Customer Reviews

Roughed Up: More Tales of Gay Men, Sex, and Power

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to categorize this book as a "sex book," because these gathered writings are way more psycho than sexo. The collection of stories in "Roughed Up" is relentlessly dark, with characters more apt to act on revenge, hatred ("Bashing"), self-loathing ("Johnny Was"), and good old-fashioned mental breakdowns ("Devoted"). In fact, when even a glimmer of humor rears up (the comedy of submission errors "The Fall Of Troy"), it's enough to throw you further off balance than the danger and menace that is "Roughed Up's" strongest currency.

That's not to say these stories aren't extremely well done. In fact, B.J. Barrios' cat and mouse game "Destroying Master Michael" is one of the wildest kinky reads I've ever come across. But be warned..."Rough Stuff" isn't your basic rope and grope. Power is more front and center, and each story will pry open spaces you thought you might have carefully covered over. And just because these stories plunge headlong into the abyss of our darkest sexual mores, there's no reason to believe that some of these tales won't raise the pressure in your lower brain.

Great compilation of stories. Definately some keepers here that will forever run rampant with your imagination. And don't worry - the stories each live up to the cover art, with twists and turns that elevate this collection of fiction above mere erotica to great writing.
Definitely a keeper.

"Roughed Up" is a collection of gay bdsm stories, most of which are written from a sub point of view. Most of it is of reasonably good quality, certainly better than most of the free stories one can find on the internet, making it at least worth spending money on. A few stories are actually original and use striking themes, such as the first, about taking revenge on a dom who stole someone's boyfriend, or a story where a crucifixion theme plays a major role.

Nevertheless the authors often can't choose very well between telling a story and making it erotic, so that some of the stories are rather unbalanced. Also, very little attention is paid to particular kinks or variation in the 'types' involved, making it rather vanilla within the context of bdsm fantasy. In a field allowing for so much creativity, the results are a little bland.

You know for S/m it was a wonderfully done book and all but...it's written too darkly. Which sometimes is a good thing. But I think that erotica should have an air of lightness to them. If you like despair and no hope of happiness, or like people getting brutalized then this gem/coal lump is for you.

Remember, well written. But bad form. Bad bad form.