The Best American Erotica 2004

by Susie Bright (Editor)

APPEALING TO EVERY TASTE AND TYPE OF SEXUAL ARRANGEMENT, NOTHING IS TABOO AND ANYTHING GOES IN THIS CUTTING-EDGE COLLECTION EDITED BY SUSIE BRIGHT -- AMERICA'S TASTEMAKER OF EROTICA

Book Magazine called her "America's ranking connoisseur of sex, porn, and freedom of physical expression." Tristan Taormino exalted, "The absolute bomb" in The Village Voice. More discerning than any judge and far ahead of the curve, Susie Bright plucks the best stories from every genre to create her much-anticipated annual collection.

In The Best American Erotica 2004, Broadway superstar Alan Cumming tells of the deep knowing offered by one stranger to another after casual sex; in science fiction hotshot Geoffrey Landis's bawdy fairy tale, we learn about the very first penis; Touré's breathless prose poem sets us up with an evening's worth of erotic visitors; and in Jerry Stahl's story, a man recalls his boyhood fascination with his mother's friends and their elaborate undergarments.

Always taking her readers to undiscovered places, Bright never disappoints in giving them an uninhibited, something-for-everyone collection of the year's most divine erotica.

CONTRIBUTORS

CLAIRE TRISTRAM, STEVE ALMOND, SHARON WACHSLER, RACHEL KRAMER BUSSEL, ALAN CUMMING, DAVID R. ENOCH, DAWN O'HARA, BILL NOBLE, JOHN YOHE, A. W. HILL, SUSANNAH INDIGO, MAGGIE ESTEP, JAMESON CURRIER, R. GAY, RACHEL RESNICK, SIMON SHEPPARD, GEOFFREY A. LANDIS, JOY VANNUYS, TOURÉ, DOMINIC SANTI, JERRY STAHL, I. K. VELASCO, LISA MONTANARELLI, JAMES STROUSE

Genres: Erotica, Fiction, Short Stories, Anthologies

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 6, 2004

About the author

Susannah "Susie" Bright (also known as Susie Sexpert) is a writer, speaker, teacher, audio-show host, performer, all on the subject of sexuality. She is one of the first writers/activists referred to as a sex-positive feminist.

Reviews

[Christopher Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is mildly amusing here is the incredible inventiveness/imagination of the human mind in considering the subject of sex. Certainly no proof is needed but the range of situations into which eroticism sneaks its happy face is quite astonishing. This entry into what is a truncated series of annual compilations contains a suitable variety of sexual assignations and writing styles so that you can always find something here that engages you ... if you're so inclined. I am; I did.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While few stories left me truly hot by the end (a notable exception is the Red Dress Tale), stories like the first two left their indelible marks. They were erotic works, meant not for pleasure, but to stretch the feelings of comfort and to put sex into previously un-thought-of locales. Out of the 4 or so anthologies in the BAE series I've read, this is by far my favorite.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an anthology of erotic short stories, this one does a good job of covering most sexual interests and orientations without forgoing quality creative writing. A few stories were not necessarily what I would categorize as 'erotic' but enjoyable nonetheless.

[HeavyReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been so long since I read this collection that I can't remember what my favorite stories are. It will be fun to reread it!

[Roxane]

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