Little Deaths

by Ellen Datlow (Editor)

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A World Fantasy Award-winning anthology of erotic horror stories, including dark tales of desire by Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen Dedman, Harry Crews, and others. The title of this acclaimed anthology comes from the French term "la petite mort," a seventeenth-century euphemism for orgasm. It was thought that part of a man's life-force was drained from him each time he climaxed. In Little Deaths, renowned horror editor Ellen Datlow collects twenty-two stories that explore the connection between show more sex and death. These stories range from the erotic to the psychological, all against a backdrop of horror. Authors include Lucy Taylor, Nicola Griffith, Kathe Koja, Richard Christian Matheson, Lucius Shepard, and many more. show less

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2 reviews
I have bought and read many of Ellen Datlow's anthologies, mostly in the fantasy genre. The quality ranged from good to great and there was always at least one superb story to be found in each. This little gem was quite a surprise, though. Almost every story included is excellent.

"Erotic horror stories" usually equates to vampire sex, a la paranormal romance. Not so here. This collection has many experienced horror writers included, such as Clive Barker, Doug Clegg and Christian Matheson. The stories are definitely erotic, but they also lean heavily into the horror aspect as well. Fans of Anne Rice and Tanya Huff can both find much to enjoy here. And, I just love the title. A more perfect sobriquet could not be found!
could not finish-made it to the 4th story and was so creeped out and disturbed that I just couldn't finish

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Editor
194+ Works 28,110 Members
Ellen Datlow is the editor of science fiction, fantasy, and horror anthologies. She was the fiction editor of Omni magazine and Omni Online from 1981-1998. Then she was the editor of the webzine Event Horizon: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror from September 1998-December 1999. She has won the World Fantasy Award seven times, the Bram Stoker show more Award twice with her co-editors and the Hugo Award for Best Editor in 2002 and 2005. She currently lives in New York City and edits fiction for Scifi.com. In 2011 she was given the Life Achievement Award by the Horror Writers Association.She is a long time trustee of the Horror Writers Association. She has been the co-host of the Fantastic Fiction reading series at the KGB Bar since 2000, a series which features luminaries and up-and-comers in speculative fiction. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

All Editions

Barker, Clive (Contributor)
Cadigan, Pat (Contributor)
Clegg, Douglas (Contributor)
Crews, Harry (Contributor)
Dedman, Stephen (Contributor)
Eskridge, Kelley (Contributor)
Koja, Kathe (Contributor)
Lane, Joel (Contributor)
Malzberg, Barry N. (Contributor)
Oates, Joyce Carol (Contributor)
Rendell, Ruth (Contributor)
Royle, Nicholas (Contributor)
Sallee, Wayne Allen (Contributor)
Taylor, Lucy (Contributor)
Womack, Jack (Contributor)

Some Editions

Clemens, Sarah (Contributor)
Griffith, Nicola (Contributor)
Harrison, M. John (Contributor)
Jeter, KW (Contributor)
Oates, Joyce Carol (Contributor)
Odom, Mel (Cover artist)
Pierce, J. Calvin (Contributor)
Shepard, Lucius (Contributor)
Simmons, Dan (Contributor)
Tem, Melanie (Contributor)

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Common Knowledge

Original title
Little Deaths
Original publication date
1995
Disambiguation notice
Different contents depending on the edition.
1st edition (subtitled 24 Tales of Sex and Death): The Lady of Situations by Stephen Dedman, Hungry Skin by Lucy Taylor, Becky Lives by Harry Crews, Lover Doll by Wayne Allen Sa... (show all)llee, The Swing by Nicholas Royle, Sahib by J. Calvin Pierce, The Careful Geometry of Love by Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg, Yaguara by Nicola Griffith, On Amen's Shore by Clive Barker, Isobel Avens Returns to Stepney in the Spring by M. John Harrison, The Pain Barrier by Joel Lane, Sinfonia Exspansiva by Barry N. Malzberg, Fever Blisters by Joyce Carol Oates, The Rock by Melanie Tem, An Outside Interest by Ruth Rendell, And Salome Danced by Kelley Eskridge, The Disquieting Muse by Kathe Koja, Holes by Sarah Clemens, That Old School Tie by Jack Womack, Ice Palace by Douglas Clegg, Serial Monogamist by Pat Cadigan, Black Nightgown by KW Jeter, Menage a Trois by Richard Christian Matheson, The Last Time by Lucius Shepard.
2nd edition (subtitled An Anthology of Erotic Horror): A Lady of Situations by Stephen Dedman, Hungry Skin by Lucy Taylor, Becky Lives by Harry Crews, The Swing by Nicholas Royle, Lover Doll by Wayne Allen Sallee, The Careful Geometry of Love by Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg, The Pain Barrier by Joel Lane, Menage a Trois by Richard Christian Matheson, On Amen's Shore by Clive Barker, Fever Blisters by Joyce Carol Oates, An Outside Interest by Ruth Rendell, And Salome Danced by Kelly Eskridge, That Old School Tie by Jack Womack, Ice Palace by Douglas Clegg, Serial Monogamist by Pat Cadigan, Dying in Bangkok by Dan Simmons.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Horror, Fantasy
DDC/MDS
813.0876208Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in EnglishBy typeGenre fictionAdventure fictionSpeculative fictionScience fictionCollections and anthologiesAnthologies
LCC
PS648 .H6Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureCollections of American literatureProse (General)
BISAC

Statistics

Members
154
Popularity
212,015
Reviews
2
Rating
(3.86)
Languages
English, French, German
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
7
ASINs
1