Message-ID: <42274asstr$1052172605@assm.asstr-mirror.org> Return-Path: X-Original-Message-ID: <20030505174604.10146.qmail@nym.alias.net> From: Crimson Dragon X-ASSTR-Original-Date: 5 May 2003 17:46:04 -0000 Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} {Reviews} Crimson's Top Stories - April 2003 Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 18:10:05 -0400 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail X-Is-Review: yes Approved: Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories,alt.sex.stories.d Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation X-Story-Submission: X-Moderator-ID: dennyw, gill-bates -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- As always, this top story list is only my opinion of the best stories posted in the preceding month or so -- it is not based on technical merits, or erotic content, but rather my relative personal enjoyment of the varying stories presented for whatever reasons. It is not a popularity contest or a vote, nor is it a definitive guide. Your tastes likely differ from mine. As always, thanks to all the authors out there for all the stories. - Crimson (dcrimson@yahoo.com) http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Reviews/www http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Dragon/www http://members.tripod.com/files/Authors/Dr/wwwagon_Of_Crimson +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Crimson's Top Stories - April 2003 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- # 1 - Lap Dancer -- Katie McN # 2 - Female Plumbing Problem -- Vulgar Argot # 3 - Afraid -- Dryad # 4 - Monsters -- Alexis S. # 5 - Chocolate Knights and Chocolate Daze -- Gary Jordan Honourable Mentions: Texas -- Medea F.K. Picnic Crumbs -- Kellis Christine -- Writerzblocked +---------------------------------------------------------------------- #1 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lap Dancer -- Katie McN (Lesbian FF rom M+F NC viol hum) Story: http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41977 Author's Site: http://www.katie-mcn.com Mary Kay's life fell apart after Mallory died. In an effort to forget, Mary Kay sets off on a whirlwind of honouring her friend's memory, destiny and exploration. But the worst -- the absolute worst -- are the white lines, and what she must do to support her nightly escapes. I really liked this story. It had a gritty sense of realism that drew me in and showed me things that I'm glad that I've never had to experience. Katie's character here is exceptional -- from her narrator to the people that surround her. I felt like I was there, addicted to the story as much as Mary Kay was addicted to her lifestyle. Smart. Sexy. And full of character, plot, sex and deeper themes. Go read. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- #2 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Female Plumbing Problem -- Vulgar Argot (MF, magic, softcore) Story: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/VulgarArgot/plumbing.txt http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41676 Author's Site: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/VulgarArgot/index.html I had no idea what I was getting into with this. When I picked it up from the news server, I guess I was expecting one of those rather dull gynaecological/doctor/nurse stories that seem to be so popular. Wrong. You see, Chris is a software engineer, and a rather busy one at that. Awful users. Long hours. You get the picture. One night, after he's cancelled a date for the third time, he returns home to find his water tap functioning oddly. And so, he finds a wrench, and makes his way into the basement. Finding the clog, he loosens the pipe, but what he finds isn't exactly what he was expecting. Instead of murky, brackish clog water, a naiad appears forming from the water -- beautiful, naked, enticing, and very lost. You might think that's all there is to it? Chris bonking a beautiful water naiad? Let me assure you that Vulgar Argot has far, far more in store for us than such a simple plot. [ "Are you a god?" Chris knew he should answer yes. He remembered what happened in Ghostbusters when the answer had been no. But ... ] Nothing wrong with it. Having recently seen Bill Murray and the crew, I have to give this the award for best line used in a story, at least in so far as I read for these reviews. [ ... wrapping his arms around her waist. Eventually, the {weigh} caused her to stumble, falling to one knee. ] Close. 'Weight'. Typo. Vulgar has really written a rather unique story here. It's sexy. It's fun. It effectively mixes a wonderful story, with a touch of offbeat humour, great characters, and beautiful Eros. So, don't let the title fool you. It is about as far from a gynaecological examination as you'll get. But don't take my word for it. Go read it yourself. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- #3 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Afraid -- Dryad (MF, high school, wartime) Story: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/afraid.html http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41601 Author's Site: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/ When Gary enlists, our narrator doesn't quite know how to feel. Doesn't matter. She feels, and that feeling is fear. Fear for him. Fear for her. Fear for everything. Fear can be a powerful motivator, and our beautiful narrator makes some of the toughest decisions of her young life. And that takes bravery of a different sort. [ He seemed to expect it. Maybe {its} some sort of guy thing that I just can't understand. ] Just a typo. Dryad gets it right everywhere else. This story had an air of realism to it, and being a realistic Dragon, I like that. I really felt that I knew Dryad's characters here, and their emotion and their actions seemed to fit the plot. In these times, perhaps such stories are even more important, but this story would be good no matter what the outside world was doing. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 Editorial Note: Dryad didn't code this story, nor is she required to. Story codes are only approximate, as generated by a half-asleep Dragon. +---------------------------------------------------------------------- #4 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Monsters -- Alexis S. (MF rom tragedy) Story: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Alexis_S/www/HIA_monsters.htm http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41672 Author's Site: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Alexis_S/www/ April is Sexual Abuse Awareness month, or something like that. That's why Alexis has reposted this story. And I'm glad that she did. It's appropriate. And I've been waiting patiently for a repost, simply so I could review this story. Charlotte arrives in Alaska in a blur, driving her vehicle into a ditch. But when Robert arrives to help, he discovers a girl far more banged up than a simple drive into a ditch was likely to produce. And so begins their relationship, and our story. This is not a happy story, but it is a story that needs to be told. "Monsters" reveals