The Big Book of Orgasms: 69 Sexy Stories

Rachel Kramer Bussel’s erotica anthologies for Cleis Press always make me think Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to get. In her newest collection, _The Big Book of Orgasms_, what you get are 69 tasty treats, short short stories of arousal and orgasm with a wide enough assortment of interests and acts to appeal to everyone. There was a good balance of preferences and predilections, a variety of characters that seemed real, and a few creative surprises (let me just say that cupcakes will never be the same; or driveway car washing at home; oh, add the Tilt-A-whirl). One of my favorites was the gender bending “Remote Control,” a fun, smart combination of sci fi and sex which uses a remote to come at the sex from a fresh angle. Like Ms. Kramer Bussel's previous compilations, _The Big Book of Orgasms_ is a delicious, seductive delight.

As a writer and reader of mostly queer smut, it isn't very often I pick up an erotica book outside my 'field'. However, when I heard about this book, I wanted to do nothing more than devour it! I found this book to be titilating, erotic, and cleaver. It's packed with a variety of orgasms, true to it's name, and the places they all occur in is quite inspiring. So many steamy scenes happen and this book has opened up my perspective on new places, scenarios, and perspectives on having a good orgasm. There are plenty of queer stories, by queer writer, included in this book that would make anyone very happy. Two of my favorites: a story about two men at a construction site and the other a dominate woman and a man playing with power, control, and orgasm denial. It's so hot. I totally suggest you check this book out.

-- DeDe Deylnn at [...]

Reviewed by: Melissa

“I am taking her, even when she is taking me.”

Rachel Kramer Bussel has assembled a tome of orgasmic delight in her scorching anthology, The Big Book of Orgasms. Filled to the brim with 69 sexy stories penned by the creme de la creme of erotic authors, there is a story for everyone that is sure to insight, excite and enflame. Ranging from sweet to a wee bit kinky to downright dirty these voyeuristic silhouettes of men and women in the throes of passion are toe-curlingly good. The Literary Vixens suggest you don’t keep all the pleasure for yourself...be a generous lover and share a bit of the action with your special someone, there’s always room for seconds;)

i am such a fan of the books RKB puts together! i can't pick a favorite one ever, because when i do - she comes out with one that blows my mind - no matter which story you read, something will warm you to your core ;-) i cannot say enough of the authors the book includes. each one is amazing

The variety of 69 authors & their engaging styles does not disappoint in this exciting anthology from editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. You can always trust that anything that has Rachel's touch, has quality & hotness to it! The beauty of O's is shared in the wide variety and uniqueness of each woman portrayed. Kudos for another job well done!

To be honest, erotica usually isn't my thing. The times I've sought it out I felt more silly than excited, often feeling second hand embarrassment for all the purple prose. With a number of smart, sexy folks recommending this collection, I decided to give erotica a fifth try. Let me tell you, I'm tickled I did. I laughed, I cried, I came! Finally, I've found a collection of sexy stories I can honestly recommend to anyone.

The stories are well-written and wonderfully curated by Rachel Kramer Bussel. While I would not call any of them vanilla, the stories range from scintillatingly "tame" all the way to jaw-droppingly kinky. The short format of each tale made reading a deliciously excruciating experience. But that was easily assuaged as it moved onto another titillating treat.

As a sexologist and sex educator, I am more than aware of and very comfortable knowing that there are some kinks or turn-ons that do not align with my own. And that is perfectly okay. That being said, and without giving anything away, there were some scenes whose themes might have squicked me out without the context, but reading this collection, they were just steamy, sexy stories.

The pansexual pairings make this an anthology that will appeal to a wide range of individuals. I happen to relish a book that holds stories of people of many sexual orientations.

"The Big Book of Orgasms" is one erotica anthology that I know I will come back to again and again.

