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Wired Hard 4: Erotica for a Gay Universe
The fourth volume of gay male sexuality and erotica, viewed through the lens of erotic science fiction and fantasy. Masculine tales of kings and castles, futuristic rentboys, phallic magic, and sexual technology. Includes Tom Cardamone, Jamie Maguire, Kal Cobalt, Zachary Jernigan, Gavin Atlas, Helen E. H. Madden, and more. Eight stories in all.
Includes:
Hold Your Breath: Introduction by Xan West
When the Angels Fall by Helen E. H. Madden
Slavery By Degree by Gavin Atlas
Parts by Kal Cobalt
Balance of Power by Jamie Maguire
Nectar by Diane Kepler
Royal Catamite by Tom Cardamone
Beneath Sea and Sky by Shanna Germain
The Succession of Knoorikios Khnum by Zachary Jernigan
Includes:
Hold Your Breath: Introduction by Xan West
When the Angels Fall by Helen E. H. Madden
Slavery By Degree by Gavin Atlas
Parts by Kal Cobalt
Balance of Power by Jamie Maguire
Nectar by Diane Kepler
Royal Catamite by Tom Cardamone
Beneath Sea and Sky by Shanna Germain
The Succession of Knoorikios Khnum by Zachary Jernigan
103 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2009
51 people want to read
About the author
Lauren P. Burka
13 books24 followersLauren P. Burka writes queer and kinky science fiction and fantasy stories. Her tarot cards told her that she would never hold down a normal job, at least not for long. In her free time she pursues doomed affairs with Oxford commas. In Lauren’s next life, she'd like to be Brian Molko's guitar.
www.laurenpburka.com
www.laurenpburka.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 23, 2010
Hard Wired 4 is a collection of edgy, erotic stories that varies in subject matter and theme but all manage to be weird, totally unique, and pretty interesting. The collection of eight stories included several I’d read before and a handful of new offerings. Those I had read before are still great editions and fit well with the writing and concepts presented. As the fourth edition, I can see why this series is popular and if the future collections remain as thought provoking and unique as this edition, then fans have a lot to look forward to. Those readers looking for something that pushes boundaries and makes you think about infinite possibilities check this out.
The collection begins with a few stories I’d read before starting with “When the Angels Fall” which was one of my favorites when it appeared in another anthology. This slightly futuristic tale blends religion, robotics, and sexuality into a powerful mix showing the painful emotional and physical repercussions on denying sexuality. The writing is evocative and creates lasting images with advanced technology but roots the themes of the story in a recognizable frame. The blend of the two is seamless and offers a believable and hard hitting story that you can see happening. After this is Gavin Atlas’ “Slavery By Degree” which I read recently in his collection of short erotic stories about bottom boys. Here the concept of slavery by choice and desire is shown against indentured servitude. The writing is very deft and shows the differences, sometimes subtle or overt, in sexual slavery and the essential theme of choice. This is an interesting choice of Atlas’ wealth of short stories but one that is eye catching and thought provoking. Not to mention pretty hot.
From there, the collection picks up nicely with “Parts” a great story about a robot that becomes real. This sexual Pinocchio story is filled with the robotic details I’ve come to expect from Cobalt with the fine edge of confusion on what is reality. For those fans of Cobalt’s collection “Robotica” this story is along those lines and injects a sexy element to robots. This leads very well into one of my favorites of the collection “Balance of Power” by Jamie Maguire showing an ancient ritual of love, sex, power, blood, and sacrifice. A bloody love story filled with sensuality, raw power, and a bittersweet ending gives a perfect high note at the middle of a solid anthology.
Keeping in line are the next few stories about young men groomed to slavery that struggle against their natural instincts. “Nectar” plays with gene tampering with a nod to the Dr. Moreau while “Royal Catamite” which is a story I’d read before by Tom Cardamone is a fabulous and freakily cool story. These two offerings are unique, different, and fascinating while injecting an unpredictable element that keeps you glued to the story. The final two additions to the collection are solidly speculative fiction stories which blend modern or futuristic themes with something spiritual and supernatural.
Each of the stories included whether new or re-printed are well written and peculiar, offering a different view of sexuality and choice that challenges readers. Pushing boundaries, this anthology lets imagination sour while keeping a sexual unease that never lets readers get complacent or too comfortable. Definitely an anthology that exceeded expectation with some new offerings and a return to favorites.
The collection begins with a few stories I’d read before starting with “When the Angels Fall” which was one of my favorites when it appeared in another anthology. This slightly futuristic tale blends religion, robotics, and sexuality into a powerful mix showing the painful emotional and physical repercussions on denying sexuality. The writing is evocative and creates lasting images with advanced technology but roots the themes of the story in a recognizable frame. The blend of the two is seamless and offers a believable and hard hitting story that you can see happening. After this is Gavin Atlas’ “Slavery By Degree” which I read recently in his collection of short erotic stories about bottom boys. Here the concept of slavery by choice and desire is shown against indentured servitude. The writing is very deft and shows the differences, sometimes subtle or overt, in sexual slavery and the essential theme of choice. This is an interesting choice of Atlas’ wealth of short stories but one that is eye catching and thought provoking. Not to mention pretty hot.
From there, the collection picks up nicely with “Parts” a great story about a robot that becomes real. This sexual Pinocchio story is filled with the robotic details I’ve come to expect from Cobalt with the fine edge of confusion on what is reality. For those fans of Cobalt’s collection “Robotica” this story is along those lines and injects a sexy element to robots. This leads very well into one of my favorites of the collection “Balance of Power” by Jamie Maguire showing an ancient ritual of love, sex, power, blood, and sacrifice. A bloody love story filled with sensuality, raw power, and a bittersweet ending gives a perfect high note at the middle of a solid anthology.
Keeping in line are the next few stories about young men groomed to slavery that struggle against their natural instincts. “Nectar” plays with gene tampering with a nod to the Dr. Moreau while “Royal Catamite” which is a story I’d read before by Tom Cardamone is a fabulous and freakily cool story. These two offerings are unique, different, and fascinating while injecting an unpredictable element that keeps you glued to the story. The final two additions to the collection are solidly speculative fiction stories which blend modern or futuristic themes with something spiritual and supernatural.
Each of the stories included whether new or re-printed are well written and peculiar, offering a different view of sexuality and choice that challenges readers. Pushing boundaries, this anthology lets imagination sour while keeping a sexual unease that never lets readers get complacent or too comfortable. Definitely an anthology that exceeded expectation with some new offerings and a return to favorites.
April 26, 2012
I enjoyed Tom Cardamone's bizarre tale as well as many of the others. Very creative world-building and imaginative plots in so many of these stories.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews