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w13rdo's review
3.0
I enjoyed it for its novelty. The quality of the stories was wildly inconsistent. It wasn't terribly sexy, and the sex that was there tended to be...tamer...than I'd expected.
But I appreciate the collaborative effort to add something different and diverse to this particular scifi/horror genre.
But I appreciate the collaborative effort to add something different and diverse to this particular scifi/horror genre.
jen_librarian's review
2.0
This is my first foray into the world of the Cthulhu Mythos - I actually had no previous exposure other than seeing some of the games based on Cthulhu. For anyone who isn't familiar with Lovecraft and Cthulhu, I recommend reading the essays at the end of the book first as they provide a good introduction and are actually fairly engaging.
With that said, while all the stories were well-written, they aren't really my genre of choice. I am not a big fan of horror. However, there were a few stories that really stuck with me and that I actually enjoyed. If you are a fan of horror blended with erotica (some stories more than others), then you will enjoy this book. You'll probably enjoy it even more if you have read any of Lovecraft's work, as many of the references will make more sense.
Overall, the stories are well-written, just not my taste.
With that said, while all the stories were well-written, they aren't really my genre of choice. I am not a big fan of horror. However, there were a few stories that really stuck with me and that I actually enjoyed. If you are a fan of horror blended with erotica (some stories more than others), then you will enjoy this book. You'll probably enjoy it even more if you have read any of Lovecraft's work, as many of the references will make more sense.
Overall, the stories are well-written, just not my taste.
madiemartin's review against another edition
4.0
Cthulhurotica is a collection of short stories that complement the world created in the works of Lovecraft. The short stories combine science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance/sex. While I wouldn't personally classify it as erotica, there is a definite theme of sexuality throughout the collection.
This book is not exactly what I was expecting, although I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I guess I was predicting to be disturbed by this collection to the point where I wouldn't enjoy it. Mainly I think that is because I knew this book was outside my standard genre comfort zone (with the exceptions of it being short stories). While I would say that some of the short stories are disturbing, I found that most of the them are more intriguing. That is why I really enjoyed this book. I felt this collection was a great exploration of pairing creepy, terrifying, and even horrific themes with other themes such a love, marriage, romance, friendship and sexuality. Overall, I enjoyed not only the writing (which was pretty good, in general) but the uniqueness of this collection of short stories. As with any collection, some stories I really liked and some I even hated but I would recommend this book to anyone willing to try something a little different.
This book is not exactly what I was expecting, although I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I guess I was predicting to be disturbed by this collection to the point where I wouldn't enjoy it. Mainly I think that is because I knew this book was outside my standard genre comfort zone (with the exceptions of it being short stories). While I would say that some of the short stories are disturbing, I found that most of the them are more intriguing. That is why I really enjoyed this book. I felt this collection was a great exploration of pairing creepy, terrifying, and even horrific themes with other themes such a love, marriage, romance, friendship and sexuality. Overall, I enjoyed not only the writing (which was pretty good, in general) but the uniqueness of this collection of short stories. As with any collection, some stories I really liked and some I even hated but I would recommend this book to anyone willing to try something a little different.
apollo0325's review against another edition
1.0
This had a lot of less erotica than I was expecting, and the erotica that was within was... lackluster, to say the least.
The essays were fine aside from the first one that utilized waaaaay too many parentheses. It’s one thing that really annoys me in any kind of writing, whether it be novels, essays, text messages, etc.
Anyway, is this collection worth buying? No. There are maybe 3-4 stories worth reading, but the rest could be scrapped. Most didn’t leave an impression on me, and it took me so long to read this because many of them were so boring.
The essays were fine aside from the first one that utilized waaaaay too many parentheses. It’s one thing that really annoys me in any kind of writing, whether it be novels, essays, text messages, etc.
Anyway, is this collection worth buying? No. There are maybe 3-4 stories worth reading, but the rest could be scrapped. Most didn’t leave an impression on me, and it took me so long to read this because many of them were so boring.
goblingrrl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tieflingkisser's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Infertility
Minor: Child abuse and Incest
klbaileyart's review against another edition
3.0
Well, thanks [a:Bonnie Burton|20020|Bonnie Burton|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1252687099p2/20020.jpg]! You sure did push me out of my comfort zone!
I find it really hard to rate a book like this. I really enjoyed some of the stories, and really disliked others. Many of the stories I felt ended too soon or too suddenly. Others were just plain confusing.
