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Message-ID: <48310asstr$1088169001@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: Crimson Dragon <dcrimsonp@nym.alias.net>
Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} {Reviews} Crimson Reviews - #040 - 24-Jun-2004
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Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 09:10:01 -0400
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And this week: 
Exploring Vikings, Evil Dukes, Private Battles, Madness Madness,
Performance Reviews, Wifely Duties, Pastoral Transgressions, 
Editing Skills, Teaching Virgins, and Escorting Princesses.

These are with what we are concerned this week.

 - Crimson

"Lucky that my lips not only mumble,
 They spill kisses like a fountain.
 Lucky that my breasts are small and humble,
 So you don't confuse them with mountains."
                             -- Shakira

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The missives below are merely opinions, publicly stated, but only 
opinions. Dragons may be immortal, but they are not infallible. Read the 
stories for yourself, and form your own opinions. Then, let the author 
know what you thought. Celeste's blowjob principle isn't smoke in the 
wind.

 - Crimson Dragon (dcrimson@yahoo.com)

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Dragon/www
http://members.tripod.com/files/Authors/Dr/wwwagon_Of_Crimson

Review Archives:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Crimson_Reviews/www

Thanks to Denny for checking over the reviews for obvious
bungles, though ultimately any errors herein are mine and mine 
alone. Also, big thanks to Rui, who always comes through with
the story links, even the obscure ones.

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If you like the stories contained in these reviews, Rui helps run
the Clitorides, which is a "People's Choice"-type award system
for exceptional erotica. You might want to nominate any story that
tickles you.

Silver: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Clitorides/www/Silver_Clitorides.htm
Golden: http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Rui_Favorites/www/Clitorides/
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Story Summary:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Vinland -- Smilodon 
    (m/f, first, hist)
    [10, 10, 10, 10]

Amity's Vow -- Bradley Stoke
    (MF caution)
    [10, 10, 10, 10]

Bertha 1865 -- Uther
    (hist 1st rape)
    [9, 10, 10, 10]

Charmed -- f. aces
    (m/f, madness)
    [10, 10, 10, 10]

The Best Performance Review -- Barry Longshaft
    (MF, fast food manager)
    [9, 9, 8, 9]

Duty -- H. Jekyll
    (con, married, oral)
    [10, 10, 10, 10]

Sins of the Pastor -- Jeremy Prichard
    (MF cons cheat voy exhib)
    [7, 8, 7, 5]

Lights! Camera! Action 1/3 -- Gato Medio
    (f-solo F-solo Ff Mf FF MF M+F inc D/s anal)
    [9, 10, 9, 9]

Maths Tutor -- KnobbieKnobbs
    (Mf rom 1st)
    [9, 9, 10, 10]

Rebel 062 - Princess -- Old Bill
    (MF hist)
    [9, 9, 10, 9]

Reviews:
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Vinland -- Smilodon 
    (m/f, first, hist)

Vikings!

Thorfinn Fairhair is but a lad of sixteen, a poor orphan living in
Greenland well before the better known Christopher Columbus set sail
from Spain to "discover" America. Thorfinn finds himself a valuable
member of Leif Erickson's voyage to find and settle a new land. Only
when they arrive in Vinland do they slowly discover that they aren't
alone. The Natives of Vinland are wary but friendly. And Meera - ha
- nhee is even more brave and friendly than most -- though only
Thorfinn knows about her. But after the long winter nights are over,
and the Vikings have proven that they can survive this strange and
new environment, what will become of Thorfinn and Meera - ha - nhee?

Have I mentioned that I like Viking stories? Not that there are a
lot of them in ASSM. If nothing else, such lack makes this story
particularly unique.

As always, Smiley presents flawless execution of a classic love
story -- a meeting of people. His characters live, and the story
moves along with a feeling of realism that shines of authenticity.

Even if historical fiction isn't your thing, don't miss this. It
has something for everyone. (Even a bit o' bondage)

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/Vinland.htm
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48043

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/SM/wwwilodon/

Posted To ASSM: Sat, 29 May 2004

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Amity's Vow -- Bradley Stoke
    (MF caution)

Amity works as a servant to the Duke. Her duties include the
standard serving wench fare -- preparing and serving meals,
cleaning, mending. But her life has always been difficult, and she
would gladly work hard to survive in this world. However, her life
is made even more difficult by the constant sexual demands placed
upon her and all the other wenches used by the Duke. If it were not
for her undying spirituality, she would have taken her own life long
ago.

Her life takes an unexpected turn when the young, incompetent Duke
picks a fight with his far stronger neighbour and the King refuses
to intervene.

