The best erotic science fiction and fantasy as determined by the annual contest run by Circlet Press. Rewarding originality and positive sensuality, the contest inspires well-known and unknown writers alike to excel in this provocative genre. Erotic sf/f combines erotic and sexual themes with magic, futurism, high fantasy, cyberpunk, space opera, magic realism, and all the many other sub-genres. The 2006 winner is a multi-genre writer from Canada Arinn Dembo, whose Monsoon draws on the mythic tradition of India. Second and third place went to two well-known erotica authors, both of whom have published with Circlet Press before, Thomas S. Roche for The Night the New Hog Croaked and Jason Rubis for Circe House. Over 400 manuscripts were submitted and only 20 were chosen for publication.ContentsMonsoon by Arinn Dembo Venus Rising by Diane Kepler Marked by Cody Nelson The Harrowing by Corbie Petulengro Capture, Courting, and Copulation: Contemporary Human Mating Rituals and the Etiology of Human Aggression by Carolyn & Steve Vakesh Copperhead Renaissance by Argus Marks The Night the New Hog Croaked, Or, The Lascivious Dr. Blonde: A Romance by Thomas S. Roche Nocturnal Emissions by Joe Nobel And What Rough Beasts... by Robert Knippenberg The Bridge by Connie Wilkins Twilight by Catherine Lundoff Music From My Bones by Anya Levin The Lift by Kal Cobalt The Caretaker by Fauna Sara Smoke by Jean RobertaOpening the Veins of Jade by Renee M. Charles Circe House by Jason Rubis The Gantlet by B. Lynch Black A Circlet Crossword by Dan RechtCecilia Tan is simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature. It was her revolutionary, genre-breaking efforts decades ago that brought science fiction, fantasy, and erotic communities into the same literary room together. -- Susie Bright**

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Coming out and coming of age in the days of AIDS, MTV, Reaganomics, and Just Say No. Daron Marks is a young guitar player with a dream, make it big like the guys he grew up idolizing in New Jersey--or at least escape his dysfunctional family. He makes it as far as music school in Rhode Island, and the stages of Boston beckon. But it's hard to succeed from the closet.

James has finally pushed Karina beyond her limit—not her limit for kinky sex play, but for his extreme secrecy. She has had enough and breaks things off. But James won't give up on Karina and will do whatever it takes to get her back. He's ready to share his deepest, darkest secrets, but is Karina ready to hear them? James offers Karina not only the truth but a place at his side... onstage. He wants Karina to star in his final musical production and enter his life and his world fully and completely. As the two work together, they rekindle the trust and love they'd lost. But James's world is full of deceit. When he is blackmailed by an unscrupulous music industry executive, James must give in to unreasonable demands or risk exposure of his and Karina's secret sex life. Will Karina and James's love be strong enough to withstand the many obstacles being thrown their way?"Seductive fun not to be missed! Cecilia Tan will make all your sexy wishes come true!"...

He pushes her sexual boundaries . . . From the moment waitress Karina meets him in a New York bar, she knows James is different. Daring. Dominating. Though he hides his true identity from her, the mysterious, wealthy businessman anticipates her every desire and fulfills her secret fantasies. Awakened by his touch, Karina discovers a wild side she hadn't known existed and nothing is off limits.She aches for more . . . What begins as an erotic game soon escalates to a power play that blurs the line between pleasure and pain. Even as she capitulates to James's sensual demands, Karina craves more. She wants his heart, his soul. She wants his love . . . and she'll break all the rules to get it.

Ricki Hamilton and her sister have just inherited a vast estate in the Hollywood hills. Unfortunately, with that legacy comes the most exclusive club in Hollywood history, a secret BDSM establishment where only the rich and the naughty come to play. Ricki wants nothing to do with this business, and is trying to find ways to get out of having to run it... until she meets Axel-a sexy enigmatic rock star who makes her want to submit to needs she didn't know she had.

Erotica. 3028 words long. First published in 2009, 2009

Pleasure knows no bounds . . .Gwen Hamilton is always looking for a thrill. Not even running a secret BDSM club can fulfill her true desires. It's only when she's backstage at a rock concert and attracts the eye—-and experienced hands—-of guitarist Mal Kennealy that she finds that perfect combination of danger and excitement she's been craving. Calling herself "Excrucia," she revels in his uncompromising dominance each night. And yet by day, he knows her only as Gwen, his new escort for public appearances.Excrucia blows Mal's mind with her enthusiastic submission to his harshest commands. Even though he has a reputation for never seeing the same woman twice, he can't help being tempted by the woman willing to fulfill his every fantasy. And when Mal discovers that Gwen—-the sweet arm candy designed to soften his surly public image—-is really Excrucia, he never wants to let her go. Finally he can indulge his absolute power. But dancing...

Are they ready to go all the way? Maddie Rofel has seen it all. Even the kinkiest games she witnesses working as a hostess in L.A.'s most exclusive private sex club fail to shock her, much less turn her on. Until the night she has a very personal encounter with drummer Chino Garcia, and the two discover an intimate connection neither can deny. Suddenly the jaded hostess is softening under Chino's touch, and submitting in ways she never expected . . . All his life, Chino has been running from something. Normally he beats back his demons by losing himself in his music. Now he's losing himself in Maddie. And, while it drives Chino wild when Maddie bares her body to him, what he really wants is for Maddie to bare her soul. For that, Chino will have to push Maddie past her furthest limits-and share his own dark secrets.

Eric Sakai-Johnson joined the Navy SEALs to protect his country and the people he loves. After discharge, he finds himself relegated to protecting big pharma billionaire Aiden Milford from assassination attempts and kidnapping. Until Aiden reneges on a promise, fires Eric, and lets Eric's mother die with millions of dollars in medical debt.Now Eric is the kidnapper. Snatching Aiden's twenty-two-year-old son, Chase, for a multi-million-dollar ransom is the only way to get justice. It's time for Aiden to learn what it's like when someone you love is at the mercy of forces beyond your control. Eric has it all planned out. The one thing he didn't plan for is the intense erotic spark between him and Chase.Chase has been chafing under his father's autocratic control. A gay hookup app has been his only ticket to rebellion — to clandestine moments of freedom, excitement, and danger. Now it's his ticket to a deep connection and amazing sex with his "captor." On the rocky...

MIND GAMES: A Paranormal Erotic ThrillerWhen your stalker can enter your dreams, there's nowhere to hide.Ever since she foresaw the death of her parents, Wren Delacourt has suppressed her latent psychic abilities. Avoiding strong emotions, Wren leads a placid but lonely life until her quiet is shattered by her sister Abby going missing... and the private investigator searching for her.Derek Chapman isn't what Wren expects. He's young, handsome, and surprisingly sensitive. Wren is attracted to him immediately, but fears that deepening any connection with Derek—emotional, spiritual, or sexual—will open the floodgates locked in her mind.A mystery man appears in Wrens dreams, dealing pain and pleasure. Is Wren's subconscious warning her away from Derek, or longing for him? When the search for Abby leads to a secret sex club, it seems fate is pulling Wren into Derek's arms, whether she is ready or not.PRAISE...