Tag Archives: Lust

Midnight Express by Michael Swanwick

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: Midnight Express
Author: Michael Swanwick
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Lust
Dates read: 12th Februrary 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: Phew!

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Synopsis

His job is to travel across the fae dimensions to find and work with new clients. On his first trip out, he finds an intriguing fae female who manages to tick all of the right buttons.

Thoughts

The set up for this short story is brilliant. The entire thing is a two-way conversation between the would-be lovers. And then the lovers during the act. It’s not only able to describe what is going on between the characters, but also the world that is built up in this story. It’s amazing how such a unique structure creates a wonderful story that lingers long after you turn the final page.

Pretty sure that in this story, the female lover is a sphinx. Which is something I just don’t want to imagine… a sphinx and a human. It’s more than a little weird, and it’s definitely got a totally different “flavor” going on. It really doesn’t sound like a very fun romp in the sheets. Especially when she has to ask you a riddle each time… and that defines whether you live or die.

This short story is kind of insane and intense. In all of the best ways possible. But still kind of insane and intense. There is just something a little bit wow about it all. Taking a totally different approach, creating a storyline around it and just twisting all of your expectations. That is definitely what I would call an intense short story.

<- MirrorsNo Human Hands to Touch ->

Image source: Goodreads

Mirrors by Garry Kilworth

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: Mirrors
Author: Garry Kilworth
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Lust
Dates read: 25th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: The world was not just moving.

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Synopsis

He’s stranded in a cit for the night, so he decides to go to a house of erotic fantasy. When he gets the extra special… well, it’s nothing like what he was expecting.

Thoughts

I really didn’t love the style of writing in this short story. But something about the tale really struck me. And lingered. For a long time afterwards. There was just something joyfully haunting and super weird about this tale that leaves it ingrained in my mind’s eye.

This is a super freaking weird, weird story. Which is why I didn’t actually mind it too much, once I got past the writing style. It was a little uncomfortable. But, considering I finished up 2019 by reading Alien Sex… it really wasn’t the uncomfortable. It also didn’t have that enlightening insight into the world that the Alien Sex stories tended to have. This was just a little bit lighter, and kind of good at making fun of people’s weird little bedroom perversions.

Sex is weird. I don’t think anyone can argue with that statement. The sex in this story, with prostitutes in some nameless Asian city… well, that just made it all that much weirder. Makes me glad that I’m sticking to my more vanilla sex…

<- Ashes on Her LipsMidnight Express ->

Image source: Goodreads

Wolfed by Tanith Lee

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: Wolfed
Author: Tanith Lee
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) & Redder Than Blood (Tanith Lee)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Lust, Retellings
Dates read: 6th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: But then, anyway, the elevator was a private one and this was the penthouse suite, so it would be kind of unlikely he had taken the wrong route, or made any mistake at all.

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Synopsis

Wolf is a man of the night. Then he runs into Rose, a gorgeous young woman who just wants to buy her “grandmother” a present…

Thoughts

I’ve just finished reading Lee’s Red as Blood collection. So I was kind of expecting something much, much darker than this story. It was incredibly lustful and intense in some ways, but it definitely wasn’t something I would call dark. There was also a point at the end which hints that they could, in fact, live happily ever after.

Actually this story didn’t just have a hint about happy endings, it had multiple. And pushed the boundaries of what I enjoy in a romance. This is the second story I’ve read which features a threesome, but, unlike the first one, I found this non-confronting. Actually, I found it kind of cute, funny and sweet in moments. Which was a very interesting reaction.

This was a fantastic short story. One that I will probably revisit in the future. There is just something fun about it, even when it’s dealing with a lot of sexuality. Maybe it’s because I’m reading a collection that deals with sexuality, but not in the truly intense way of Alien Sex.

<- Broke Heart BluesAshes on Her Lips ->

Image source: Goodreads

Picture Planes by Michaela Roessner

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Picture Planes
Author: Michaela Roessner
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Lust, Poetry
Dates read: 29th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Poem
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: Where two steams of blood

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Synopsis

A poem about sex, lust and the loss of innocence.

