Booknote: Best Bondage Erotica 2014

Rachel Kramer Bussel, ed., Best Bondage Erotica 2014. Berkeley, CA: Cleis Press, 2013. ISBN:  978-1-62778-012-4.

If you want to find it in a library near you, click here for WorldCat record.
If you want to purchase it, click here to go to the publisher's page.

The volume begins with a nice foreword by Laura Antoniou, known for The Marketplace series; her foreword sets up the anthology. She also reveals a secret to readers, but you will have to read the book to find out. Ms. Antoniou tells us how even in bondage, freedom can be found, the freedom to let everything go. So, as she urges us, "just enjoy the delicious freedom of restraint offered in this book, and indulge yourself in some vicarious pleasure. . . " (x). Where you go next, that is up to you. This book is indeed a collection of opportunities to experience vicariously a diverse bouquet of pleasures. The foreword is followed by the editor's short introduction to the anthology. Whether you know the joys of having someone at your mercy, of being at their mercy, or you just want to envision, this is the book for you.

I read and enjoyed the stories. There was only one I did not care much for the premise, but I found that it still has appealing elements that I am sure other readers may enjoy. That is a strength in the anthology: variety. There is at least one story for anyone who likes bondage and erotica or is curious about it. All in all, the stories in this collection are good. The issue you may see in other anthologies where some stories are good, some so-so, and others not so good is not an issue here. The editor has a good eye, and she made some very good choices for this collection. The selection here was chosen with care to appeal to experienced as well as new readers. Certainly when I tell people to do themselves a favor and read something better than that shaded novel, this is the kind of book I have in mind.

Overall, this is an excellent volume in the Best Bondage Erotica series. I am looking forward to the next one. For libraries that collect some erotica and/or want to provide something a bit steamier to some romance readers, this could make a good selection. If you personally keep an erotica collection, this is one to add. Let me note that I read and reviewed Serving Him, (link to my review) which is also edited by Kramer Bussel. Thus, when I got this one, I had no doubt this would be a good volume. After reading through the twenty stories, I can give this collection a good 5 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend this one.

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I would like to take some time now to highlight some of the stories I liked. It was not easy choosing, but I will try to give a sampling of what the volume offers:

• "Behind the door" by Kay Jaybee really shows what happens when a woman's imagination runs off with her as she speculates what happens inside an old closed-down shop across from her workplace. The shop is now under construction it seems, yet little progress happens as the workers show up at the same time every day and leave at the same seemingly synchronized time as well. What is really going on? 
• Want a bit of Victoriana? Annabel Joseph has you covered in "The Neckcloth." This was a very nice tale with a bit of an illusion that the author manages to keep until the end. 
• Want a little M/M action? James McArthur delivers with "No Strings Attached." Two men working the night shift in a factory get to some play as Nick is curious about bondage, and Graham is happy to give him a little taste. It is a very nice teaser piece. 
• Another thing I like about reading some of these erotica anthologies is that I learn new things and terms. I learned what an "eel" is Annabeth Leong's story "Eel." An eel in this context is a submissive that refuses to stay tied and is able to break out or escape the bindings, often doing so to annoy or just show up the Dominant doing the tying up. Our story's eel is Alicia, a very flexible woman who takes joy in escaping and humiliating her Dominants to the point no one now wants to play with her. Now Alicia is about to meet her match from the least expected person. This is a nice story with great attention to detail.
• I have to mention "Clipped" by Lucy Felthouse because you will not look at office supplies quite the same way after reading this. The story also shows that sometimes you can bind your lover with improvised items; you don't need to break the bank. The story is an example of the variety bondage practice can display; it can go from high end ropes and specialized oriental techniques to well, in this case, office supplies. A bit of quick thinking and improvisation can go a long way.

I picked five stories to give readers a small sampling. I could have easily picked out others to highlight this time. So, if anyone out there reads the book, feel free to drop in, comment, let me know which story or stories you liked.