Bradley has found his focus. The last few stories that I've read by
Bradley have wandered a little -- his prose tackles tough moral
subjects and many of them. Here, Bradley focuses beautifully on
Amity and her life, allowing us to assimilate his messages in a
subtle manner. I cared about Amity; hated the villains that abounded
in this tale. And that is what is important to a true story teller.
Even while I've never been in a position like Amity's -- I could
still relate to her and what she was feeling.

A word of caution. This story is not for everyone. There is a great
deal of violence and angst -- it is not a particularly happy story.
However, at least for me, Bradley pulled me into a different world
and while I abhor some of the actions that took place there, it was
with definite purpose that Bradley showed it to me.

Sit down. Take a deep breath. And fall into another world.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Bradley_Stoke/www/21_Amity's_Vow.htm
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48024

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Bradley_Stoke/www

Posted To ASSM: Sat, 29 May 2004

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Bertha 1865 -- Uther
    (hist 1st rape)

At the end of the Civil War, Bertha is stranded in her own home.
The Unionists are camped outside, and even while they are civil to
her, she knows that they have taken her way of life. When word comes
that the Confederates have fallen to the north, Bertha decides to
wage her own private war. It isn't quite clear who will win Bertha's
battle.

I liked the historical context here. Uther does a great job at
presenting the times -- when soldiers were soldiers and women were
women. The interactions between Bertha and the soldiers seemed
strained and realistic. The end result, frighteningly plausible.


Technical       :    9
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Uther_Pendragon/www/story/bert1865.htm
(Reviewed version unavailable from ASSTR archives due to author request)

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Uther_Pendragon/www/index.htm

Posted To ASSM: Sat, 29 May 2004

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Charmed -- f. aces
    (m/f, madness)

Madness as a story code, hmmm? Have to ask Uther if that is an
official code or not.

I'm not quite sure how to go about reviewing this story. What I will
say is that the "madness" code is accurate despite what any FAQ
might say. As best as I can figure a strange and warped mind, Danny
pines after Anne, though it is somewhat unclear if it was this
infatuation that caused the madness, or the madness that caused the
infatuation. But Danny can't tell Anne, and Anne doesn't know. She
doesn't. She doesn't. And even while Danny mixes his cauldron of
herbs, chanting and whispering to himself, Anne can't know and
doesn't. She doesn't. She doesn't.

This is a unique story. Unique story. And unique almost always is a
good thing. I find that my Dragon mind is still spinning and I'm not
sure exactly what I read. But what I am sure of: it is very well
written and utterly fascinating.


Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story: 
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/f.aces/charming.txt
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/47978

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/f.aces

Posted To ASSM: Tue, 25 May 2004

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The Best Performance Review -- Barry Longshaft
    (MF, fast food manager)
    {story codes added by a half-asleep Dragon}

Cory doesn't like performance reviews. Performance reviews, at least
in his opinion, are God's punishment to those that foolishly accept
a few extra dollars and the title of "manager." So, Cory sits at his
desk, procrastinating, when Chryssi pokes her head into the office
and cheerfully asks, "What's up?" She finds out what's up, and a
bunch more.

I'm a little torn about this story. It was fun in a sex-at-work kind
of way. On the other hand, it was a little predictable and
formulaic. Not much depth here. Pretty much just a bored manager
bonking a pretty employee.

I did like the ending, though. This story had the potential to be
rather -- unpleasant -- but Barry decided to go in a more human
direction and, at least for me, I liked that element even if I
wanted to know a little more about Cory and Chryssi beyond their
jobs and their ability to have sex.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :    9
Character/Plot  :    8
Crimson         :    9

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48054

Author's other works:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=venomx%40aol.com+&index=email&submit=Search

Posted To ASSM: Sun, 30 May 2004

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Duty -- H. Jekyll
    (con, married, oral)

He wakes up in the night and has urges. She accommodates him.

Man and wife.

Consensual? Or not?

Jekyll makes us think a little with this story. I'm not sure if I
liked the story itself or not, but I do know that I liked the
writing and the expression here. I found the tale rather disturbing
but also fascinating. And I think that's what Jekyll was fully
intending.

Technical       :   10
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48086

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/h_jekyll/.

Posted To ASSM: Wed, 2 Jun 2004

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Sins of the Pastor -- Jeremy Prichard
    (MF cons cheat voy exhib)

Pastor Claude leads a mid-sized congregation in spiritual awareness.
He is happy in his life until he begins to notice Robyn and John, a
married couple, at prayer circle. Well, he notices Robyn a little
more than John. Robyn catches the Pastor watching her chest, and
proceeds to tease the hapless man until they both manage to break
the 7th Commandment.

