index


Message-ID: <43769asstr$1060125008@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: Crimson Dragon <dcrimsonp@nym.alias.net>
Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} {Reviews} Crimson's Top Stories - July 2003
Date: Tue,  5 Aug 2003 19:10:08 -0400
Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail
Approved: <assm@asstr-mirror.org>
Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories,alt.sex.stories.d
Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

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 - July 2003
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
# 1 - Angel of the Night -- oosh
# 2 - The Return of Dacia -- ElSol 
# 3 - The Green Man -- Smilodon
# 4 - Kalisha Breaks and Enters -- Kalisha Connors
# 5 - Blowjob -- f. aces
# 6 - Rice Crispie Treats -- Dryad 

Honourable Mentions:
      A Pirate's Party -- Dryad 
      Watching Shelly -- Kenny Gamera
      Pirates of the 22nd Century -- Meme Misspelt
      Desdemona and the Tiger -- Smilodon

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#1
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Angel of the Night -- oosh
    (caution)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/oosh/www/nightangel.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43203

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/oosh/www/

How to describe this story? I always have trouble with oosh stories.
They are all different, and new, and exciting, and ethereal.

We join Sally who lives with her grandparents. And night by night,
an angel joins her. Except the angel ... isn't quite what one might
expect.  Meanwhile, Granny is dreaming of an angel -- of freedom,
and awareness.  And Grandpa ... well ... Grandpa isn't quite what he
appears.  You'll really have to read this story to know what I mean.

Oosh has a gift for prose. This story winds around and interconnects
in such wonderful ways that one can't help being amazed by the sheer
talent behind the words.

Yes, be cautious of this story -- as oosh says, don't read it while
you are eating dinner. And I tend to agree. I can't believe that I
could be so angry and disgusted, and still find a story worthwhile.
But oosh knows exactly what she's doing, and it all has purpose.  Oh
yes. Oosh pulls you along, and doesn't let go, through the worst and
the best of humanity.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#2
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Return of Dacia -- ElSol 
    (MF, Hetero, REPOST)

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43125

Author's Archive:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/The_Cycle_of_ElSol/

On a quiet rush hour train, David sits and watches the old men who
stare at nothing, swaying only with the motion of the car. For
eighteen months, David has travelled this route performing his tasks
as a contract IT wizard. That is, until the fateful day, that fifth
day of the nineteenth month, when Dacia returns.

I don't quite know how to describe this story, it operates on so
many levels. ElSol brings to writing what his character brings to
the guitar. It is soulful, important, and touching from Dacia's
beauty, grace and strength, to Elizabeth's quiet pain, to David's
haunting guitar and implicit understanding of the world around him.

[ "I think you should consider Michael for the permanent position{.}"
  I told the IT manager. ]

Merely a note to ElSol: I noticed a number of places where dialogue,
as above, should have been punctuated with a comma instead of a
period. The rest of you, ignore this -- it isn't important.

Only the story here is important. This is powerful writing that
grips you, and won't let go. The sex is uncommonly heated, and the
combination of characters and storylines here are nearly
unparallelled. Not a story easily forgotten.

If nothing else here, go read it.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#3
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Green Man -- Smilodon
    (F solo?)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/GreenMan.htm
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43394

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/

Don't go into the woods, her mother warned her. But, of course, like
all youth, the advice is never heeded. And so, she wanders into the
woods, innocent and pristine, but emerges changed like the seasons
that whirl around us.

For such a short piece of writing, this is remarkably powerful. I
mean, Smiley always has been a good author, but this piece is
remarkable in its Eros, its simplicity, its metaphor and its
subtlety.

*This* is what flash fiction should be. Read it.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10


+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#4
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kalisha Breaks and Enters -- Kalisha Connors
    (FF,MMFFF,exhib,d/s)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Kalisha/www/Kalisha4.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43111

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Kalisha/www/

This story is actually part of an ongoing saga, but as Kalisha says
in the introduction, it does stand on its own.

A very few mortals have been chosen by the ancient gods -- Thor,
Luna, Aphrodite (my favourite), Odin, Hades -- you get the idea.
Well, when the Chosen of Odin appears in Kalisha's strip club
demanding his eye, Kalisha reluctantly agrees to try and retrieve it
in exchange for lessons. But finding the lost eye, and enhancing her
natural powers in the process, proves to be a scary and fun
proposition.

I wasn't sure that I was going to like this story, given the story
codes, but this is a shining example of why one sometimes needs to
read the story, rather than trust in codes. While there is certainly
an element of D/S and exhibitionism, it is the muted type that I
actually do enjoy in a story. In other words, there is more to the
story than sex and girls chained naked to walls. Kalisha tells a
compelling yarn here, that certainly passes for erotica, but
actually tells a story with plot and character and all that good
stuff that I review for.

The formatting on the newsgroup copy was a little difficult to read,
but that was more likely the ASSTR auto-conversion software.
Kalisha drops a couple of words, here and there, but nothing to
worry about. We all miss words occasionally.

