Tag Archives: Michaela Roessner

Alien Sex edited by Ellen Datlow

Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Alien Sex
Author: Ellen Datlow, Leigh Kennedy, Rick Wilber, Harlan Ellison, Scott Baker, Larry Niven, K.W. Jeter, Philip Jose Farmer, Lisa Tuttle, Bruce McAllister, Edward Bryant, Pat Cadigan, Geoff Ryman, Connie Willis, Richard Christian Matheson, Lewis Shiner, Roberta Lannes, James Tiptree, Jr., Michaela Roessner & Pat Murphy
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Science fiction, Short story collections
Dates read: 27th August – 29th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: The front row of pews was reserved for the faculty.

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Synopsis

In these 19 evocative pieces of short fiction, best-selling and award-winning writers tackle such intriguing issues as sex by telepathy, the pick-up scene on other planets, and making love with Superman. Thought-provoking, often shocking, always entertaining, Alien Sex daringly explores those barriers between men and women that can make them seem so “alien” to one another. Probing the current and future state, shape, and complex problems of the human male/female relationship, this fantastic collection will make you think about sex in a whole new way.

Thoughts

This is the single most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever read. Like wow uncomfortable. And not in bits and pieces. But pretty much every single story in this was uncomfortable. Not that that’s bad. But it’s very hard to read a book quickly when you know that things aren’t going to be, well, pleasant. Which makes it incredibly WOW to read. I suggest this to everyone who loves their science fiction.

This collection seriously makes you think about the world around you and how we perceive it. More importantly, it repeatedly makes you question sex, our approaches to sexuality and even how we deal with the opposite gender. And sometimes even questions of gender. By using these insane, far out storylines, it makes you seriously consider this aspect of our lives.

Sex is really weird. I don’t know that anyone can argue that it isn’t. Using science fiction and aliens just helps to highlight that fact. And kind of act as enlightenment for a number of my own practices and beliefs. Definitely an interesting collection…

<- The Marker ReviewHer Furry Face ->
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Picture Planes by Michaela Roessner

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

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
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 ->
Image source: Amazon