Thoughts

I can spend hours staring at one poem, pulling apart each nuance and meaning. It’s something I’m far more likely to do than when there is prose around. This poem made me so uncomfortable that I didn’t do that this time. After all, it’s in the Alien Sex collection, so it’s not going to be a comfortable story.

When I started reading this poem, I thought it was a little more innocent. About sex, sexuality and that loss of innocence that goes along with it.

It’s not.

It’s more about possession and rape and horrible aspects of sexuality. Or at least, that’s what I got out of it.

 <- And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side ReviewLove and Sex Among the Invertebrates Review ->
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And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side by James Tiptree, Jr.

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side
Author: James Tiptree, Jr.
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Lust
Dates read: 29th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1971
5th sentence, 74th page: I turned my holocam to show its big World Media insigne and started my bit about What It Meant to the People Back Home who were paying for it all.

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Synopsis

We always want what we can’t have. But what if what we want spells the end of our species?

Thoughts

I swear it’s the human condition – we always want what we just can’t have. It seems to be the number one thing that leads people to make some incredibly stupid decisions. It also seems to be the thing to that drives people to become greater versions of themselves. A double-edged knife. One that is a great theme to follow throughout this story. And was probably way too relatable at this point in my life.

In the case of this story, what humans desire is aliens. Aliens they actually can’t have sex with. Ones that they desire so severely that they are spelling the end of their species. It’s totally weird. Definitely gross. And made me think about when you want to follow your impulses. Sometimes it’s better to think through what you actually want.

This story is, like many others in the Alien Sex collection, weird and dark. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as the rest of the stories and nowhere near as graphic. But it still made me stop and think.

 <- Saving the World at the New Moon Motel ReviewPicture Planes Review ->
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Saving the World at the New Moon Motel by Roberta Lannes

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Saving the World at the New Moon Motel
Author: Roberta Lannes
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Humour, Lust
Dates read: 19th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: He ain’t gonna come, Terri.

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Synopsis

Terri just wants a little bit of revenge after her Old Man walked out on her. So she finds an alien in a little diner. It’s certainly an experience to last a lifetime.

Thoughts

The introduction to this short story highlights that this is one of the authors lighter pieces. However, since this whole collection has been a little twisted and not what I would consider light… I was a little unsure as to whether this would be true. It turns out that this is quite a light-hearted and fun story about alien sex. One that had me laughing throughout quite merrily.

I’m pretty good at imagining images for what I’m reading… I struggled to picture the penises (or is it peni?) in this story. There was just something a little unimaginable about this. It might just be my very (happily) narrow view of the world and people’s bodies. But, I think that the close alignment to a normal body, just with a few extra appendages is what mad it so difficult to imagine.

Unlike literally every single other short story in the Alien Sex collection, this one was fun, light and an easy read. It didn’t leave me feeling uncomfortable when I turned the final page. Rather, I was just smiling and feeling highly amused by the occurrences and characters in this story.

 <- Scales ReviewAnd I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill’s Side Review ->
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Scales by Lewis Shiner

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Scales
Author: Lewis Shiner
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Lust, Science fiction
Dates read: 17th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: I woke up to Richard moaning.

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Synopsis

When a woman finds out that her husband is having an affair, she takes their young daughter and leaves. But what if the woman who has her hooks in him is more than she seems? Who will she save?

Thoughts

This story started out simple enough. Woman thinks husband is drifting from her. Starts to believe that he’s having an affair. Then it starts to get weird, dark and twisted. And their daughter is pulled into the crazy. It very quickly becomes quite an uncomfortable story and anything but normal.

There seems to be a trend in the literature and common belief that it is men that are unfaithful. I’m not entirely sure, because I know people of both genders who have done the dirty. But it does highlight the questions “why are men unfaithful?” and “why do marriages end?”. It does this in a pretty intense way, but at least it asks the questions and makes you stop and think.

