What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mammoth Book of New Erotica, 1998
This unexpurgated collection of erotica from all over the world brings together some of the greatest writers on love and sex to stimulate, excite, and surprise. Among the contributors are Martin Amis, Poppy Z. Brite, Carol Ann Davis, and Lawrence Schimel.
608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Maxim Jakubowski
283 books163 followersMaxim Jakubowski is a crime, erotic, and science fiction writer and critic.
Jakubowski was born in England by Russian-British and Polish parents, but raised in France. Jakubowski has also lived in Italy and has travelled extensively. Jakubowski edited the science fiction anthology Twenty Houses of the Zodiac in 1979 for the 37th World Science Fiction Convention (Seacon '79) in Brighton. He also contributed a short story to that anthology. He has now published almost 100 books in a variety of areas.
He has worked in book publishing for many years, which he left to open the Murder One bookshop[1], the UK's first specialist crime and mystery bookstore. He contributes to a variety of newspapers and magazines, and was for eight years the crime columnist for Time Out and, presently, since 2000, the crime reviewer for The Guardian. He is also the literary director of London's Crime Scene Festival and a consultant for the International Mystery Film Festival, Noir in Fest, held annually in Courmayeur, Italy. He is one the leading editors in the crime and mystery and erotica field, in which he has published many major anthologies.
His novels include "It's You That I Want To Kiss", "Because She Thought She Loved Me", "The State Of Montana", "On Tenderness Express", "Kiss me Sadly" and "Confessions of a Romantic Pornographer". His short story collections are "Life in the World of Women", "Fools for Lust" and the collaborative "American Casanova". He is a regular broadcaster on British TV and radio and was recently voted the 4th Sexiest Writer of 2,007 on a poll on the crimespace website.
Jakubowski was born in England by Russian-British and Polish parents, but raised in France. Jakubowski has also lived in Italy and has travelled extensively. Jakubowski edited the science fiction anthology Twenty Houses of the Zodiac in 1979 for the 37th World Science Fiction Convention (Seacon '79) in Brighton. He also contributed a short story to that anthology. He has now published almost 100 books in a variety of areas.
He has worked in book publishing for many years, which he left to open the Murder One bookshop[1], the UK's first specialist crime and mystery bookstore. He contributes to a variety of newspapers and magazines, and was for eight years the crime columnist for Time Out and, presently, since 2000, the crime reviewer for The Guardian. He is also the literary director of London's Crime Scene Festival and a consultant for the International Mystery Film Festival, Noir in Fest, held annually in Courmayeur, Italy. He is one the leading editors in the crime and mystery and erotica field, in which he has published many major anthologies.
His novels include "It's You That I Want To Kiss", "Because She Thought She Loved Me", "The State Of Montana", "On Tenderness Express", "Kiss me Sadly" and "Confessions of a Romantic Pornographer". His short story collections are "Life in the World of Women", "Fools for Lust" and the collaborative "American Casanova". He is a regular broadcaster on British TV and radio and was recently voted the 4th Sexiest Writer of 2,007 on a poll on the crimespace website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 6, 2007
I haven't really liked the books in this series that I have read. A lot of the sex is violent or somehow linked to violence. I didn't think the stories were all that good or all that hot. I recommend The Best American Erotic series instead.
April 30, 2017
Well, look at what I found! The benefits of really organizing every inch of your space. Had totally forgotten this little volume. Trying to remember when and where I purchased it. I'm guessing 10 years ago. So I guess I'll have to read it to rate it properly, darn...
January 14, 2008
i would be revealing too much of myself if i told you how many times i have read (and will read) this anthology.
August 10, 2008
Most of the shorter stories are good, and there's a handful that are fantastic. However, like most compilations, there's a few duds in there as well.
December 16, 2016
Pretty average, some stories were outright dull in every way.
January 3, 2025
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
I discovered "The Mammoth Book of New Erotica" during a transformative winter residency at a writers' retreat in rural Vermont. Nestled beside a crackling fire, wrapped in a handknit blanket while snow blanketed the world outside, I found myself immersed in this kaleidoscopic exploration of human desire.
Jakubowski's curation is masterful, weaving together diverse voices that pulse with authenticity. Each story offers a unique window into desire's many chambers, from whispered confessions to bold declarations. The collection moves like a symphony, each piece building upon the last to create something greater than its parts.
What strikes me most is how the anthology honors the full spectrum of sensual experience. Stories range from tender explorations of first love to sophisticated meditations on power and vulnerability. The writing itself mirrors this diversity – some pieces flow like poetry, others strike with documentary precision, each finding its own rhythm to capture desire's dance.
Standout pieces include Susan Sontag's contribution, which transforms intellectual rigor into erotic energy through language alone. M. Christian's story pulses with cyberpunk sensibility while maintaining deep emotional resonance. Pat Califia's piece challenges conventions while drawing readers into intimate emotional terrain.
Most compelling is how these stories integrate physical desire with deeper explorations of identity and connection. The description of fingertips tracing old scars becomes a meditation on vulnerability; a chance encounter in a rain-soaked city transforms into an exploration of fate and choice.
Years later, certain passages surface in memory like perfume: the story of lovers communicating only through handwritten notes left in library books; another about desire awakening in a Japanese garden where every falling petal carries meaning; the piece that unfolds entirely in the space between two heartbeats.
The collection's genius lies in its refusal to separate physical desire from emotional and intellectual engagement. These aren't merely stories about bodies meeting; they're explorations of how desire shapes our understanding of ourselves and others. Each piece adds another layer to our understanding of how passion moves through human experience.
For those seeking erotica that engages mind, heart, and body equally, this collection stands as a masterwork. It demonstrates how skilled writers can illuminate desire's complexity while maintaining both artistic integrity and sensual power. The stories remind us that true eroticism lives in the intersection of physical sensation and emotional resonance.
In the end, what lingers is not just individual scenes or characters, but a deeper appreciation for how desire weaves through all aspects of human experience. Each story offers a different facet of this truth, building toward a richer understanding of how passion shapes our lives.
The anthology proves that the best erotic writing isn't about shocking or titillating – it's about illuminating the human condition through the lens of desire. It's a reminder that our most intimate moments can also be our most profound.
I discovered "The Mammoth Book of New Erotica" during a transformative winter residency at a writers' retreat in rural Vermont. Nestled beside a crackling fire, wrapped in a handknit blanket while snow blanketed the world outside, I found myself immersed in this kaleidoscopic exploration of human desire.
Jakubowski's curation is masterful, weaving together diverse voices that pulse with authenticity. Each story offers a unique window into desire's many chambers, from whispered confessions to bold declarations. The collection moves like a symphony, each piece building upon the last to create something greater than its parts.
What strikes me most is how the anthology honors the full spectrum of sensual experience. Stories range from tender explorations of first love to sophisticated meditations on power and vulnerability. The writing itself mirrors this diversity – some pieces flow like poetry, others strike with documentary precision, each finding its own rhythm to capture desire's dance.
Standout pieces include Susan Sontag's contribution, which transforms intellectual rigor into erotic energy through language alone. M. Christian's story pulses with cyberpunk sensibility while maintaining deep emotional resonance. Pat Califia's piece challenges conventions while drawing readers into intimate emotional terrain.
Most compelling is how these stories integrate physical desire with deeper explorations of identity and connection. The description of fingertips tracing old scars becomes a meditation on vulnerability; a chance encounter in a rain-soaked city transforms into an exploration of fate and choice.
Years later, certain passages surface in memory like perfume: the story of lovers communicating only through handwritten notes left in library books; another about desire awakening in a Japanese garden where every falling petal carries meaning; the piece that unfolds entirely in the space between two heartbeats.
The collection's genius lies in its refusal to separate physical desire from emotional and intellectual engagement. These aren't merely stories about bodies meeting; they're explorations of how desire shapes our understanding of ourselves and others. Each piece adds another layer to our understanding of how passion moves through human experience.
For those seeking erotica that engages mind, heart, and body equally, this collection stands as a masterwork. It demonstrates how skilled writers can illuminate desire's complexity while maintaining both artistic integrity and sensual power. The stories remind us that true eroticism lives in the intersection of physical sensation and emotional resonance.
In the end, what lingers is not just individual scenes or characters, but a deeper appreciation for how desire weaves through all aspects of human experience. Each story offers a different facet of this truth, building toward a richer understanding of how passion shapes our lives.
The anthology proves that the best erotic writing isn't about shocking or titillating – it's about illuminating the human condition through the lens of desire. It's a reminder that our most intimate moments can also be our most profound.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews