approach a story with some idea of the erotic content.

I’m aware that some people think this spoils the surprise, and I can agree with that perspective to some extent. But I can also see this offers the advantage one would associate with a menu of oysters and chocolate – you’d like to know which you were getting so you could prepare your palate accordingly.

This is a fantastic anthology, with contributions from some of the most deservedly lauded names in contemporary erotica. Sommer Marsden, Rachel Kramer-Bussel, Heidi Champ, Jeremy Edwards, Donna George Storey, Janine Ashbless, and I could go on. Regular readers of my reviews will probably know that I admire all of the authors I’ve just mentioned. LaRousse and Sade have also included contributions from writers I hadn’t previously encountered but who are now names I shall be watching.
Nice Girls, Naughty Sex – buy the book.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Sweet Confessions: Erotic Fantasies for Couples by Violet Blue (Editor)
Cleis Press, July 2011; ISBN-10: 1573446653

Violet Blue is simply the best in the business when it comes to erotica for couples. She edits with both a sharp eye and a knack for what lovers are looking for - sweet and surprising scenarios. In Sweet Confessions, the lust-inciting fantasies include spanking, exhibitionism, role-playing, three-ways, and sexy adventures that will inspire real couples to reach new heights of passion.

In Violet Blue's own words, "The stories I've chosen are explicit, well thought-out, cleverly crafted, and arousing as hell. Trust me. I tried it at home."
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Gotta Have It: 69 Stories of Sudden Sex by Rachel Kramer Bussel (Editor)
Cleis Press, March 2011; ISBN-10: 1573446475

Review by Jean Roberta:  These diverse stories, each under 1,200 words, get right to the point. Each includes one sex scene and a surprising amount of background and characterization. Although many are about first-time encounters, quite a few focus on still-hot sex in long-term relationships.  In "Time" by Cecilia Tan, a woman on the eve of her twentieth wedding anniversary asks how to measure time when "you don't feel it passing" except in "the ticktock of heartbeats, and "the pendulum swing of thrusts." There are stories here from a dazzling lineup of other famous and lesser-known erotic writers, including members of ERWA.

Most sexual orientations are represented in these stories, and there is a range of intensity from sweet romance to BDSM. Most of the scenarios are realistic, but there are some notable exceptions: a fanciful relationship between a female first-person narrator and King Kong, a female librarian who dishes out spankings in a private room for too many late returns. This book would be ideal to slip into a carry-on bag for episodic reading in airports, bus stations and en route except for the cover image. A playful photo shows the bare legs and feet (still in shoes) of a man and a woman, apparently in the act, while a cat nonchalantly ignores the humans in heat. It would be hard to mistake the meaning of this picture, so if you read this book in front of strangers, you might want to cover it up. It’s worth the inconvenience, since this is a book you will want to keep.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance by Kristina Wright (Editor)
Cleis Press, May 2011; ISBN-10: 1573446556

Review by Victoria Blisse:  I love anthologies because you get a pick and mix of stories and Dream Lover certainly offers a great deal of variety. It is filled with paranormal creatures, those you only dream of and believe you me when you read this collection of sexy stories  pulled together by Kristina Wright you’ll find some of the characters invading your dreams.

I was instantly impressed with the very first story by Justine Elyot. "Love Resurrection" set the tone for the rest of the book and showed me the kind of excellent writing I could expect. I was pulled in by the clever plot, the endearing characters and the steamy action it contained.  I was not let down by the stories that followed either. I loved how many different imagined beings were included in the pages, some I would never have thought of, especially not in an erotic way.

I have to say I enjoyed all sixteen stories and that is rare, usually I find a few stories in an anthology to be not to my tastes, but all these are winners.  I especially loved the raw sexuality of Saskia Walker’s "Where the Heart Is."  It is a tale of hot, animal lust out of the wild, windy moors that has you breathless with excitement from the first line.  I really enjoyed the quirky humour and hot sex in "Succubus Comes Home" by Lucy Felthouse. She seems to specialise in writing rough and wild men you just want to dig your teeth into and Antony is by no means a disappointment!

You get a bit of everything here, which can be a plus and a minus. If you like one particular kind of paranormal creature or type of story you might find this collection to be too broad for your liking but if you’re open to all kinds of dark, erotic, fantastical beings then you will be spoilt with the wonderful range of expertly written erotic tales in this collection.
Available at:  Amazon | Amazon UK

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