Compared to the other stories in the Alien Sex collection, this one is way less twisted and dark. It could almost pass for normal if there wasn’t one little bit of “otherworldly” presence. For this reason I probably enjoyed it a little bit more than some of the other stories in this collection. Because I didn’t finish it and immediately feel insanely uncomfortable.

 <- Arousal ReviewSaving the World at the New Moon Motel Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Arousal by Richard Christian Matheson

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Arousal
Author: Richard Christian Matheson
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Lust, Twisted romance
Dates read: 13th December 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: He tied her to the bedposts with silk scarves and blew softly onto her salty mouth, gently kissed her eyelids.

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Synopsis

All she wanted was one night of passion. Something that made her feel things that her husband just can’t… but sometimes such things come at a price… a very expensive one.

Thoughts

Everything in life has a cost. Sometimes the cost is worth it, sometimes you discover afterwards, not so much… and this short story highlights that even arousal comes at a cost. Most of the time it’s one we’re willing to pay, but in the case of this story… she really isn’t willing to pay for what she gets. And it becomes quite tragic quickly after this.

As with all of the short stories in the Alien Sex collection, this is horrifying. At first I was like, okay, being seduced by a demonic force. Been there, read that. And then you get to the conclusion. And you realise that the price is WAY more intense than anything I’ve ever read. Intense, terrifying and a great reminder that sometimes you just need to keep it in your pants and be faithful to the one you love.

Great sex is important. But, sometimes you should settle for good sex and a great relationship. At least, that’s what I got from this story – she’s on the prowl because her husband isn’t able to take her to the super high happy place. The price that she pays to get there… seriously not worth it. Like ick, ew, they did not live happily ever after.

 <- All My Darling Daughters ReviewScales Review ->
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All My Darling Daughters by Connie Willis

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: All My Darling Daughters
Author: Connie Willis
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Lust
Dates read: 7th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: xx
5th sentence, 74th page: To save yourself.

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Synopsis

She’s boarding in Hell… and all she wants is a bit of jig jig. Yet, the boys have found a new companion and things are going to get MUCH worse.

Thoughts

This story is twisted, lustful and deeply disturbing. It talks a bit about the college experience… but I don’t EVER want to experience this version of college. So damn not okay. So damn twisted. And that was my thoughts at the beginning. Those feelings intensify drastically when you read the ending. I actually had to close my eyes and go to my happy place at the ending…

I did really love the language used in this short story. It was completely crass and uncomfortable. But yet, somehow still really polite. And well educated. It was like a literature-heavy version of filthy talk. A weird little juxtaposition, but one that actually worked brilliantly.

One word to the wise though… this tale does have some serious triggers. Namely incest and rape. Or at least, that’s how it felt to me… I’m going to go and find myself a nice, happy story to read now…

 <- Omnisexual ReviewArousal Review ->
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Roadside Rescue by Pat Cadigan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Roadside Rescue
Author: Pat Cadigan
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Lust
Dates read: 16th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: We scared it, he thought, horrified.

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Synopsis

Broken down by the side of the road, a strange being decides to help him. But what he is asked for in return is a little… uncomfortable…

Thoughts

At first I thought this story wasn’t such a ridiculously uncomfortable tale… especially considering that it’s in the Alien Sex collection. And then, when I stopped reading and actually thought about it… I kind of realised that it’s probably one of the more uncomfortable stories that I’ve read so far. Because it’s subtle. And you don’t quite realise how sick it is until you finish it and move onto something… dare I say it, more “normal”.

Having said that, it’s probably one of my favourite Alien Sex short stories so far. It highlights that we all have our very different and unique sexual proclivities. That we all have the things that we find super exciting, and if you find a willing (and I stress willing here) partner, then it’s totally fine. This short story didn’t really have a willing partner. But then, he was only mildly violated (I never thought that I’d write that sentence in such a blasé manner).

All in all, I enjoyed this story. But I also finished it and sat there seriously questioning my responses to it. And wondering if there are parts of my own sex life that would make people sit there and go “huh”? (I’ll never know, because it’s not something I tend to discuss in intricate detail… but still).

 <- Dancing Chickens ReviewOmnisexual Review ->
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