Extraordinary Deviations

by Raven Kaldera

The common conception of gender is turned on its head in these eight sensual stories by longtime Circlet Press author Raven Kaldera. From the ancient Roman Empire to the virtual-reality-filled future to fantasy worlds filled with fae creatures, these stories follow people (and other beings) who are transgender, intersex, androgynous, or otherwise beyond the gender binary in their exciting and often kinky erotic adventures. In these stories, a woman becomes the lover of a deity who comes to her through the bodies of people who are more than simply men or women; a would-be superhero with a less-than-useful mutation seduces an androgynous shapeshifter with ambiguous loyalties; a woman inherits some strange artifacts from a witchy great-aunt and, with them, a startling and transformational family legacy; and more. Combining love, worship, power, and gratification, these encounters are surprising and challenging-and, of course, always sexy. About the Author: Raven Kaldera is the author of 34 books and innumerable short stories. He lives on a small homestead in Massachusetts with his polymorphously perverse polyamorous family, and a few goats, sheep, and chickens. 'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds.

Genres: Erotica, Fantasy

106 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2013

About the author

A female-to-male transgendered activist and shaman, Raven Kaldera is a pagan priest, intersex transgender activist, parent, astrologer, musician and homesteader. Kaldera is also the author of "Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook" from XLibris Press. The founder and leader of the Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel and the Asphodel Pagan Choir, Kaldera has been a neo-pagan since the age of 14, when he was converted by a "fam-trad" teen on a date. Since then, he's been through half a dozen traditions, including Gardnerian, Dianic, granola paganism, Umbanda, Heithnir, and the Peasant Tradition. He is currently happily married to artist and eco-experimentalist Bella Kaldera, with whom he co-founded the Institute for Heritage Skills.

Reviews

[Lore Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Extraordinary Deviations was an interesting experience. The erotic stories were well-written, though not quite in line with my preferences. Kaldera's spirituality is clear in these stories, which heavily include both the supernatural and the divine. The dichotomy of the feminine and masculine is heavily emphasized. Overall, the stories felt like they were focused on bigender experiences, of ambiguity from connection to both male and female. My only caution in recommending this to others would be to point out that several of the stories were dubiously consensual; this doesn't bother me since it's in the realm of fantasy, but it may be unsettling for some readers.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaldera's erotic short story collection grew on me as I read it. At first the emphasis on pain in sexuality put me off, as I assumed every story was going to be SM. The stories started to surprise me, though, with their inventiveness and range. The unifying theme is gender fluidity, with a pagan, mythological slant. The book, like the genders of its protagonists and narrators, can't quite be classified easily. Intelligent, unusual, and worth a read.

This is the second Circlet Press title I've read this week. Both were thought-provoking, unusual, sexy and pretty well written. My only criticism is that the copy editor relied too much on the spell-checker. I'd be delighted to offer my services! Is there such a thing as one-handed copyediting?