This is a collection to be savoured like a sightseeing tour. The stories show imagination and excitement without once forgetting about their shared background.
In “Monster” Francis Ann Kerr takes her readers to the nefarious Torture Gardens. “The Tourist,” by Clarice Clique is a veritable whirlwind visit through the city, touching on the Tate Modern, the London Eye, Piccadilly Circus and a handful of other venerable attractions. In “What are you Wearing?” Matt Thorne appears to answer every visitor to the city’s question about what happens to all the luggage that goes missing form Terminal 5.
As a writer, and as someone who also teaches creative writing, I think the most appealing element of this collection is that each author has provided notes on their inspiration. Elizabeth Coldwell talks about the influence of Soho, and how that dictated her narrative for “Rain and Neon.” NJ Streitberger discusses the true incident that inspired the fictional account of “The Girl on the Egyptian Escalator.” Kevin Mullins and Marcelle Perks explain the mechanics of their winning collaboration on “Strawberry Pink.” It’s a fascinating glimpse behind the thought processes that have created these compelling stories.
Perhaps the clever thing about these anthologies is that they’ve been edited by Maxim Jakubowski. Anthologies need to be edited by someone who has a feel for the subject matter and it goes without saying that Maxim is well travelled: regularly jetting between New York, London and a host of other exotic places. He is undoubtedly savvy to the nuances of each anthology’s destination – making him ideally placed to edit stories focused on specific locations.
And Maxim also knows about sex. As the presiding editor of the Mammoth Best New Erotica series, it’s acknowledged that he knows a good erotic story when he sees one. In short: Sex in the City: London is a testament to Maxim’s abilities as an editor and it deserves to be a triumphant success. The authors who have contributed know how to tell a story and how to convey the essence of a city. And who could ask for more than that in a book?
“Variety’s the very spice of life, that gives it all flavour.” So says the author William Cowper and so say I in regards to a recent read of “Sex in the City”. This collection of 12 erotic stores is hot and packs a punch. There is something for everyone; the stores cover everything from love to BDSM to raunchy sex to…well whatever you might thing of really.
Some of the highlights include:
The interesting effects when dressed in other people’s clothing;
A hot and fabulous trip to Torture Garden;
Put to the test in front of strangers;
Kidnap and the Stockholm Syndrome;
Role play and groups;
Art and sex and secrets and exhibitionism.
All of the stories of this particular volume take place in London, that thriving, heaving city where people can do whatever they want to do, whenever they want to do it and however they want to do it. These stories are a fitting tribute to a diverse, beautiful city that offers its citizens anything they might need or want.
Each story is complete within itself and many of them leave the reader wanting more. ‘What happens next?’ was my usual thought. The characters and situations are real and complex, not fake and plastic and unattainable – this is partly why the stories are so compelling. Anyone who reads the stories will enjoy them all, but will have some favourites among them depending on what they like.
