The book is a collection of erotic experiences, I assume from the author to his female friend. Some are quite good and some I didn't understand. There is really no sex in the stories but they are good written and thought up fantasy's. After reading the male version story it's interesting to hear the female friends comments on what was written. A good book if you really want to read something different. I did enjoy the entire content

I think, therefore I am, said Descartes.
First of all, I am. Then comes thinking. Said the existentialists.

And "Existential Smut" seeks to give this primacy its prerogative - to seek truth in our blunt nakedness.
The short stories in the volume very cleverly and stirringly address the blunt play on the one hand, the tangled aberrations on the other, that our urge for lust can result in.

This lust, this desire changes in the course of life.
This desire, this passion increases, but also collapses again.
This desire wants to be bargained for.
And it disguises itself only too gladly.
It is dreamed of - the dreams analyzed in succession.
And, and, and.

One should not expect porn from this anthology (although porn is widely discussed).
It is literature, good literature, that made me think.
What greater praise can you give a booklet? ( )

The title and description portray a book full of erotic fantasy, however that is not the case. The short stories that are included seem to cover the idea of sexual fantasies without actually diving into them. I honestly expected more, though that may be my fault and not the book. ( )

Update:
I did receive the book. I would think of this as a compilation of stories; ones that are short and quick, others very long chapters. Over the almost three hundred pages, I’ve found three stories i liked, and of the three, only two that were memorable enough to write about mere minutes after finishing. I’ve read erotica, both stuff posted here and stuff on Reddit or other sites —
This wouldn’t even rate on there. The essays in the later half ish of the book are wholly uninteresting, and I didn’t even bother reading the interludes. One of my college professors a very long time ago taught that if it was worth reading, they would put it in page. So either defend your interludes and essays, change the altogether confusing aim or the way the book is structured now, or harmonise the content as is. Either way, I will need more sex to even give this an R rating. I’ve seen worse on daytime telly.

Was due to receive this book for early reviewers, and received the email below after a protracted wait. I have yet to hear anything from the publisher, but from the review already posted it doesn't look like the book is very positively reviewed. It's just very frustrating the Library Thing removed the member giveaways to remove the issues with not having reliable books, and yet, here we are: still without a book. Shame.

"... official publication date is March 10, 2023. For various reasons Hapax needs an extra week or two to do last minute revisions. So, no ebook now, but I'll be contacting you again March 10, 2023 at the latest, possibly sooner with the download link. Stay tuned. Thanks." ( )

I do my best to avoid one star reviews, and I find that it is usually a mismatch between author's description and my expectation. Which is perhaps the kindest thing I can say about this collection: it's description, much like it's content, is pure fantasy. Fantasy that I'm sure appeals to someone, but certainly excludes many others. However, the best fantasy tends to look at the world that is and imagine something different. The fantasies in this series sadly uphold much of the world as it is, which a gimmicky foil of the idea that the protaganist is in dialogue with a femme friend.
One major limit in my own reading is that the formatting of the ebook is not finalized, so vignettes that perhaps should have followed essays did not link in my reader and I was left without the ability to read the connecting narratives directly. However, I'm not sure there is much that can contextualize opening a fantasy series with a sotry of a woman embracing her "true love" for a cop who pulled her over and declined to ticket her in exchange for a cheap date, or the very "nice guy" undertones of the self-inserted protagonist who avows he isn't just a "nice guy" while embellishing a fantasy night with "the one who got away."
I have real concerns for guys who might read this: it upholds some really problematic and false believes about sexuality, gender, and pursuit. It tries too hard at the pretense of being intellectual and artsy, while landing in territory that seems more suited for certain subreddits.
This book would benefit from much stronger editing and more critical reader feedback before circulating to a wider audience. ( )