Dead Sexy! Review the Halloween contest entries here!

[Varian P]

If you've read one, give a review!

If you wrote one, share your glowing comments, or beg us for votes!

Here's the link to the array of hot, scary, funny, genre-bending tales from this year's Halloween contest.

Stories need a minimum of twenty five votes to qualify for consideration, so votes are extra appreciated!

 

[Varian P]

As yet I've only had a chance to read a few of the submissions, but three really stood out:

Legacy by Recidiva

Lovely prose, a well-wrought plot, exquisitely-rendered setting and mood, and an entertaining balance of romantic, creepy and funny.

Alpha, Strange and Beautiful by Unsung Muse

Utterly gorgeous prose, every line taut and sensuous, every paragraph full of evocative imagery, the whole story twining up eroticism and sadness to delicious effect.

Passion is Blind by sr71plt

The prose buoyed me along to a different place and time, the characters were vivid, and the plot pleasantly twisted. Such a delightful read, I was only disappointed it was so brief.

 

[l8bloom]

I haven't read Passion is Blind, but I have read the other two, and a big DITTO THAT, to which I would add:

Recidiva's entry, Legacy, beautifully captures the spirit of Hallowe'en, the tale told around the campfire as listeners hang on every word to see how ghosts with a tragic past take out their suffering on the modern surrounding world. This story features a ghost who is truly insane, yet loving in her way. It also dazzles the reader with an impressive knowledge of magickal herbs. I found the love story to be especially believable in that the man she winds up with is not some bodybuilder or James Bond stereotype. He's a guy who is somewhat quirky, and maybe not the type every female would fall for.

Unsung Muse, as usual, weaves a story that rivals today's quilt and tapestry artists in its sheer beauty. She uses language the way I would use Hoffman prints, only I have to admit, better. The characters are creepy and mysterious. The story is engaging in a way that few stories are -- like an ancient Greek classic, this tale deftly sketches the outlines of images, and lets the reader's own terror fill in the blanks.

Others that struck me as outstanding, and darnit, there are so many:

LST3K Ep. 06: Witch Season by Darkniciad is wonderfully funny and brightens up the contest with the proverbial comic relief. Anybody who can successfully invoke Duck Season! Wabbit Season! in the same breath as Goo! Goo! G'Joob! gets my vote. Read this when you could use a good laugh... Having said that, I'm terrified of having my own story roasted!

The Unwilling by owengreybeard is, IMHO, best in show. As with all good fright-night tales, the author claims this to be a True Story. And as you read it, you find enough authentic detail to believe it just might be! What could be scarier on Halloween than a cremator burning a body? The punchline, even though this story is non-erotic, does not disappoint.

If you like erotic horror that doesn't shy away from real-life horror, read VarianP's Down. There are people walking this earth who really are evil; there is magic mixed with insanity. Frankly, Varian's story turned my teeth inside out. It's a lot like one of those movies that you only have to see once. Yup, it's a great movie, but once was enough.

Finally, and then I'll hush up, Careful What You Wish For by maharat48 is a fresh take on a vampire romance. What would a vampire do if he had access to the Internet? Tease an intelligent young lady, of course. If you're feeling jaded by meeting people online, this one might make you feel fresh again, and frankly, I thought the sex was great. The peaks and valleys are jagged, imperfect, and not quite frustrating.

Thanks to Varian for opening this thread!

 

[rengadeirishman]

LST3K ep. O6: Witch Season, by Darkniciad was awesome. Wonder Cock power activate had me cleaning the whiskey i had been drinking off the monitor.

Legacy, by recidiva, was also quite good, it made me laugh and was quite endearing, made me wish i had vengeful ghosts guarding me.

Tango with a Vampire, by Glynndah was good too. I liked the twist at the end, i didn't see it coming.

Someday...I'll find you, by TE99, was beautiful in its imagery, and i enjoyed the sort of mystery throughout.

 

[Darkniciad]

Thanks for the mentions

I already plugged The Unwilling in the Halloween thread shortly after reading it. Non-erotic doesn't get nearly enough attention, and this story might just draw you to click the cat more often when you finish it. The story is pure realism with a subtle touch of chill at the end.

I'll echo the sentiments above on many tales, because I couldn't put it any better

I'll add more later that haven't been linked yet. Right now I'm so exhausted that I can barely see straight to type.

 

[Guest]

ok

For I did Not Die, by SweetWitch is lyrical. I wrote her that her story did for me what I wish my stories would do for other people. Does that make any sense?

Tango with a vampire, by glynndah had me grinning from ear to ear. I love them twists.

