Rachel Kramer Bussel

AS usual, Ms. Bussel has compiled another extraordinary collection of varied and intriguing erotica. Although I was a bit hesitant at first since domination is usually not my prerogative, I was pleasantly surprised (and aroused) by the works here. In particular, I enjoyed the wide variety of tales and the various "levels" of submission included. "Subbing" by Ms. Bussel was definitely my favorite - particularly for the aspect of unwittingly stumbling across someone you know in an erotic show more encounter. Ms. Bussel has rapidly become one of my favorite erotica writers and editors and her works are consistently arousing, entertaining, and enlightening. Recommended not only as inspiration for solo pleasure, but to share with a partner as well. show less

Good stuff! Despite not being submissive myself, I found most of these stories pretty darn hot. I love well-written erotica, and some of these stories are masterfully poetic (Silver Fish in the Crystal Pool, my favorite of the bunch). I especially like the emphasis most stories put on the strength and the empowerment of the female submissives, often even as a direct result of their submission (looking at you, In His Control). As a certain other fictional submissive would say, "That which show more yields is not always weak." show less

The latest volume of Cleis's Best Women's Erotica of the Year series is big and bold and immensely satisfying. This collection is as diverse as it is exciting - familiar and new, kinky and sweet, fierce and tender - and filled with women from across the spectrum of life's experiences. It's a good thing the book is long, because each story leaves you hungry for more.

There's a lot of f/f mixed in with the m/f and groups. *cheers*

The theme is "Outsiders," which is a loose guideline and every show more author interpreted it a bit differently. Here's the line-up (as of my advance copy) and my thoughts on a few of the stories:

Take the Shot, by Mica Kennedy - This is about a teacher who's doing a favor for her photographer sister by posing for some "sensual photos." Her partner for the shoot? Her much-younger teaching assistant. There's that touch of the forbidden, but its mostly a story about a woman of a certain age getting made up for a photo shoot, feeling herself, and then having a sexy man feel her, too. It's just the right balance of sweet and heat. This is the first story I've read by Mica and it was fabulous.

The Dressing Room, by Alessandra Torre - In this story, a woman is in a dressing room, trying on clothes, when she overhears a couple going at it in the stall next door. Soon she's pleasuring herself, joining in from outside. Really hot.

Mark, by Rosie Beth Randall - An m/f D/s relationship with an interesting car ride.

O Captain, My Captain, by Calliope Bloom - Halloween sex party on a boat with an f/f/m grouping and disability rep. Then the ship's female Captain joins in...

The Jump, by Rebecca Chase - Skydiving!

On Display, by Louise Lagris - 2nd person, but it works.

The Pick-Me-Up, by Suleikha Snyder - Starts in a bar, ends in a bed... with a hope for more.

Belonging, by Tamsen Parker - F/f in a kink club.

With Honors, by Sofia Quintero - Single mom with teen kids ends the semester with her sexy professor... with a bang. (Sorry, I had to.)

Breathe, by Patricia Elzie - F/f with tickling.

Aftershock, by Jo Henny Wolf - A woman tries to find her way to her long-distance boyfriend who she was planning to visit in Mexico when an earthquake hits. Sexy flashbacks, plus a happy reunion.

Her Invisible Prison, by Jocelyn Dex - The title refers to agoraphobia, therapy for which is somehow intensely sexy.

The Invitation, by Regina Kammer - Historical! A widow in her fifties and a young artist.

Protest of Passion, by Eliza David - Two people on opposite sides of a protest find common ground.

Words with Benefits, by Tamara Lush - WORDS WITH FRIENDS TINDER

Essential Qualities, by Alyssa Cole - Sexytimes with a robot

Eight Seconds, by Madeline Moore - Can you tell this takes place at a rodeo?

Seven Sweets and Seven Sours, by Megan Hart - F/f with two women saying goodbye as one leaves the Amish community in which they both live.

Baby Doll, by Sienna Saint-Cyr - A Daddy/Little Girl dynamic

Beautiful Dirty Wonderful, by R.M. Wood - A husband gives his wife the thing she's always wanted: a whole bunch of men at once.



And that's it! This is a diverse collection of erotica (not romance) that will keep you and/or a partner warm all winter.

We talked to Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel a few months ago, if you want to read more about these anthologies and her work!



Suzanne received a copy of this book from the publisher for review show less

It's simple math, isn't it? Start off with Rachel Kramer Bussel, add in Susie Bright, mix in the sex and you have yourself Best Sex Writing 2012.

Susie Bright selected the best of the best of the year passed, and her ability to read and choose has not waned since her departure from - and the untimely death of - The Best American Erotica. And Rachel Kramer Bussel is equally awesome.

The collection contains articles, essays, and pieces by Thomas Roche, Amber Dawn, Joan Price, Marty Klein, show more Susie Bright, and Rachel Kramer Bussel. The wind range of topics extends (no pun intended) the idiocy behind banning circumcision to rape culture to growing up queer in the Meatpacking District.

In Marty Klein's piece, "Criminalizing Circumcision: Self-Hatred as Public Policy," follows San Francisco's insane idea to outlaw circumcision in infants. It's the first - can I call it pro-circumcision? - positive circumcision piece I've read. It addresses the myths that anti-circumcision "activists" tout, and explains that any "physical" lacking a circumcised man feels is strictly psychological.

In "Losing the Meatpacking District: A Queer History of Leather Culture," Abby Tallmer reminiscences about growing up in the Meatpacking District in the midst of the queer and leather nightclubs, reminding us to never take our presents for granted because they can simply be erased.

Both Susie Bright and Thomas Roche pieces attack the laughable "news reporting" of major newspapers that fail at fact checking and op-eds how the media fails our sexual society by filling people's minds with the Christian Right-wing agenda.

Greta Christiana, on the other hand, reports how a secular lifestyle might improve your sex life over a religious one. In "Atheists Do It Better: Why Leaving Religion Leads to Better Sex," we learn that secular households tend to do it, well, better. Not only in the bedroom, but with raising children, as well. (You'll have to read the piece.)

"Grief, Resilience, and My 66th Birthday Gift" teaches us the sex life of an older woman and author, Joan Price. From finding someone to spend her life with, to the dynamic of her sex life to the grief she felt when he passed to regaining her sexual self afterward. The piece is possibly the best in the collection - in my humble opinion, anyway.

All in all, Best Sex Writing 2012 is worth the read and a place on your shelf or e-reader. show less