The Ecstatic Moment

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Founded in 1988, Libido has made a name for itself as a purveyor of tasteful erotica for readers who don't shed their political sensibilities with their clothes. These 40 greatest hits show off the magazine's warm-and-fuzzy strengths from top to bottom, foreplay to afterglow. The collection begins with a steamy alphabet-inspired trilogy by Johanna Barid. Other notable entries include Sophie du Chien's "Playing with the Goddess," a no-holds-barred romp about a group of women who enjoy more than each other's company; "Milk, Butter and Eggs," in which Jane Underwood proves that sensuality lurks in the most prosaic objects; and "Not So Tender Is the Night" by Mario Dworkin, which explodes the traditional interrogation scene by throwing in a Molotov cocktail of desire. Short poems bind the stories together and keep the tension high. There are no Nins or Millers, but there is surprise and abundant humor in this high-toned compilation. (Aug.)

Kirkus Reviews

The contemporary upsurge of interest in erotica got a boost from Libido magazine, which, since 1988, has published an extraordinary range of erotic fiction. This anthology drawn from the magazine illustrates both the pitfalls and pleasures of the form. Johanna Baird's "B is for Béchamel" is a droll, sultry tale about a chef who insists that his lover sample his creations, that she "eat it, lick it, nibble it—off his body. She ate knowing he was bad for her." Richard Collins's "Freud, Cavafy and the Comforts of Civilization" has an intriguing premise—a couple who enjoy making love not just in public places but in museums—that is somewhat deflated by love talk so unlikely it seems ludicrous. Not surprisingly, the best stories here are either very brief and to the point, or they weave intercourse into a tale having more to do with characters than sex. A useful (and occasionally stirring) overview of a burgeoning field.