The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples [Paperback]

Lonnie Barbach (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1996

Lonnie Barbach was among the first sex educators to break the taboo on women's erotic writing at a time when erotica was written by men, for men, and therefore did not adequately represent the sexual tastes of women. The Erotic Edge, her first book of arousing fiction for and by both men and women, is designed to bring couples together, enhance their sexual pleasure and deepen their mutual understanding of intimacy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Barbach, editor of two previous compilations of erotica written by women, here assembles a collection of 22 stories authored by both sexes. While this volume certainly does not contain something for everyone (only one entry--pseudonymous Anna Nymus's "The Wager"--even touches on a gay relationship; domination/submission is dealt with once in the oddly moving "The Language of Desire," written by a couple identified only as Khafre and Patrice), it does offer up a veritable smorgasbord of spicy fantasies. Barbach has divided the tales according to theme--Very Male and Very Female; Common Themes; The Perfect Match --each prefaced by an introduction. She observes the differences between male and female erotic writing: "stories written by men concentrate on the details of the lovemaking scenes" while "women's stories emphasize seduction, desire and the mental foreplay that builds up to the sexual encounter." The more successful tales include Kim Chernin's "The Sacred Harlot," an account of ancient erotic forces called up at an academic conference; Marsha Power's graphic depiction of a female-initiated one-night stand in "11:30 P.M.--Saturday Night"; Clark Sevill Demorest's flip wish-fulfillment fantasy, "A Matter of Attitude"; and B. J. Simmons's "Unconditional Positive Regard," in which a couple make a first effort at "swinging." The level of prose is uneven in the collection as a whole, however; many of the stories are rather amateurishly written and feature cliched, wooden dialogue. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This collection of 22 short stories has been compiled as a tool for heterosexual couples to explore men's and women's perspectives on sex and to act as a catalyst for dialog about the subject. Barbach ( Going the Distance: Secrets of Lifelong Love, LJ 9/1/91) has selected erotic short fiction from both male and female writers that illustrates what each gender finds appealing about the sexual union. The collection subtly amplifies the general notion that men's erotic images are more visual and visceral and that women tend to find erotic content in the emotional development of the relationship. Although many of the stories have very explicit descriptions of copulation, the editor has not included stories featuring rape or anything more potentially objectionable than adultery and "swinging" fantasies. All the characters are willing participants, and even profanity is kept to a minimum. Recommended for larger public library collections.
- A. Arro Smith, San Marcos P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452274648
• ISBN-13: 978-0452274648
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre book with bad, non-erotic stories, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples (Paperback)

My husband and I did not bother finishing this book. We skipped around to different chapters, as the editors suggest, in hopes of finding something erotic. The editors clearly had lofty aspirations for this book, but their intentions fell short of what they managed to achieve. Unfortunately, most of the stories were poorly written and laughably ridiculous; a bad combination. You can get mediocre erotica on the 'net for free. Don't waste your money.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A gag gift at best, July 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples (Paperback)

This book is midly amusing and not at all sexy. It contains lines such as "Hi my name is Bob and I will be picking your pubic hair out of the filter..." I couldn't even begin to enjoy it.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I agree with the folks from Santa Monica, November 8, 1999

By 

Lisa Lucci ([e-mail]) (W V) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples (Paperback)

We found the stories a joke. Lisa and I LOL ed at the ha haaaa, see, twist in the 5 or 6 stories we read. I believe a person could buy any of the romance novels at the supermarket and get the same thing.