Truthfully, I have to confess that I picked up the story because
during my break, I read "Elaine and the Dragon" (which I can only
recommend highly as well). I commented privately to Kalisha, but
will probably include a public review in a later issue. But I
digress. I liked her easy storytelling style, and so I wanted to
know if she could pull it off twice.

Kalisha can pull it off. (The story, people; focus.) And she does.
Sexy and fun.

A delight to read.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#5
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Blowjob -- f. aces
    (MF, Msolo, oral)

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43673

Author's Other Works:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=f.+aces&index=name&submit=Search


If I had any idea what this was truly about, I would give you a
better synopsis, but I don't and I can't, and that isn't a
criticism.  We have a girl, and as the title suggests, she's giving
a blowjob to our narration voice. And our narrator's mind wanders,
and what paths it wanders.

The story has a unique voice to it, quite extraordinary. Raw.
Close. Personal. Real. Powerful. I can't deny the seductive draw,
even while f. aces flaunts "normal" technique. It doesn't matter.
The story is clear, well written, and sexy as hell though you really
have to read it, because I can't adequately describe it.

I'm going to point out a couple of technical items, but honestly,
I'm on shaky ground here. The style is so unusual, and so effective,
at least for this type of story, I'm going to recommend that f.
aces, even if he or she sees this review, to completely ignore the
technical points because I honestly think they are part of the
style, and the style works. Nevertheless:

[ She comes up, ``{you're} tense, again.'' ]

Under normal circumstances, "you're" should be capitalised. I don't
think it would hurt to do it here, but then again, it doesn't really
detract from the passage either as it is.

Yes, I know that the introduction is odd, and probably technically
incorrect, too, but it fits perfectly into the style, and I would
strongly recommend against changing that. You really have to see it
in context to know what I mean.

[ We go to bed to sleep, and in the morning she and her {fourty}
  dollars are gone. ]

I've seen this before. I know it doesn't make sense, but 'tis
spelled thus: 'forty'. Again, it somehow doesn't detract from the
passage, even while I think it would work if correctly spelled.

This story is certainly worth reading. It's different, and quite
unique, sexy, and human. Seriously. What more can you want?

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
#6
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rice Crispie Treats -- Dryad 
    (M+F)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/ricecrispie.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43447

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/

Two Dryad stories in one review? Oh well ... it was worth it.

Now, we all know that Tracy throws wild parties. She always has,
even as long ago as high school. And her Halloween parties really
rock. If it's not strange Scots in kilts (and not much else), it's
college aged girls arguing about whose breasts are nicer. So, Kelly
arrives in her cruise director costume, and partakes of some
strangely salty rice crispy treats from the potluck table.  She
spies three guys that she doesn't immediately recognise, wearing
baker's outfits.

Later, after a few drinks, she works up the courage to approach the
three, and introduce herself. Then the party really starts getting
wild.

Wow. Dryad has captured the essence of this story nearly perfectly.
I felt like I was there watching the girls dance topless on the
coffee table, watching Tracy getting it on with the kilt-guy. The
whole experience had this ... surrealistic feel. And as most of you
know, I like surrealistic.

Oh? You wanted to know about the sex? Let's just say that I wasn't
expecting much (M+ codes generally don't interest me all that much).
Dryad has outdone herself with this story.  The sex is wild, and
hot, and everything that a sex scene should be. It simply worked.

Grab this story and enjoy it.

Because you may never get the recipe.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honourable Mention
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
A Pirate's Party -- Dryad 
    (MF, Exh)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/piratesparty.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43301

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Dryad/www/

A vacation in the Florida Keys turns up a pirate ship complete with
water guns for the kids, and water cannons for mock battles at sea.
With her husband happily fishing, our pretty narrator finds herself
aboard a play ship surrounded by scantily clad pirates. After
Cameron nails her unintentionally with his water weapon, she needs
to change out of her soaked clothing. The pirate Captain, Evan,
offers her crew attire, mixed with a few surreptitious glances in a
mirror as she changes. And so, the outing becomes a little more
interesting for our heroine.

I really enjoyed this story. I wondered exactly where Dryad was
going to take this tale -- there were so many opportunities and
places for her to take it. But where she ultimately went and where
she ended up, at least for me, was far sexier and realistic than a
full blown orgy that could just as easily have been her destination.

A quiet, but powerful Eros here, combined with a fun writing style.
Loved the rigging scenes. Don't know why -- or maybe I do. Enjoy.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honourable Mention
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Watching Shelly -- Kenny Gamera
    (MFF video)

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43121

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Gamera/www/

Ken is sitting in a college bar, bored, watching Fred play tonsil
hockey with some over-endowed coed. Shelly is due to arrive in ten
minutes. Shelly shows up early, and they have a drink before she
needs to go to work.

Work, for Shelly, means making a website porn video that pays the
bills and gets her through her courses. Ken professes not to mind
her chosen line of business. However, when Dirk shows up and tells
Shelly that the shoot is off, she has to scramble to find another
guy to fill in or lose her rent money. No ... not Ken, but what
happens when our tonsil jockey Fred is the only guy available on
short notice?

