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Forbidden Acts
COME IN…
Here guilt and dread no longer restrain seemingly sane men and women. Moments of madness can turn instantly into cold-blooded killing reason, while daydreams transform unpardonable sins into appallingly probable impulses. Here intimacy is delightfully deadly…and as inevitable as a nightmare.
SHED ALL YOUR INHIBITIONS. YOU HAVE ARRIVED.
Twenty-four masters of the macabre are about to usher you into places you could only imagine in your most vulnerable moments—forbidden realms where writhing supplicants worship whips and cold flesh…where child's play changes suddenly into erotic manipulation and monuments are erected to the ungodly. Prepare yourself for a hair-raising ride through the dark side of the human psyche, filled with chilling invention, venomous fun and horrific surprise. But be forewarned—because here there are more than seven deadly sins…and anything goes.
Here guilt and dread no longer restrain seemingly sane men and women. Moments of madness can turn instantly into cold-blooded killing reason, while daydreams transform unpardonable sins into appallingly probable impulses. Here intimacy is delightfully deadly…and as inevitable as a nightmare.
SHED ALL YOUR INHIBITIONS. YOU HAVE ARRIVED.
Twenty-four masters of the macabre are about to usher you into places you could only imagine in your most vulnerable moments—forbidden realms where writhing supplicants worship whips and cold flesh…where child's play changes suddenly into erotic manipulation and monuments are erected to the ungodly. Prepare yourself for a hair-raising ride through the dark side of the human psyche, filled with chilling invention, venomous fun and horrific surprise. But be forewarned—because here there are more than seven deadly sins…and anything goes.
390 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
1 person is currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Nancy A. Collins
337 books671 followersNancy A. Collins (born 10 September 1959) is a United States horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the Swamp Thing series, Jason Vs. Leatherface, Predator: Hell Come A Walkin and her own one-shot Dhampire: Stillborn.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
Collins was born in McGehee, Arkansas, United States. She lived in New Orleans, Louisiana in the 1980s; after time in New York City and Atlanta, Georgia she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in the late 2000s.
Collins has written twenty novels since 1989, many of which refer to and directly include races of creatures the author calls Pretenders, monsters from myth and legend passing as human to better hunt their prey.
Collins has also written a number of highly acclaimed Southern Gothic short stories and novellas, most of which are set in Seven Devils, Arkansas, a highly fictionalized version of her hometown.
Most recently, she has focused her attention onto the Golgotham urban fantasy series,published by Penguin. Golgotham is the 'supernatural' ghetto of New York City, where creatures from myth and folklore--including witches,shapeshifters,leprechauns and centaurs--live and work in uneasy alliance with mankind.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2021
This was an excellent collection of short stories. As What Fantastic Fiction Do I Read Next? said, they "probe social and personal taboos for their horror potential."
I'd like to review it in detail, as very little information about it is available online. I'll do it a bit at a time.
In my opinion, the best story in the book is "The Real World," by Brooks Caruthers. It's about a guy whose two dead friends still go to all the parties. This novelette contains so much: humor, horror, new love, grief, and a celebration of friends who are dead. It is a crime that practically no one has read it, probably.
My other favorites were "Light of Thy Countenance," by Alan Moore, "Blood Knot," by Steve Rasnic Tem, "High Heels from Hell," by Mike Lee, and "You Hear What Buddy and Ray Did?", by John Shirley. The latter is a close runner-up to "The Real World", maybe even more emotionally powerful, even as it shows the horror of callousness that is far from the friendship depicted in "The Real World."
The weakest story was definitely "Forgotten Promises," by Edward Kramer. Gee, I wonder how that one got in.
Ratings, out of 4 stars:
Introduction, by Joe Bob Briggs. Humorous yet disturbing—sobering, chilling, etc.—examination of the dark changes in society, in only the last thirty years. Discussion of some of the following stories. Cleared up what "Mysterious Elisions, Riotous Thrusts" was about. A great introduction. ***
“Light of Thy Countenance,” Alan Moore. An astonishing start. A plotless tale, told by television itself, personified as a malignant, soul-stealing force that has bloodlessly (or not) enslaved the entire world. There's some sexual metaphor at the end, but overall it's not clear what the "taboo" aspect is.