I'm not much of a fan of horror, and most of these stories were definitely leaning towards the horror rather than the erotic.
I'll do a quick comment about each of the stories. I'll confess I only skim-read the essays so I won't do a review of those.
Descent of the Wayward Sister
I quite liked this but found it seemed to end just as it was getting interesting!
The C-Word
Again I kinda liked this one, but didn't like the ending.
Infernal Attractors
Interesting concept!
Daddy's Girl
This was another story that ended just when it was getting interesting. Walked the line between sexy and too weird.
The Cry in the Darkness
This was one of my favourite stories. I liked the main character and his relationship with his wife.
Riemannian Dreams
Didn't really like this one. Can't put my finger on why.
Turing on, Tuning in, & Dropping out at the Mountains of Madness
The hippie talk annoyed me. I liked the ending though.
Song of the Catherine Clark
I found this one kinda boring.
Between a Rock and an Elder Goddess
Interesting concept. 'Nether mouths'? *Shudder*
The Fishwives of Sean Brolly
I liked the way this story was structured, with the hint at the beginning of how it would end. But it was so, so, creepy.
Flash Frame
I didn't mind this story. I liked the imagery and the use of the colour yellow.
Transfigured Night
This was one of my favourite stories. I liked the journal format, and loved the scene when he goes back and finds the dead body is gone. A great mystery.
The Lake at Roopkund
Great ending!
Ipsa Scientia
This one left me feeling confused.
Amid Disquieting Dreams
Creeeeeeppppppppyyyyy
The Dreamlands of Mars
Mixed feelings about this one. I didn't find it flowed very well.
The Assistant from Innsmouth
I felt a bit sorry for the guy in this story, even though he was a bit of a wanker.
The Summoned
Speaking of wankers, the guy in this story was a complete wanker. I really disliked him. Got what he deserved. I quite liked this story though - I think because it gave me a character I felt something about, even if it was intense dislike!
Sense
Starts out like a classic detective story, but with a very creepy ending! Made me think of The Twilight Zone.
Optional on the Beach at the Festival of Shug Niggurath
Made me chuckle. Liked the confrontation on the beach with the incensed couple. I felt like I was missing something though, not having read any HP Lovecraft.
Le Ciel Ouvert
I quite liked this one! I liked the main character & the dark atmosphere.
I find it really hard to rate a book like this. I really enjoyed some of the stories, and really disliked others. Many of the stories I felt ended too soon or too suddenly. Others were just plain confusing.
I'm not much of a fan of horror, and most of these stories were definitely leaning towards the horror rather than the erotic.
I'll do a quick comment about each of the stories. I'll confess I only skim-read the essays so I won't do a review of those.
Descent of the Wayward Sister
I quite liked this but found it seemed to end just as it was getting interesting!
The C-Word
Again I kinda liked this one, but didn't like the ending.
Infernal Attractors
Interesting concept!
Daddy's Girl
This was another story that ended just when it was getting interesting. Walked the line between sexy and too weird.
The Cry in the Darkness
This was one of my favourite stories. I liked the main character and his relationship with his wife.
Riemannian Dreams
Didn't really like this one. Can't put my finger on why.
Turing on, Tuning in, & Dropping out at the Mountains of Madness
The hippie talk annoyed me. I liked the ending though.
Song of the Catherine Clark
I found this one kinda boring.
Between a Rock and an Elder Goddess
Interesting concept. 'Nether mouths'? *Shudder*
The Fishwives of Sean Brolly
I liked the way this story was structured, with the hint at the beginning of how it would end. But it was so, so, creepy.
Flash Frame
I didn't mind this story. I liked the imagery and the use of the colour yellow.
Transfigured Night
This was one of my favourite stories. I liked the journal format, and loved the scene when he goes back and finds the dead body is gone. A great mystery.
The Lake at Roopkund
Great ending!
Ipsa Scientia
This one left me feeling confused.
Amid Disquieting Dreams
Creeeeeeppppppppyyyyy
The Dreamlands of Mars
Mixed feelings about this one. I didn't find it flowed very well.
The Assistant from Innsmouth
I felt a bit sorry for the guy in this story, even though he was a bit of a wanker.
The Summoned
Speaking of wankers, the guy in this story was a complete wanker. I really disliked him. Got what he deserved. I quite liked this story though - I think because it gave me a character I felt something about, even if it was intense dislike!