a harsh and gritty reality of abuse -- one that far too many people have to face, and only the strong survive. This story shows the harsh realities of sexual abuse that are often glossed over around here in an attempt at titillation. It isn't pretty, but is it real. The story focuses on Charlotte and her ordeal, in unusual clarity. If we, as writers of erotica cannot explore such themes, then who can? This isn't erotica, but it is a story that tackles related themes that aren't explored enough in our desires to produce pure titillation. The Eros score below doesn't reflect titillation in this case -- this story really cannot be classed as 'erotica' in any classic sense. Rather, the Eros score reflects a subtle beauty that Alexis has managed to capture above and beyond the horrific subject matter that she has tackled. As I've said before, Eros does not equate with quantity of sex -- at least not in these reviews. I felt for Charlotte, and I think that the images within will remain with me for a long, long time, disturbing as they are. If you are looking for a more typical BDSM story, where the lady of the hour can only cry out to "Rape me, more!", then you ought to look elsewhere -- but then again, maybe you shouldn't. Well done, Alexis, especially considering the subject matter. Sometimes we need to think. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- #5 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Knights and Chocolate Daze -- Gary Jordan (MF, rom, lt bond, oral, anal) Story: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/gary/www/GJ_Chocolate_Knights.htm http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41497 Author's Site: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/gary/www/ After a costume party, our narrator gets a little (well ... a lot) drunk. Jeanine dutifully takes him home, and tries to get him into bed. Unfortunately (or is that fortunately), our narrator still remembers his purpose and plans, and Jeanine gets a surprise that she wasn't quite expecting. [ The theme was Knights in Armor. Jeanine stood modeling what appeared to be a [... costume ...] with a well-known {lable}. ] At first I wondered if 'lable' was a legitimate alternate spelling, but after checking a few dictionaries, I don't think so. Normally, I wouldn't bother pointing it out -- the story was excellent technically besides -- thus the 10 below -- but I figured that somewhere with all the 'suggestors' (su-jesters?) in the Fishy Tank, someone might be interested in misses. Anyhoo, this story moves along in a tight narrative that is charming, romantic, and humorous. I really liked the characters, and their relationship. The sex is fun, and different -- at least the narrative was -- and it kept me guessing through most of it. Easy. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honourable Mention +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Texas -- Medea F.K. (FF, rom, nosex) Story: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/medea/www/stories/texas.html http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41762 Author's Site: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/medea/www Our narrator misses the exit, and so they double back to the motel that Beth remembers from a time past. But when they arrive, Beth seems ... downcast and unsure of herself. What if their relationship is a phase that she's going through? What if ... This is a very short story that actually explores some of the deeper concerns and insecurities facing homosexual couples. As some of you know, I'm a sucker for these kinds of discourses, but even so, I think the story has universal appeal to both same sex, and heterosexual readers. All in all, even while there is no actual sex in this story, there is a subtle Eros of friendship and understanding. And I liked it. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honourable Mention +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Picnic Crumbs -- Kellis (MF anal oral) Story: http://www.kellistry.com/pcrumb.htm http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41126 Author's Site: http://www.kellistry.com/ With the picnic over, all that is left is the crumbs. Well, except for Liz. Her car won't start, supposedly a battered solenoid, and she returns to where an old man is cleaning up the debris of the picnic. They get to talking, and play with some left over whipped cream, and after a time, she seduces him. Now, if this was only a stroke tale (tail?), then I would be wondering who Liz is, and why she is seducing this old man. I would wonder about their relationship, and why they were doing as they were. But while the sex is a heavy part of this story, it isn't the only part of it. In between, we see character, we see motivation, and we see plot. The characters are much more than simple sex machines, and so my potential wondering is curtailed. Character. This story has it in spades. I didn't quite know if I would like a story like this. It is uncomfortably close to incest, and relies heavily on addressing anal sex. Not really my cup of tea, so to speak. But after reading it through, I have to admit that I liked it, despite it all. It's a good story, and the characters have this air of realism. And so, I give you the scores. Well deserved. Technical : 10 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Honourable Mention +---------------------------------------------------------------------- Christine -- Writerzblocked (MF) Story: http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/41222 Author's Site: http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=writerzblocked@aol.com&index=email&submit=Search An old man wanders in the rain. Confusion settles in, for he can only remember fragments of the past. But those few memories are what sustains him, and even while the rain and the lightning fall around him, he finds a fleeting happiness in memories past. While the version that I read was formatted badly, I suspect that was the fault of ASSM conversion software. Despite it, I found this story to be uncommonly deep. The memories, the sex, the tenderness, the character all combined wonderfully to present a world that we might not think about enough. Or maybe we do. I liked the premise, and the slow build of this story, and I hope that I never have to experience it. Technical : 9 Eros : 10 Character/Plot : 10 Crimson : 10 +---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.3ia Charset: noconv iQEVAwUBPraiwkxM3srBk85hAQEiUwf8CNyKpNIH8BEt8vpJpCzkAmEI3JRaAgvX zXqwbLTp9Lh261JBoYaqViCdb7VxM183Ze61Gjn23NPxfN906h6xeD2Q0m060NKL ANj3ADvvuz1k0gPcpY4g1ROU+mLhOBKqFvNYqHGAeL1ULb/koNkRnDuvRkzlEv4Z s3GqFGqeKOyObx6aps2eFJXdJRwmnnjWPQlhF6L38JUkWlPC/z39MNqZs1xJP5fV 3pRaE3wAvZnadu+5nSs8RdTbB0hWvZl+PTn7JqJPlcyStJpUcPkDx7MXieP5hcU1 BE7c88pOrlYjujBza7E9k+WtyJJrAdCNFN2SOZ2w5TJq5ZsiyKljCg== =hUct -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: | | FAQ: Moderator: | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Discuss this story and others in alt.sex.stories.d, look for subject {ASSD}| |Archive at Hosted by | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+