Reading is fundamental. There is a golden dating/hooking up rule that floats around literary circles, and it goes something like "If you go home with someone and there aren't any books there, don't fuck them." This rule doesn't specify whether the books should be dirty or not, but I'd imagine a book of bondage erotica counts double.

"Best Bondage Erotica 2012" is the kind of book one might stash in a trunk with other choice titles, but it would look just as nice displayed proudly on a shelf in your personal library. As I have come to expect from reading a couple other "best" erotica collections, the cover graphics press all the right buttons without crossing the boundaries of taste. There is no explicit nudity or even any bondage on the cover (unless you count a collar) but it conveys the message all the same: this is a book about power dynamics and the diverse ways in which we might restrain each other in order to directly express them. It is a paperback, so it folds and travels easily. It is a fairly short book, 200 pages give or take, so quite the speedy read if you try to do it from cover to cover. But trust me, it's better to take your time.

One of the things I really love about erotica collections like this one is the enormous range of perspectives you get to see. More than twenty different erotic imaginations went into creating this book, so it touches on many different experiences and interests. I would dare anyone who is into bondage and power play to read this book and not find at least one story that speaks to their particular predalictions. It's like a BDSM sampler plate: an exploration of many different forms of bondage (rope, leather, psychological, plus other creative options) with doses of sex, spanking, exhibitionism, humiliation, and other kinks thrown in. Though some stories are intense, they are still short enough that the reader is given just a taste and then on to the next one, which helps keep things fresh and interesting. It's especially excellent if you are in the habit of reading in bed (alone or with a partner), since you can have one self-contained story per night. However, if you like your erotica to have elaborate scenarios and deep character development, this is not the book for you.

Most of the pairings featured are heterosexual, with a bit of F/F and M/M thrown in for good measure (and even some F/M/F and M/F/M). Although my main interest is queer erotica, I find that pieces which are well written and creative can still be very enjoyable even if they don't cater to my personal taste. One thing I really like about this book is that no particular gender hogs the driver's seat. There are portrayels of female tops with male bottoms, male tops with female bottoms, and everything in between, plus some very hot solo scenes. This book truly has something for every bondage lover.

Besides partaking for your own private pleasure, there is a whole host of ways you can benefit from owning this book. In a world of laptops and e-readers, the bound book often goes unappreciated. Bringing a book into bed to read to someone is way hotter than bringing a laptop. It's also an excellent conversation starter, a way to leave a trace or hint for someone special to find, or an erotica reserve for when the power goes down. It's got tons of material to exercise your imagination and enhance your own play. It could also make a great gift for the bondage bibliophile in your life. It is great introductory fantasy material, since in general it keeps things pretty light and towards the incarnations of kink that are more socially acceptable.

The contributing authors have a lot to be proud of with this book, and they were in very good hands with editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. Plus there is a forward by Midori! In the world of bondage lit, it doesn't get much better than that.

This is still a great book to have on the nightstand, even just as a conversation piece. Only a few of the stories really play to my personal tastes, but it's always interesting to see what people say or which story they like best.