I’ve been a fan of Rachel Kramer Bussel and Cleis Press anthologies so I was excited to hear about this one. 69 stories all with the limit of 1200 words or less, that’s quite a number of bite size erotica. I imagined 69 stories about orgasms would be almost endlessly titillating and I was not disappointed!

There are so many stories this book has much to offer in erotica writers. I found many writers who’s work I’ve enjoyed in other anthologies; Emerald, Thomas Roche, Elizabeth Coldwell, Sinclair Sexsmith, Salome Wilde, Sommer Marsden, Stella Harris and Bussel herself. I also found many writers entirely new to me. There is a delicious mixture of sensual pleasures here, a, “something for everyone” kind of book. The characters range from established couples, first dates, brief encounters and solo experiences. There’s also a mix of genders and orientations. You'll find kink, fantasy, romance, experimentation, grief, self-discovery and science fiction.

There are far too many stories for me to pick favorites. What impressed me most in this anthology were all the different variations of pleasure. Matinee by Sulrikha Snyder stood out for me because it shows that erotic moments can be more than just graphic sex. Especially when just the simple touch of a hand is taboo. I enjoyed Sullied Innocence by Neve Black on a personal level because who hasn’t had that one person you see, like the young Joel in this story, you just makes you melt but is also quite unobtainable. I’m somewhat partial to the kinky stories like Count Out the Strokes by Virgie Tovar, Do It Again by Sinclaire Sexsmith, The Jeffrey Factory by Stella Harris, Chains of Love by Lily K Cho, Icing on the Cake by Lula Lisbon, Out of Control by Crystal Jordan, Forced Orgasms by Shoshanna Evers and I’m On Fire by Bussel. The Morning After by David Salcido, a very hot threesome story, was one that I’ll go back to again and again. Wish we had a “best man” like that at our wedding. I thought Remote Control by Logan Zachary was such an imaginative story: sexy and sci/fi. I enjoyed the pleasant surprise of stories like Her Lover Is A Flame by Cecilia Tan and The Park by Elsie Hepner that read like poetry.

I loved how well all these authors could craft a sexy tale with so few words. Some used every bit of those 1200 words, sometimes managing to tell quite an elaborate tale. Some were merely brief glimpses or even poetic moments. I found all of these stories arousing in their own way and their brevity did not leave me wanting. Well, maybe wanting for more stories now that I was getting hot and bothered! This book would be great to read with a partner or at a sexy gathering. Sharing these tiny morsels of erotica would be a great way to get a sexy evening started. They can also be read when you need a little solo time. There’s so much delightful variety in this book, I know I will go back to enjoy them again.

In Rachel Kramer Bussel’s latest release, there are at least 69 different ways to come, every one more delicious than the last. Within these pages, characters discover new and ever more satisfying ways to find the big O, and the range of pleasure is fun, steamy, and explores the wild spectrum of pleasure.

From the sweet and considerate to the kinky, there is an orgasm for every occasion. With the quality of writing one expects from a Rachel Kramer Bussel anthology, with a lovely attention and appreciation for language and storytelling, as well as that special zip that makes you have to put down the book for a minute, or at least read one-handed. This is a seriously sex-positive read, displaying not only the range for orgasm, but the array of emotions that go along with it.

At its core, this book celebrates “the infinite possibilities of orgasm.” The stories might be only 1,200 words or less, but these words are tightly constructed and go off with a bang (pun intended). If you’re a fan of well-written erotica with a unique bent, this is a great book for you.

This book should come with a set of oven mitts. One of the hottest compilations I have had the pleasure to read.This is a must read for fans of erotic short stories. As I read this book I felt like I was on a sea cruise and an erotic buffet was laid out for me. I have read this one twice because I read through the storys with such anticipation that I felt I missed out on the storys the first time.There are story's for any taste in erotic literature. Purchase and enjoy.

All most all of these stories left me wanting to hear more from the authors. It is wonderful that there are stories from many genres and sexual orientations, as many times books like this are strictly heterosexual. It was erotic and easy to read, a little look into the bedrooms around the country. Each author was eloquent and it was well edited. Great for a quick warm up for the real thing!

