Best Women’s Erotica 2012 edited by Violet Blue. Publisher: Cleis Press (2012). Fiction/ erotica. 978-1573447553. paperback. 192 pages. $15.95

The only erotica I’ve read is The Story of O by Pauline Reage and Delta of Venus by Anais Nin. A collection that’s been deemed the best intrigues me. Of course I’m by no means an expert in this genre. Am I supposed to be turned on, shocked or in some way motivated by the stories in this collection? Sure a few turned me on a bit—the voyeurism and exhibitionism described in “Eddie’s All-Night Diner” by K.D. Grace; Remittance Girl delves into an old-fashioned fantasy in “Pleasure’s Apprentice” as well as another foray into exhibitionism in “Pagoda” by Sommer Marsden.

My expectations for women’s erotica are that the woman gets completely turned on and then gets off. She’s not forced to do something to a guy. That’s a male fantasy. Like a woman choking on a cock. At least to me. I don’t want that in my erotic writing. It’s in a few of these stories. The woman is submissive and I don’t find that to be a turn on because the guy gets off and the woman doesn’t always. At least in my experience or in my mind. As with any collection of stories, the reader’s bound to like some more than others. Best Women’s Erotica 2012 is worth checking out to see what appeals to you.

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