Recommended Reading

[Maryn]

Something reminded me recently that this board has a great many more lurkers than participants, many of them reserved enough that it could be quite a while before they post.

Many of the silent ones here are experimenting with erotica for the first time, and have never read erotica or erotic romance, or have read very little, or only what was already in the household.

Other than the brilliant works of our own AW authors, what books do we erotica writers consider required reading, classic, typical of a particular subgenre, or otherwise a must for the budding erotica author? And just as important, why?

It would be helpful, too, if suggested titles were labeled with a sub-genre if possible. There's a big difference between an exemplar for erotic romance and The Story of O.

Maryn, hoping to expand her own reading, too

[sunandshadow]

Whenever we have an erotica recommendation thread I always end up reflecting in puzzlement. I've read a lot of erotica, but when I go to recommend the best ones I realize the except the romance novels, none of them were published erotica, they are all either fanfic or something I read on one of several internet story archives. Somehow it seems wrong to recommend non-published material to writers who presumably want to publish their work. On the other hand, I never seem to encounter published erotica I'd actually be interested in reading (again, with the exception of romance novels). Is it that the kind of erotica I like doesn't get published (yet)? Perhaps erotica as a genre is barely out of its pulp days - the equivalent of where F&SF were in the 70s. Certainly the idea of 'classic' erotica strikes me as a bit ludicrous. All the best ones I've read were written in the last 10 years.

[Chris P]

I don't write erotica, as I either get too clinical or too crude. But I do read some.

For recent stuff, Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty trilogy is a sure winner for me. Being modern, it reflects more current writing styles and sold very well.

For classics, I liked Aubrey Beardsley's Venus and Tannhauser. A lot, for some reason. Marquis de Sade's Justine was good but Juliette went over the top for my taste in some places. Fanny Hill didn't do a whole lot for me.

ETA: Perhaps I'm on the wrong internet, but most of the modern erotica I encounter goes too much for shock porn. No thanks.

[LunacyWinged]

I haven't read much, but what I have read is by Anais Nin. She's very poetic about it and, to me at least, it doesn't come off like porn. My recommendations are Little Birds and Delta of Venus.

~Luna

[Darklite]

I admit I’ve never read any of the ‘classics’, or have any interest in doing so. Every piece of erotica I own is in e-book form and published within the last couple of years. Future classics, maybe :)

[Verbal]

Are bathroom walls considered published works?

Some fine work in there. *laughing*

Henry Miller (esp. Tropic of Cancer) & Anais Nin. I think these should be assigned reading, by God.

I'm usually found hanging out in the Screenplay section. But I recently discovered you all and am enjoying your posts very much. Posting a turtle orgasm? I'm like, "Hell yeah! My kinda people!"

[Boston Steve]

Yes to Henry Miller and Anais Nin. Yes to de Sade's Justine. I would also add Colette's Claudine series (which probably wouldn't qualify as erotica, or even particularly shocking, if published today). And Story of O should also be required reading.

[Marcus Avenier]

I've been disappointed with pretty much every published bit of erotica that has found its way into my hands. I'm not sure what that says about me.

I seem to be fond of other fictional works with erotic scenes in them. Like Swordspoint, or the A Song of Ice and Fire series.