I second most of the sentiments from the reviews above. The Halloween contest has such a great showing!

And yes, I am behind in my reading. I am trying to get to at least one AHer a day. Promise.

Maharat

 

[damppanties]

I liked a couple from the lesser known authors that I think deserve a mention and a read from all of us. I hope mentioning them won't make them claw my eyes out or something. Anyway, here they are:

Sheathed Moon Howling by shabbu is short, but nicely written. It's not a full story really, just a vignette I suppose, but I enjoyed the writing. The fact that things aren't explicitly explained, but just painted with broad brush strokes is what appealed to me.

I Told You Not To Be Here! by mrjones502003 is really good erotic horror. It held my interest throughout because his characterisation is good. The plot is okay (you might guess where it's going), but he really holds your interest because you want to know what happens to the main character.

 

[Guest]

I see no one has mentioned MarshAlien's tale The Legend of C.P. Swallows.

I have no idea why he buried that in Erotic Horror. You should read it. Now. Seriously.

Warning: do not eat or drink while reading this take, make sure you are sitting in an upright position with your feet in the ground...



Maharat

 

[Varian P]

I see no one has mentioned MarshAlien's tale The Legend of C.P. Swallows.

I have no idea why he buried that in Erotic Horror. You should read it. Now. Seriously.

Warning: do not eat or drink while reading this take, make sure you are sitting in an upright position with your feet in the ground...



Maharat

Thanks for pointing that one out--I just went and read it. A well-woven tale, and a delightfully humorous contrast to the darker stuff out there.

 

[Guest]

cocks hip to the side- bump!

Maharat

 

[Lee Chambers]

I'll give my thoughts on some of the ones I've read.

LST3k Ep. 06: Witch Season
by Darkniciad

I really enjoyed this one. Being a fan of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, I could absolutely see someone sitting there and making these comments about a movie this horrible. I couldn't stop laughing. I still can't stop laughing.

Down
by Varian P

This story is dark and gritty. It also repeats the same lesson that other great stories like it have told: The greatest monster of all is man. Being a man who enjoys stories like this, stories of vengeance for crimes no court can process, I loved it. Well done.

Alpha, Strange and Beautiful
by Unsung Muse

Erotic, arousing, and FUCKING CREEPY. Very well written. Beautiful imagery, dark and twisted. It tells us everything we need to know without really telling us everything that there is to know.

A Hallowed Tale
by Marsh Alien

I thought that this take on A Christmas Carol was very thought out and intelligently written. I wonderful story that actually gives you a feel good feeling about Halloween. Go figure! A truly enjoyable tale.

The Little Fucker Gang
by Jenny Jackson

Having never read any of Jenny's other Harry Dick stories, the first thing that caught my attention was his TALKING COCK. It was all down hill from there. This story was insanely funny and completely irreverent. It definitely deserves mention.

Someday...I'll Find You
by TE999

Erotic. Romantic. Haunting. Very well written and everything I've come to expect from TE and his writing.

Devil Takes Tessa
by l8bloom

This story was hot and a little kinky, with some evil devil sex as well as a few funny lines. I enjoyed reading this. A good piece of writing.

Unfortunately I don't think there's any way I can read everyone's stories. I just don't have the time. But I think the ones I have read have been great and I'm eager to see who wins the contest this year. A lot of good entries even if the trolls are having a field day with them.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for pointing that one out--I just went and read it. A well-woven tale, and a delightfully humorous contrast to the darker stuff out there.

A few days have passed, and I cannot take your story out of my head!

What a read!

Maharat

 

[christabelll]

DOWN... Varian.... phew heavy brilliance

Little Fucker Gang.... hysterically funny

Cat and the Collar... Nice take and writing from a virgin

And I did not die .... holy christ made me cry

Vlad the impaler deservers to be nuked in my opinion but (s)he did try


just a few that I can remember

 

[Varian P]

I haven't had a chance to read for a few days, but I just got to the lovely and melancholy For I Did Not Die by SweetWitch.

Wow. No punches pulled, there. It's a short and impressionistic bit of romantic tragedy. My hat is off to anyone who can yield such a moving story in so brief a tale.

 

[Munachi]

so far i read "the little fucker gang" by jenny jackson, "alpha, strange and beautiful" by unsung muse and "the rex" by reignophelia, and can recommend all three. quite different to each other, but each very good in its own way...

oh and since you said we could also beg for votes, i'd like to do so... the link is in my signature, and i am still very far away from 25.

