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Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} {Reviews} Crimson's Top Stories - April 2003
Date: Mon,  5 May 2003 18:10:05 -0400
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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

+----------------------------------------------------------------------

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