Mortal Engines & The Color of The Moon

by C. Garcia-Sanchez

Book Review by Ashley Lister

I don’t really need to introduce C. Garcia-Sanchez to regular readers of ERWA [Erotica Readers & Writers Association].  Chris is an active participant in ERWA's email discussion list.  As well as being a frequent contributor to ERWA Storytime Chris has also had work featured in the ERWA Gallery.  In short, if you don’t know Chris, you’re missing out on the talents of a very competent author.

Mortal Engines And The Color Of The Moon is Chris’s first title, published by the clever folk at Whiskey Creek Press.  The two novella length stories in this volume are both (appropriately) subtitled: Stories of Strange Love.

This is particularly true for Mortal Engines, a futuristic story where software and hardware designers have worked hard to create perfect women in the form of “lovebots.”  For those who are uncomfortable with the idea of people having sex with machines, I can sympathise.

I once had sex with a microwave whilst I was making some popcorn.  The relationship is best described as short and sweet.  Mind you, my brother used to own a pub and his wife divorced him because she caught him having sex with the dishwasher.  The dishwasher’s name was Karen. 

But sex with machines isn’t really an issue.  The main theme that Chris brings to Mortal Engines is a turn-around of Freud’s timeless question: what do women want?  With Mortal Engines Chris raises the question: what do men want?  The story starts off simply enough with Hal, the story’s disgruntled hero, trying to understand why a good relationship ended and wondering what to do next.  After dwelling on the vagaries of fundamental female fickleness, he is swayed by the temptation of a robotic companion. 

I won’t say anything further about the plot.  I don’t want to spoil the surprises that Chris has carefully laid out for the readers.  The story is well-presented, intelligent and incredibly sexy.  I think it’s fair to say that Mortal Engines is aimed more predominantly toward a male audience than a female readership, but I think Chris’s distinctive voice will be equally appreciated by men and women alike. 

Ashley Lister
December '08 - January '09

Mortal Engines & The Color of The Moon
(Whiskey Creek Press; August 2008; ISBN-10: B001KQ61CE)
Available as Amazon Kindle Edition & Whiskey Creek Ebook

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© 2008 Ashley Lister. All rights reserved.


About the Author: Ashley Lister is a UK author responsible for more than two-dozen erotic novels written under a variety of pseudonyms.His most recent work, Swingers: True Confessions from Today's Modern Swinging Scene (Virgin Books; ISBN: 0753511355), a non-fiction book recounting the exploits of UK swingers, is his first title published under his own name.
Ashley’s non-fiction has appeared in a variety of magazines, including Forum, Chapter & Verse and The International Journal of Erotica. Nexus, Chimera and Silver Moon have published his full-length fiction, with shorter stories appearing in anthologies edited by Maxim Jakubowski, Rachel Kramer Bussel and Mitzi Szereto. He is very proud to be a regular contributor to ERWA.
Websites: www.ashleylister.co.uk / ashleylister.blogspot.com

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