Title: The Big Book of Erotic Ghost Stories Author: Greg Wharton, editor Publisher: Blue Moon Books Publish Date: 2005 Pages: 227 Genres:: Fiction, Compilation, Fantasy Reviewer: Layla Tichtchenko

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This collection of short stories is compiled for those seeking a fictional escape with a sense of the erotic. At first glance, this may seem like sensual simplicity but upon further inspection you’re drawn into the passionate yet poignant world of erotica with a ghostly twist. Many of these stories are exceptional in their telling of erotic and ghostly encounters.

This anthology begins with “ Shadows on the Wall” by Susie Santiago. It is a story by a woman who masturbates at the behest of her dead husband, but not his ghostly manifestations. She is urged on by videos with instructions that he left for her. She does what he tells her to do because their relationship was one of master and servant. But as she completes the “assignments” dictated to her in his recordings she finds the closure she needs to move on and heal from her loss.

In “ Fireflies” by Jeff Mann is where the book delves deeper and becomes steamier as a man discovers a confederate soldier for whom his has a desire which lasts for years. “ Fireflies” weaves a tale of lust and longing as you’re introduced to the main character who is drawn to a picture of a confederate soldier. He can’t get the image out of his mind until he moves away from his home town to experience big city life and a career. The years pass by while the image of that soldier slowly fades from memory. He then returns to his home town many years later, and to the memory which he left so long ago. He is united with the ghost and enjoys a love affair more passionate than any of his previous encounters. He has finally found closure in the lifelong curiosity and it ultimately enables him to have fulfillment in ways he never dreamed of.

“Dead Letter” by Beth Greenwood is a somewhat Twilight Zone-esque story. Beth Greenwood tells the story of a moan who writes books about his ectoplasmic encounters. He does book signings where he regales his audience with tales of his ghostly encounters. His wife sits in the audience with the cynicism and disbelieving mind of the money hungry. She knows the truth about his so-called encounters. This story had a much unexpected twist which I will not elaborate on so as not to spoil the tale for those interested in a good read.

“Only in New Orleans” by Elyn Selu is a bizarre tale of a woman, Chloe, in love with a ghost with whom she is unable to consummate that love. She is torn by her heart’s desire and her inability to touch the object of that desire. She is tempted at one point to use the services of a quite unusual place of business. She checks out historical romances, a place which offers people the opportunity to have sex with the ghost of their dreams. Being that ghosts are insubstantial, a cipher will allow the ghost to temporarily possess them and then under ghostly influence they’re then able to have a physical relationship with the client. Chloe decides that that is not the way and her ghost love tells her that as well. But ultimately with a friend from work, Chloe is finally united physically with her ghost lover. Her friend allows the ghost to “ride” her and is quite adept as a practitioner of Voudoun. Chloe is happy and able to find the sexual release she needs.

O’neil de Noux writes a sensual yet sad tale in “ Lonesome Little Blue.” It is a tale of two high-school sweethearts, Tyler and Sam, who meet once a year to make love and remember their love. Tyler’s lovemaking comes to a bittersweet end as the love of her life must leave on the train that posthumously bears his name. They’re torn apart and must once again face the fact that one of them is gone until… next year.

Felice Picano weaves a somewhat grisly tale of a writer who moves to the country to devote more of his time and energy to his writing in a peaceful environment. Hunter is the story of Ben Apres who is very attracted to his married friend. He realizes, however, that his friend will never have those feelings for him and turns to hustling at truck stops. He begins a destructive descent into activities built on the desperation to satiate his longing and satisfy his desires. Ultimately, his fate is a dark one as he becomes irreversibly entwined in the passionate attention of a ghost. This isn’t just any ghost, but the spirit of the man who is the very cabin in which he resides. The ghost’s insatiable sexual desires ultimately dictate Ben’s demise. But in that end it seems that these two souls together have at last found peace.

This anthology is filled with juicy tales of ghostly sexual exploits, although there were a couple of stories which it was difficult to see why they were included at all, such as “ Obon” by C.S. Fuqua. There really isn’t much more than a woman who reminisces about her dead mother and fantasizes about her lover is far away but very much alive. Regardless of these few snafus, this book is an incredible read filled with hot, lusty love scenes sure to tantalize and titillate one and all.