This story had wonderful potential. Not only did it have the
potential for titillation, but it also had the potential to present
a clear message. I think Jeremy succeeded in the former at the
expense of the latter. As a reader, I'm looking for a clear point to
the story -- some statement as to what the author believes is the
right or wrong thing for his characters to do. I didn't get that
from Jeremy here -- the Pastor's behaviour is inconsistent, as is
Robyn's, with their stated belief structures. To concentrate on the
sex here makes the story seem too shallow and without a clear
message. It ends up being a classic "authority figure" fucks a
student with some alluding to breaking marital constraints for good
measure -- but that isn't really anything particularly special
except for, possibly, fuelling fantasy.

To be fair, Jeremy does try to tell us that the Pastor finds himself
in a moral dilemma. He's neither ignorant of the situation, not is
he comfortable. It isn't a problem of recognition here, but rather
- -- I want to know why he wasn't able to resist. Why did physical
beauty and earthly desire overcome a spiritual commitment? And what
are the consequences for the decisions that the two characters ended
up making?

Perhaps we needed more story after Jeremy's ending. Or perhaps I'm
simply looking for too much.

Technical       :    7
Eros            :    8
Character/Plot  :    7
Crimson         :    5

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48050

Author's other works:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=Jeremy+Prichard&index=name&submit=Search

Posted To ASSM: Sun, 30 May 2004

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Lights! Camera! Action 1/3 -- Gato Medio
    (f-solo F-solo Ff Mf FF MF M+F inc D/s anal)

Gabriella is a camera-person for a national network. She's also the
young mother of a teenage daughter, Tina. As mothers and daughters
don't always see eye-to-eye, there is some friction between them,
especially when it comes to personal privacy. But Tina isn't home
and Gabriella's hairbrush is missing. The only place left to search
is Tina's bedroom. Instead of finding the hairbrush, Gabriella finds
a video cassette that she assumes is part of Tina's ongoing school
media arts project. Thinking she might be able to help Tina's
project with a professional eye, Gabriella watches the tape, only to
discover that Tina has been filming herself in a more natural state
than might be acceptable for high school projects. And Tina's not
alone in the film.

Gabriella is faced with the problem of confronting Tina and losing
her trust, or pretending that she never saw the tape at all. It
becomes more difficult to ignore the images on the tape as time goes
on. But is this all a part of a bigger plan set in motion by her
daughter?

I'll admit that I only had time to read the first part of this
story. I have no idea if Gato resolves the issues over the course
of the story, or if the story wanders into a smorgasbord of steamy
sex. I can tell you that the first chapter is well written and sexy
in an exhibitionistic sort of way. I can only hope that Gato keeps
up the story-telling intensity and doesn't wander into a shallow
morass as sometimes these stories tend to do.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :   10
Character/Plot  :    9
Crimson         :    9

Story:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/GatoMedio/www/lights.html
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48102

Author's site:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/GatoMedio/www/

Posted To ASSM: Fri, 4 Jun 2004

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Maths Tutor -- KnobbieKnobbs
    (Mf rom 1st)

James takes a job tutoring seventeen year old Sophie in math. Sophie
turns out to be a bright student and a wonderfully attractive girl.
James, however much he might be attracted to her, knows that they
have a professional relationship. Even when Sophie begins to attend
the tutoring sessions at James' flat, James remains the perfect
gentleman.

As the end of the academic year approaches, and Sophie passes her
eighteenth birthday, Sophie asks James to help her celebrate at a
club. James finally accepts and they find that there has been a
mutual attraction that must be consummated.

For me, the sex was a little over-described -- didn't mesh with the
sedate pace of the remainder of the story, but I suspect for most,
it will be fine.

I liked the slow nature and romanticism of this tale. Our two
characters become good friends before they find themselves between
the sheets. It comes off believable and human.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :    9 
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :   10

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48027

Author's other works:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=Knobbie+Knobbs&index=name&submit=Search

Posted To ASSM: Sat, 29 May 2004

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Rebel 062 - Princess -- Old Bill
    (MF hist)

Amelia has been captured at the front. She is a stunning creature,
the wife of an enemy officer -- haughty and vulnerable. Our soldier
of fortune is charged with her safe return to the enemy line while
her husband is kept as a prisoner of war. Under a flapping white
flag, Amelia is escorted along the war torn countryside. When
George's horse breaks its leg, our soldier must continue alone
chaperoning the beautiful girl.

Trouble begins when they stop for lunch at a tavern and Amelia is
recognised by a band of roving mercenaries.

Overall, while the sex in this series remains over-described,
particularly with, perhaps, too much concentration on our narrator's
huge endowment, I did like this segment. As always, the narrator has
a slightly bent but chivalrous sense of morality; it touches us as
readers and entertains in a roguish sort of way.

Technical       :    9
Eros            :    9
Character/Plot  :   10
Crimson         :    9

Story:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2004/48014

Author's other works:
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/cgi-bin/field_search.cgi?search=oldbill2%40comcast.net&index=email&submit=Search

Posted To ASSM: Sat, 29 May 2004

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-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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