There's a graphic adaptation of this, which I sought out after I had to return this, and it did not disappoint. ****
“Blood Knot,” by Steve Rasnic Tem. An upsetting, compelling story about a father’s obsession with his otherwise all-female family. It really disturbed and saddened me. With characters like this, I always wonder if and how they could be healed. ***
“The Real World,” by Brooks Caruthers. Like I said above, my favorite story in the book. It was both sad and exhilarating. About friendship, and sharing good times, and grief. Letting go, learning to see the world in a different way, and love and take care of yourself. In the biographical paragraph before the story, it says that Brooks was inspired by a particularly bad party season in Little Rock, during which two friends died. I can't think of a better possible tribute. ***** (I had to give him an extra star.)
“Choke Hold,” by Lucy Taylor. Lucy Taylor is one sick, twisted lady. I'd read this story before, in The Best American Erotica 1996, edited by Susie Bright (who's one sick bitch, pardon my Anglo-Saxon). It was way too upsetting to reread (or read once). The rape and rape talk are bad enough, but it's the description of the protagonist's choking himself that makes this story completely unbearable. No stars given.
“The Contract,” by Brian Herbert and Marie Landis. **
“Blackpool Rock,” Philip Nutman. **½
“Forgotten Promises,” Edward E. Kramer. *
“Coming of Age,” Douglas Clegg. This was absolutely @$#%-ing horrifying. I hated it. But it wasn't weak and poorly written like its predecessor. **
“High Heels from Hell,” Mike Lee. ****
“The Energy Pals,” Howard Kaylan. ***
“Brainchild,” Rex Miller. This story just seemed wrong to me. **½
“Furies in Black Leather,” Nancy A. Collins. This and “Happy Couple” are how I discovered this anthology. These two stories were adapted into graphic form in Glenn Danzig's Verotika. One of the characters in this one wears a Danzig t-shirt. Inside joke? ***
“You Hear What Buddy and Ray Did?”, John Shirley. ****
“Playing Dolls,” Melissa Mia Hall and Douglas E. Winters. **
“Facets of Solitaire,” Christopher Golden. Dark and chilling. ***
“The Picture of Jonathan Collins,” Karl Edward Wagner. The few people online who have read this anthology always mention this story. It seems to be the one they think is “worth mentioning.” I didn't like it that much, it depicted Oscar Wilde as a cruel, callous (not to mention perverted) user. **½
“Interrogator Frames,” Rob Hardin. Hard-to-read tale of a woman selling pieces of her brain to stay off the streets (it grows back). **½
“Happy Couple,” Danielle Willis. This is the other Verotika story that led me to this book. I prefer it as a story, not a comic. ***
“The Agony Man,” Don Webb. I really couldn't stand this main character. **
“Mysterious Elisions, Riotous Thrusts,” Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg. I had no idea what this story was about (until I read the whole introduction), and I didn't read it very deeply. No stars.
“Stations of the Cross,” David Aaron Clark. No stars for this one either.
Maybe I'll expand on some of these non-reviews later. I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in boundary-pushing fiction to try and get their hands on a copy!
The copy I finally obtained via ILL is signed by the editors!
"To John,
Nothing is sacred.
Ed Kramer, WFC '95",
And, "To John- Nancy A. Collins, WFC '95".
I guess WFC was the World Fantasy Convention. A piece of history, right here in my hands!
I'd like to review it in detail, as very little information about it is available online. I'll do it a bit at a time.
In my opinion, the best story in the book is "The Real World," by Brooks Caruthers. It's about a guy whose two dead friends still go to all the parties. This novelette contains so much: humor, horror, new love, grief, and a celebration of friends who are dead. It is a crime that practically no one has read it, probably.
My other favorites were "Light of Thy Countenance," by Alan Moore, "Blood Knot," by Steve Rasnic Tem, "High Heels from Hell," by Mike Lee, and "You Hear What Buddy and Ray Did?", by John Shirley. The latter is a close runner-up to "The Real World", maybe even more emotionally powerful, even as it shows the horror of callousness that is far from the friendship depicted in "The Real World."
The weakest story was definitely "Forgotten Promises," by Edward Kramer. Gee, I wonder how that one got in.
Ratings, out of 4 stars:
Introduction, by Joe Bob Briggs. Humorous yet disturbing—sobering, chilling, etc.—examination of the dark changes in society, in only the last thirty years. Discussion of some of the following stories. Cleared up what "Mysterious Elisions, Riotous Thrusts" was about. A great introduction. ***
“Light of Thy Countenance,” Alan Moore. An astonishing start. A plotless tale, told by television itself, personified as a malignant, soul-stealing force that has bloodlessly (or not) enslaved the entire world. There's some sexual metaphor at the end, but overall it's not clear what the "taboo" aspect is.