I'm fairly new to reading books of erotica, but I have to say I've really enjoyed the stories in this one. They're pretty fun, very well-written and it isn't hard to pick up the book and start reading from anywhere in the middle. It doesn't require a huge commitment to sit down and enjoy a story. These short stories are very good for sparking ideas and inspiration, and helping your thoughts run away with you for a little while. It's a book I liked and would recommend.

Powerful, raw, intense, sexy, seductive and orgasmic!!! Ms. Kramer Bussel has outdown herself again. I love that there are 69 stories to savor and to indulge in again and again and agan. This is another keeper for my sexual library.

As a writer, I'm always looking for new ways to add hot scenes in my own work. Sex scenes are probably the most difficult for me to write, and I struggle to come up with exciting scenes and plots that are unique. The writers in The Big Book of Orgasms inspired me to create new characters and kinky situations that break away from the typical cliches so many writers often resort to when including sex scenes. Thanks for this excellent collection of hold-you-breath, bite-your-lip, sexy stories!

Let me start by saying that I have been a fan of Rachel Kramer Bussel for years and this is yet another great work by her. The simple beauty of this book is that is covers all tastes and has something for everyone. You ll fine stories to excite you in your favorite themes and also be able to explore new areas of erotic that may not have been of interest to you previously. The stories are compact and appealing to men, women and couples equally. A really exciting and enjoyable book that will fast become one of your favorites.

This is honestly my first book of erotic literature and I was not sure if it would get much of a reaction out of me. Much to my surprise each of the stories, as short as 1200 words are, got me a little hot under the collar. I read a few each day on the train ride home and on more than one occasion have caught my self looking around to see if anyone was looking at the expression on my face. I've even left one of the stories as a voicemail to tantalize a "friend". The collection covers a board range of ways that people find there "explosions of pleasure". I recommend this to anyone looking for 69 literary " one night stands"

This isn't the kind of erotica collection I'd usually buy for myself, but I'm super happy it was given to me as a gift. Usually I purchase more explicitly queer smut, and so I was expecting lots of predictable hetero pairings in the book. However, this truly is a diverse collection, and eminently jerk-offable-to for this poly-queer-pervert-dyke.

It reminds me of how, when I've chatted about porn with people, many times I've said something like: I don't really care about the genders of the people involved; what gets me off is watching/reading them genuinely turned on.

This collection totally proves that point. There are some truly sweet multi-partner stories, lovely solo-sex stories, a terrific unexpected watersports story, some great dykey sex, great MSM sex, great queer-straight sex, and I love how the focus of the collection reveals diverse perspectives on orgasm.

Towards the end of the anthology, the writing quality of the stories seemed to take a bit of a dip - and I disliked how in some of the BDSM stories, the authors seemed to take excessive pains to let readers know *this is a consensual scene* - but I really enjoyed almost every story in the collection - and I can't say that about many erotica anthologies ("Set in Stone" and the "On Our Backs" anthologies are the first exceptions that come to mind). For anyone looking for a surprising and warmly sex-positive erotica collection, I totally recommend it.

Loved Rachel Kramer Bussel's newest anthology of short, erotic stories! Each story is only a few pages, perfect for when you don't have time to read a whole novel, but you still want to read some smartly-written smut! The theme of the book is in the title, and I was impressed time after time reading each story about the wonders and variations of the orgasm. Great read! I will recommend it to my sex therapy clients for sure!

I'm a complete newbie to erotica books, but I was surprised by how quickly and thoroughly this collection won me over. All of the pieces are short and sexy, as well as wildly diverse. Like orgasms, some of the stories are stronger than others, but all of them satisfy.