I really liked this story. My only real complaint is that there
might have been a little too much description in the sex (I like a
bit left to the imagination), but given the themes, it was
appropriate. So, not much of a complaint, huh?

What I really liked was the characterisations. Shelly and Ken shone
through. The small plot deviations. The details.  I felt like I was
right there with Ken, watching Shelly along with the world they live
in. Kenny (the author) walked a fine line here. It would have been
*very* easy to forget about story and slip into heavy sex mode. You
know the type -- the guy slathering over his dizzy porn star
girlfriend, joining the action at the first opportunity, encouraging
her to fuck everything in sight as much and as often as possible.
Instead, Kenny found a nice middle ground here, touching on deeper
issues in this kind of relationship. I believe Kenny. I care about
Shelly, and Ken, and even Krystal and Fred, and for this kind of
story -- that's an achievement.

Great characters. Different story.

Thanks, Kenny.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honourable Mention
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pirates of the 22nd Century -- Meme Misspelt
    (pirates nosex nc viol satire)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/meme_misspelt/www/stories/pirates22.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43285

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/meme_misspelt/www/

Veronica is tied securely to the mast of a sailing vessel, and as
has happened countless times before, she watches as a ship
approaches, skull and crossbones flying proudly from the mast.
Inevitably, the pirates board and do what pirates normally do to
naked, beautiful, helpless girls tied to masts. But what exactly is
Veronica, and why does she suffer so?

Meme writes an interesting tale here. As warned in the story codes,
there is not much in the way of hot sex here, except what is
manufactured in the mind. Rather, Meme touches on a boatload of
issues in a very short story. The story is clever, and works on
many, many levels. The value and definition of life. The morals of
non-consensual activities. The difference between right and wrong.
And, of course, piracy in general.

This is a different story. I really liked the messages within, and
how Meme stepped back and presented them. So many levels, so little
time.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Honourable Mention
+----------------------------------------------------------------------
Desdemona and the Tiger -- Smilodon
    (pirates)

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/Des_Tiger.htm
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2003/43332

Author's Site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/

In an out of the way tavern, a young man named Will meets an old
seaman named Reuben. For the price of a pitcher of beer, the sailor
spins a yarn of piracy upon the high seas. Yes this does involve the
beautiful Desdemona, and her capture. And some of the other faces,
at least to us, may be a little familiar.

I know for a fact that our beautiful heroine Desdemona, the
curmudgeon Wheeler, and the captain Scipio, have denied involvement.
I can't speak for all Dragons, but ...

[ ... let him have it hot and strong, I can tell you. She was up 
  that quarterdeck like a rat up a hawse pipe; her and that old dragon
  of a duenna she had with her. I tell you, the old girl was absolutely 
  crimson with outrage. She told the Frenchie exactly what she thought 
  of his day's work and pulled no punches. ]

Ahem. Duenna????? Growl.

[ prettily and gave him a flashing smile. The dragon looked at me and 
  sniffed pointedly. I have to admit she was more to my taste. Nice and 
  well covered even if she did have a bit of a beard. Still, I can 
  forgive a little touch ... ]

A beard? If I were a more vindictive Dragon ... I might ...

But smiley couldn't have been talking about ... naw ... even that
old cat wouldn't have been that crazy. You just wait, smiley.  Two
can play at this game.

Now, some may claim that this is a biased review -- given some of
the ... ahem ... characterisations, but honestly, the story put a
smile on my face, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You don't have to be
a Dragon to enjoy it too. Smilodon has captured a genre here
perfectly in dialogue and setting. I believed, and I still do.

Fun and well worth reading. And even if it takes me another few
centuries, I'll get even with that prehistoric feline. I wonder
how Des is going to get even?

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10


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

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.3ia
Charset: noconv

iQEVAwUBPzAF4ExM3srBk85hAQEJfwf/Xeu1WpwQafDi2/SpfeYglFys6P6PZHm4
NV48P9RNek2seX4BGAxQ5dxw6qRqfyidtrMKWMY8cU9cm2c0Zk7zfbM7g2lbTCrt
bjl4+yzlSSlOPW+u4CJaeSmXKVjK7LASDmJBsDwojFQcUXrc6IJHvQ9+ATmxqi24
3kTLhUxten9R56LATdJW6GqnsbFZI7MjzvTFiNFy8/y9e86ymsxpoyVAsAO/4ItK
7CLgAdnaf6RQfYUuqMRDwfZFytT82sFQScv0/Ig7ZMHyjUY20xu8tTca3+TuL2RV
EJQvSdCRUZUMFPQNxg1+LFWfJjawafylHf4QIf4d0vrc1rL8GzjB9Q==
=3eJr
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: <ckought69@hotmail.com> |
| FAQ: <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/faq.html>  Moderator: <story-ckought69@hotmail.com> |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Discuss this story and others in alt.sex.stories.d, look for subject {ASSD}|
|Archive at <http://assm.asstr-mirror.org>   Hosted by <http://www.asstr-mirror.org>      |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+