$5.95
available through
Torquere Books
Reviewed by Gwen Masters
(10/10/07)
Anthologies focused closely on one particular subject always run the danger of becoming too much about the theme, and not enough about the stories. Sometimes an anthology of this sort can put me to sleep, which is why I was so pleasantly surprised to read the latest from Torquere Press. Animal Attraction, edited by Vincent Diamond, is filled with the central theme of animal lovers, and the stories are surprisingly varied.
The collection begins with a gem of originality: "Make Me Beg" by Aaron Michaels, in which a man imitates a coy pussycat begging for a treat -- all to spectacular result. The stories from that point move into every direction imaginable. A few are deliciously surprising, some are all about fun, some are tearjerkers, but all have two things in common: Animal lovers and hot, sexy men.
Dianne Fox writes with almost visible tension throughout the waiting game of "Gerbil Falls in Love." Sarah Black perfectly captures the essence of longing in "White Mountain," the tale of two lovers drawn together by their search for a jaguar, almost a decade since they last laid eyes on each other. KC Warwick's "Cold Iron" goes back in time -- and to another realm -- for the story of two lovers thrown together by happenstance.
Diamond carefully chose stories that were filled with strong voices, the kind that pull you into their world and hold you there until the very last word. B.A. Tortuga turns in a gorgeous story unique to the Cowboy West in "Brahmas and Pitbulls." Elazarus Wills tackles the issue of unnatural urges head-on with his usual thoughtful prose in "A Hound, a Bay Horse, and a Turtledove." "Chasing Samson" by Kiernan Kelly is a tale with attitude and more than a few surprising twists.
A few stories in the collection are just great flat-out romps, the kind of feel-good stories that make you smile. "Horseplay" is not all that's going on in the very hot, tension-riddled story by Sean Michael. In "Puppy Tax," J. Rocci introduces us to a therapy dog who, in turn, introduces her owner to the hot young doctor at the local hospital.
Love sometimes conquers all, and that's true for a few stories in this collection. Dogs have a problem getting along -- and so do the men -- in "Canine Connection" by Neil Plakcy. "Indigenous" by J.L. Jensen is a unique take on what happens when two ancient cultures collide, and the possibility that destiny really does exist. One of the sweetest love stories in the collection is "Birds of a Feather," offered up by CB Potts.
One of my favorite stories in the anthology is "Bungalow Bill." Ansley Vaughan obviously did some research for this one, a story about an elephant trainer and a gigolo that took me right to the heart of another world. Details mean everything when you are attempting to take a reader into a world they have never known before, and Vaughan presents that place with sure, confident prose.
In Animal Attraction, the best is saved for last. Shanna Germain's tale of "What We Leave Behind" is the final story in the book, and rightfully so -- her narrative about death, living and making it through both is hauntingly real. You know you've read good erotica when the story lingers long beyond the page, when you can move past the sexual tension but never shake free of the emotional impact. Germain's story is that rare contradiction: a straight-up shot of tenderness that will knock you on your ass. It's the perfect end to a fantastic collection.
If you've ever cuddled a furry little kitten, paced the floor with a sick horse or taken pity on the smiling face of a stray puppy -- and of course, if you like your men hot, your couplings explicit and your writing top-notch -- Animal Attraction is a must-read.