This reminded me of a collection of poetry...something to give me a delicious introductory taste of established writers, so I could follow-up with a more in-depth exploration of those that caught my attention. I found this to be excellent bathroom reading (think what you may...I read these on the toilet mostly because of the brevity of each story). The very short stories left me wanting more: getting straight to the orgasm made me wonder were the foreplay and bed-talk went. Being new to the erotica genre, I frankly was a little surprised at the explicit nature of the writing and found myself feeling like I was browsing porn on the internet instead of reading a book. Bussel attempted to include a diverse set of relationships and scenarios in this collection of descriptions of various characters getting-off: hetero, bi, threesomes...from masturbation to BDSM... but wasn't quite able to cover all the bases. For my own personal interest,research or entertainment as related to erotica (including orgasms), I enjoy journal entries and writings posted by various amateur and professional contributors associated with a popular alternative lifestyle website more than I enjoyed this book of short stories. I read the whole book, so I give it a solid 3 stars, but as far as recommendations for my friends and others, I'd say, if you want short introductions to sexual encounters that aren't necessarily tightly crafted and artistic, sign-up for the most popular alternative lifestyle site and enjoy the descriptions of those experiences as they are given by those in the moment of the actual experience.

*I received this this book in exchange for an honest the store review.

To say that the stories in The Big Book of Orgasms are sexy is an understatement. Each one is unique and exciting and filled with lust. The thing I love most about this anthology is the diverse characters and perspectives; it is anything but repetitive. Different kinds of characters, relationships, and sex are represented. And with none of the stories being more than ten pages, they are all written in a way that provides a satisfying amount of background and setup, but doesn't waste any time getting to what it's making you anticipate. There is something for everyone in this anthology!

This book was amazing!!! I like what I would call lunch time reads. All the stories in this book are great and I am so glad that I got the chance to R&R for Rachel. She can put me on her list as one of her fans.

A lover found this book on my bedside table last week and read to me while taking a breather. This has been repeated multiple times since and I must say I'm thoroughly enjoying the addition to our time together. The stories are quick and hot and perfectly paced for brief interludes to spice up play. So far our favorite has been The Jeffrey Factor by Stella Harris - my lover really enjoyed the story of toy play between two men. After running into the name Jeff a few times within the book, we started wondering if there was a theme beyond great, short, sexy stories.
I must say, having the print copy is WAY better than the Kindle version, as no lover has yet to dig through my phone and read me any of the erotica I have on there. Books are sexy, especially this one!

Pleasure and desire come in so many different varieties -- it's hard to choose just one! And with this wonderful book, there are plenty of stories to tantalize and satisfy!! It is the perfect bedside companion when you want a little inspiration, or a way to get in the mood. Each encounter is filled with erotic imagery and takes you all the way to the climax at the finish line. I will definitely be re-reading my favorites!!

Short stories that will heighten the senses. Some are hot some not as much. It's not a book that you'd sit down and read all in one go, but if you are looking to kill fifteen minutes here and there, you're sure to find a short story in here that will lift your mood.

Once again Rachel Kramer Bussel has put together a wonderful anthology of erotic fiction! After getting this book, I simply couldn't read it fast enough. Rachel continually raises the bar for what erotic fiction can be. This anthology has a little something for anybody's taste. My favorite stories are "The Gallery Exhibit," and "In Her Hands." This book is really a must read for any true fans of RKB or erotic fiction.

69 flavors of orgasm. I treated this great book like a bag of my favorite snack size candy bars. I limited myself to one short story a day. Each day my craving was satisfied and I knew there would be another tasty story waiting for me the next day. This collection provided two months of new and interesting situations that kept me smiling, dreaming and wanting to create my own experiences.

I got this book to review, and I'm glad I did. It's been quite a help in the bedroom for my guy and me. However, the stories get a little repetitive toward the middle, and it's not something I'd recommend reading straight through.

Rachel Kramer Bussel knows what she's doing!! 69 short stories (about 3-4 Kindle pages each story) perfectly written by incredible familiar & new authors, warms the bed up quickly! I love this Kindle version! I can read a short story, and every one of them has peaked my interest!