 

[Guest]

bump

 

[sr71plt]

I see no one has mentioned MarshAlien's tale The Legend of C.P. Swallows.

I didn't think we needed to mention the one that obviously was going to win the contest.

 

[sr71plt]

I liked a couple from the lesser known authors that I think deserve a mention and a read from all of us. I hope mentioning them won't make them claw my eyes out or something. Anyway, here they are:

Sheathed Moon Howling by shabbu is short, but nicely written. It's not a full story really, just a vignette I suppose, but I enjoyed the writing. The fact that things aren't explicitly explained, but just painted with broad brush strokes is what appealed to me.

I Told You Not To Be Here! by mrjones502003 is really good erotic horror. It held my interest throughout because his characterisation is good. The plot is okay (you might guess where it's going), but he really holds your interest because you want to know what happens to the main character.

Oh, I missed this posting. Thanks, DP. (Shabbu is a coauthoring of me and a very, very, very good friend across the world from me, Sabb--who also posts stories here separately. We write our stories in alternating paragraphs to see where they might go, mostly picking out images we like in e-mails to each other as the inspiration of a story. We're about to post a series of stories, all of which have the same paragraph buried in them that has inspired different story interpretations of that image.)

 

[Varian P]

maybe it's the cider talking...

but I've just read Hole, and in some mysterious but inescapable way, it seems like the same story told in The Church without a God, also by dr_mabeuse.

Y'all let me know if someone's slipped hallucinogens into my beverage, or not.

The narrative styles are completely different, reflecting their respective settings, and the plots are disparate, though the themes seem to be intimately connected.

Both are unsettling, written in gorgeous prose, immediately, viscerally, darkly erotic. Hole is short and accessible, The Church without a God is longer, dense, and seduces more slowly, culminating in the more violent climax.

 

[SweetWitch]

Thank you, Maharat and Varian, for your kind words.

I have read so many fine stories for this contest that I feel it's too close to call. I don't think I have a chance of winning, but that's not why I entered. I think someone needs to publish an anthology of the Lit Halloween stories. They're all that good.

Molly

 

[MarshAlien]

I haven't had a chance to read for a few days, but I just got to the lovely and melancholy For I Did Not Die by SweetWitch.

Wow. No punches pulled, there. It's a short and impressionistic bit of romantic tragedy. My hat is off to anyone who can yield such a moving story in so brief a tale.

Oh, put your hat back on. No sense getting your hair all mussed up just to swell Molly's head a little more. Incidentally, her second story, Shadow Man, is quite horrible. Horrific, I mean, horrific. Oh, God, she's going to turn me into something now.

 

[SweetWitch]

Oh, put your hat back on. No sense getting your hair all mussed up just to swell Molly's head a little more. Incidentally, her second story, Shadow Man, is quite horrible. Horrific, I mean, horrific. Oh, God, she's going to turn me into something now.

I love you too, Marshmelly. Retribution will be forth-coming.

Personally, I think A Hallowed Tale was quite good. You need to be ashamed of yourself for that other one.

 

[l8bloom]

I love you too, Marshmelly. Retribution will be forth-coming.

Personally, I think A Hallowed Tale was quite good. You need to be ashamed of yourself for that other one.

He is shameless. No sense trying to get blood from a turnip.

Besides (she piped up) my last-minnit story features no fewer than FIVE bad pun Halloween costumes, plus a title based on the fact that I couldn't come up with a title which is also an example of the lowest form of humour, PLUS a cameo by Glynndah and her partner in the tango, that vampire! (with her blessing).

How's that for an absence of shame?

There's another word for it, too, and I ought to be ashamed of that. But Varian said we could!

 

[Varian P]

Just resurrecting this thread in case anyone wants to do any last-minute cheerleading for a favorite tale as the contest enters its final hours.

I never quite managed to read all the stories, but of those I got to, these are my suggested must-reads:

Alpha, Strange and Beautiful by Unsung Muse

Sensuous, evocative prose, every line taut and sensuous, every paragraph full of evocative imagery, the whole story twining up eroticism and sadness to delicious effect.

The Church without a God by dr_mabeuse.

Unsettling, written in gorgeous prose, immediately, viscerally, darkly erotic. The Church without a God is long, dense, and seduces slowly, culminating in a frenetic, violent climax.[/QUOTE]

Legacy by Recidiva

Lovely prose, a well-wrought plot, exquisitely-rendered setting and mood, and an entertaining balance of romantic, creepy and funny.

 

[starrkers]

Just wanted to add a shout out to Her Light by damppanties. Damn fine little story.