Sense
Starts out like a classic detective story, but with a very creepy ending! Made me think of The Twilight Zone.
Optional on the Beach at the Festival of Shug Niggurath
Made me chuckle. Liked the confrontation on the beach with the incensed couple. I felt like I was missing something though, not having read any HP Lovecraft.
Le Ciel Ouvert
I quite liked this one! I liked the main character & the dark atmosphere.
xterminal's review against another edition
4.0
Carrie Cuinn (ed.), Cthulhurotica (Dagan Books, 2010)
You see a name like Cthulhurotica and you gotta think “tentacle porn”. Well, okay, maybe not if you're not into anime, but who isn't these days? And Cuinn, in her amusing introduction to this volume, makes that exact same argument, and then basically says “we got a lot of that submitted, but hey, we got some good stuff too, and here it is.” And she's right.
I grant you, by staying away from porn, Cuinn ended up treading a line in many places between Cthulhurotica and Cthulhuromance, which is not necessarily an awful thing at all (the most obvious example of this is Don Pizarro's “The C-Word”, which, perhaps not coincidentally, ended up being my favorite story in the volume). Not to say that the authors who got down and dirty didn't do so in ways that will get the reader's Old Ones up and running; Gabrielle Harbowy's “Descent of the Wayward Sister” is just delicious, and oh, Mae Empson's “Between a Rock and an Elder Goddess.”
Which is not to say, as is usually the case with anthologies, there aren't a few misses here and there. Andrew Searce's “The Lake at Roopkund” is exactly the sort of lesbian-phobic nonsense I'd hoped we'd all gotten past by now (and if it was meant in any ironic sense, Searce did a bit too good a job at not tipping the wink), for example.
The book concludes with a handful of essays that turned out to be, well, just as interesting as the stories. Wasn't expecting that in the slightest. Score! I must admit, I went into this one not knowing what to expect, and ended up liking it a great deal more than I expected. *** ½
You see a name like Cthulhurotica and you gotta think “tentacle porn”. Well, okay, maybe not if you're not into anime, but who isn't these days? And Cuinn, in her amusing introduction to this volume, makes that exact same argument, and then basically says “we got a lot of that submitted, but hey, we got some good stuff too, and here it is.” And she's right.
I grant you, by staying away from porn, Cuinn ended up treading a line in many places between Cthulhurotica and Cthulhuromance, which is not necessarily an awful thing at all (the most obvious example of this is Don Pizarro's “The C-Word”, which, perhaps not coincidentally, ended up being my favorite story in the volume). Not to say that the authors who got down and dirty didn't do so in ways that will get the reader's Old Ones up and running; Gabrielle Harbowy's “Descent of the Wayward Sister” is just delicious, and oh, Mae Empson's “Between a Rock and an Elder Goddess.”
Which is not to say, as is usually the case with anthologies, there aren't a few misses here and there. Andrew Searce's “The Lake at Roopkund” is exactly the sort of lesbian-phobic nonsense I'd hoped we'd all gotten past by now (and if it was meant in any ironic sense, Searce did a bit too good a job at not tipping the wink), for example.
The book concludes with a handful of essays that turned out to be, well, just as interesting as the stories. Wasn't expecting that in the slightest. Score! I must admit, I went into this one not knowing what to expect, and ended up liking it a great deal more than I expected. *** ½
jen_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
This is my first foray into the world of the Cthulhu Mythos - I actually had no previous exposure other than seeing some of the games based on Cthulhu. For anyone who isn't familiar with Lovecraft and Cthulhu, I recommend reading the essays at the end of the book first as they provide a good introduction and are actually fairly engaging.
With that said, while all the stories were well-written, they aren't really my genre of choice. I am not a big fan of horror. However, there were a few stories that really stuck with me and that I actually enjoyed. If you are a fan of horror blended with erotica (some stories more than others), then you will enjoy this book. You'll probably enjoy it even more if you have read any of Lovecraft's work, as many of the references will make more sense.
Overall, the stories are well-written, just not my taste.
With that said, while all the stories were well-written, they aren't really my genre of choice. I am not a big fan of horror. However, there were a few stories that really stuck with me and that I actually enjoyed. If you are a fan of horror blended with erotica (some stories more than others), then you will enjoy this book. You'll probably enjoy it even more if you have read any of Lovecraft's work, as many of the references will make more sense.
Overall, the stories are well-written, just not my taste.
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