Worth every dime, this book had my imagination rolling! Perfect addition to my collection!

What a surprise! I didn't know what to think or expect when I got this book in the mail. I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the book. Rachel Kramer Bussel pulled together a great collection of stories where the big O is featured. The stories aren't wall-to-wall sex with no plot. There is a variety in the volume from soft and sweet to hot, heavy, and kinky. My personal favorites included Meeting Cute, Out of Control, Icing on the Cake, Opening Doors and By the Beat. You won't be disappointed if you pick this up for yourself or for someone else.

Rachel Kramer Bussell is not only an awesome author but also collates a pretty mean collection as she shows again in this anthology. "I'm on fire" is a deliciously short tale of hot fun. The brevity of the stories means that they are perfect for a stolen moment on a commute or a moment of relaxation at home. My only criticism is that occasionally my commutes weren't long enough to finish enjoying the second or third tale in a row. :)

This was my first book of really good erotica. It is amazing. Rachel Kramer Bussel did a fantastic job selecting the works included in here. Every story is a unique orgasmic experience. It has a little bit of something for everyone.

Are there even enough adjectives to fully discribe the scintilating stories contained in the pages of this big book. Probably not. But if you crave variety in your stories then 69 different ones are all here. Happy Reading Darlings.

I reeealllllllyyyy enjoyed reading this book. I really liked the variety--there's something in there for pretty much everyone. It was fun to switch gears reading one story and then the next. For new readers about to sit down with this book for the first time, I recommend a glass of wine, a comfy space and a cleared schedule so that you can take allllllllll the time you want to enjoy.

Apologies in advance for the juvenile humor in the title of the review.

As far as anthologies of erotica go, this is one of my favorites. There literally is something for everyone here, and the shorter pieces make for wonderful reading foreplay with your love(s).

I always expect great erotica when Rachel Kramer Bussel is involved and this book delivers it! The short stories are perfect for that just-before-bed sexy read. "The Massage" has been my favorite so far but, really, nothing disappoints in The Big Book of Orgasms.

I was totally drawn in to this . I planned on reading for an hour or so and I could not put it down. You will not be disappointed with the eroticism and creativity of these authors and life experiences. Read it in one night with a few interruptions.

The Big Book of Orgasms is probably my favorite book of short story erotica. Each story is very short (3-4 pages), but makes up for the length with excellent writing and super sexy details. I tend to prefer longer stories, but this book made me change my tune.

From the foreward to the last page, Rachel Kramer Bussel always seems to find the right stories to make an incredibly hot and exciting read. This book was a feast for my imagination and as always I'm looking forward to what she does next!

to translate the sexual experience into a literary one is beyond hard (no pun intended), but the stories in this anthology make it look easy (again, no pun). while the standard erotic fare is present, so are the more esoteric. personal fav was Book Lover.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed more than a handful of the stories here, but I can't. I don't know if it's because my own personal tastes don't line up with the sort of stories featured, because it was hard to imagine myself in any of the stories, or some other nebulous combination of factors.

I admit that I went into it looking for the overall representation of the characters in the various stories. On that front, I came up disappointed. The M/M bits were probably the weakest and most stereotypical overall. Every other pairing got to be seen as both loving and fleeting; not M/M. Where it showed it was both fleeting and cruel. The sole trans story, while my outright favorite of the entire book, also focused only on the heartbreaking aspects of being trans rather than happier ones. As a trans man, you can probably see how this hurts. One story could have been simply crossdressing or trans woman-based; the writing itself made it hard to tell. And while I'd give my soul for any erotic writing about characters with disabilities, there is nothing to be found here. I can't blame Rachel for this; I can only blame writers who don't create it or submit it for publication.

As a whole I can't find anything terrible about The Big Book of Orgasms. I simply find it average and slightly disappointing from the mental expectations I had.