There's a graphic adaptation of this, which I sought out after I had to return this, and it did not disappoint. ****
“Blood Knot,” by Steve Rasnic Tem. An upsetting, compelling story about a father’s obsession with his otherwise all-female family. It really disturbed and saddened me. With characters like this, I always wonder if and how they could be healed. ***
“The Real World,” by Brooks Caruthers. Like I said above, my favorite story in the book. It was both sad and exhilarating. About friendship, and sharing good times, and grief. Letting go, learning to see the world in a different way, and love and take care of yourself. In the biographical paragraph before the story, it says that Brooks was inspired by a particularly bad party season in Little Rock, during which two friends died. I can't think of a better possible tribute. ***** (I had to give him an extra star.)
“Choke Hold,” by Lucy Taylor. Lucy Taylor is one sick, twisted lady. I'd read this story before, in The Best American Erotica 1996, edited by Susie Bright (who's one sick bitch, pardon my Anglo-Saxon). It was way too upsetting to reread (or read once). The rape and rape talk are bad enough, but it's the description of the protagonist's choking himself that makes this story completely unbearable. No stars given.
“The Contract,” by Brian Herbert and Marie Landis. **
“Blackpool Rock,” Philip Nutman. **½
“Forgotten Promises,” Edward E. Kramer. *
“Coming of Age,” Douglas Clegg. This was absolutely @$#%-ing horrifying. I hated it. But it wasn't weak and poorly written like its predecessor. **
“High Heels from Hell,” Mike Lee. ****
“The Energy Pals,” Howard Kaylan. ***
“Brainchild,” Rex Miller. This story just seemed wrong to me. **½
“Furies in Black Leather,” Nancy A. Collins. This and “Happy Couple” are how I discovered this anthology. These two stories were adapted into graphic form in Glenn Danzig's Verotika. One of the characters in this one wears a Danzig t-shirt. Inside joke? ***
“You Hear What Buddy and Ray Did?”, John Shirley. ****
“Playing Dolls,” Melissa Mia Hall and Douglas E. Winters. **
“Facets of Solitaire,” Christopher Golden. Dark and chilling. ***
“The Picture of Jonathan Collins,” Karl Edward Wagner. The few people online who have read this anthology always mention this story. It seems to be the one they think is “worth mentioning.” I didn't like it that much, it depicted Oscar Wilde as a cruel, callous (not to mention perverted) user. **½
“Interrogator Frames,” Rob Hardin. Hard-to-read tale of a woman selling pieces of her brain to stay off the streets (it grows back). **½
“Happy Couple,” Danielle Willis. This is the other Verotika story that led me to this book. I prefer it as a story, not a comic. ***
“The Agony Man,” Don Webb. I really couldn't stand this main character. **
“Mysterious Elisions, Riotous Thrusts,” Kathe Koja and Barry N. Malzberg. I had no idea what this story was about (until I read the whole introduction), and I didn't read it very deeply. No stars.
“Stations of the Cross,” David Aaron Clark. No stars for this one either.
Maybe I'll expand on some of these non-reviews later. I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in boundary-pushing fiction to try and get their hands on a copy!
The copy I finally obtained via ILL is signed by the editors!
"To John,
Nothing is sacred.
Ed Kramer, WFC '95",
And, "To John- Nancy A. Collins, WFC '95".
I guess WFC was the World Fantasy Convention. A piece of history, right here in my hands!
May 8, 2020
2.5 stars. The ever-difficult-to-judge anthology review. Made a bit easier in this case by most of the stories being, well, maybe not sub-par, but less stories than ramblings. A few goodish stories which would have fit in well with a better collection in total. I don't think there's necessarily anything here to recommend.
February 1, 2011
Loved it. Must get another copy.
June 2, 2025
This is supposedly an anthology of short stories about the darker side of kink and sex, but for the most part, I found the tales neither erotic nor disturbing, just... brutal. The best of the bunch is probably Douglas Clegg's Coming of Age, a ghost story, which works as a horror story more than an erotic one.
March 3, 2010
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1400860.html
Collection of horror stories with peculiar erotic overtones (or of peculiar erotic stories with horror overtones). Not really my thing. One worth mentioning is an update of Dorian Gray, "The Picture of Jonathan Collins", by Karl Edward Wagner.
Collection of horror stories with peculiar erotic overtones (or of peculiar erotic stories with horror overtones). Not really my thing. One worth mentioning is an update of Dorian Gray, "The Picture of Jonathan Collins", by Karl Edward Wagner.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews