Hunting, Racing, Shooting (Fulani)
Somewhat
more down to earth than his earlier collection, The Museum of Deviant Desires, the narrative in Fulani’s Hunting, Racing, Shooting largely
eschews the “meta” in favor of a more straightforward, less cerebral type of
storytelling. This is not to say that there isn’t much to enjoy here; this
little book, consisting of three interlocking episodes, features the author’s
signature brand of techno-bondage, his fascination with the unexpected erotic
possibilities of the most seemingly ordinary objects, and his masterly use of setting as catalyst for action. As with the brilliant stories in Museum, here plot proceeds from
setting—in this case, an old military base re-purposed as a paintball/airsoft
range and occasional-BDSM playground—taking advantage of erotic potential in a
way that feels almost perfectly organic. The first story, Hide and Seek is just that, while Horses for Courses takes readers into the weirdly charming world of
pony play, and L.A.R.P., a weekend of
para-military roleplaying with a nod to classic sexploitation flicks of the
1970s.
Recommended.
If
. . . Then: A Collection of Erotic Romance Stories (Emerald)
This collection of ten short tales has its moments. There are some clever set-ups
and a smattering of interesting ideas. Unfortunately, most of these stories
fall flat before the end, mainly because author Emerald doesn’t seem to grasp
the notion that readers need a bit of lingering mystery beyond the boundaries
of the written narrative. Just as it’s important to leave something to the
imagination in the bedroom, it’s equally important to leave enough about
backstory and motivation unsaid so that readers will have something to think and
guess about long after the book has been closed. Instead, all too often, it
feels as if the author is hitting us in the face with a sledgehammer while
insisting on telling us “what the story is about” in torturous and unnecessary
detail. This gratuitous explaining is done in prose that is often stiff and
vaguely detached, with an almost clinical feel about it.
But
what of the sexy bits? Does If . . . Then
deliver on its promise of “erotic
romance” in the here and now? Granted, I
could have gone a lifetime without reading Bad Sex Writing Award-worthy sentences
such as “He pounded her like a determined
woodpecker.” Yet, the author is able on occasion to delve more sensitive
depths, as in this passage from the second story in the collection, Soft and Grey:
He stopped just inside the doorway.
Before he realized what he was doing, his hand reached behind him and pushed
the door closed. Kate’s shadow didn’t move. When he heard the faint latch, he
slowly took a step forward and moved around the pool table toward her. She set
her drink down. As he got closer, the smoothness of her skin took on a glow in
the faint backlight. Bethany’s piano playing started up again. Aaron continued
forward and slipped his arm around Kate’s waist before he could see her grey
eyes clearly. If they looked as they had the last time he’d seen them, he knew
he wouldn’t have the nerve to touch her.
To Aaron it felt as if her body
tried to stiffen but was receiving mixed signals somewhere inside. He pushed
his mouth to hers, suddenly breathless with wanting her. Grabbing her with both
arms, he twirled her around and lifted her in one movement to the pool table
where she sat with her legs wrapped around her waist as he kissed her with a
desperation he couldn’t remember ever feeling. It didn’t have to do with her
body, with fucking her. It was just her. Or him. Or both, he couldn’t tell. He
just knew that the very act of touching her was like an orgasm. Their clothes
were all on and her hands were touching only her waist, and he felt like he was
coming—like something was climaxing in him that wasn’t sexual but felt just as
powerful, as though he couldn’t bear to stop touching her.
The
best and most erotically charged story is . . . Then, the final entry in the collection, featuring the same characters
from the opening tale If . . . That
first story is little more than a set-up, and a fairly dull one at that; a
young heroine yearning for romance, sex, and excitement, while trying to
convince herself that the stable, grownup relationship she’s in is just fine.
In continuing the storyline, for once, the author delivers a satisfyingly sexy payoff. I’d suggest readers look at these
interconnected stories first, before exploring the rest of the collection,
which, unfortunately, I cannot recommend.
Next
on EFTBB: Best of 2014
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