I didn't manage to complete the last two novellas in the collection. However, I truly relished the initial three.

"Dying in Bangkok" was the very cause for which I purchased this. And indeed, it lived up to my expectations.

Yet, I was also completely astonished by "Sleeping with Teeth Women". It ultimately became my favorite story within this book. In fact, it is one of my all-time favorite SFF/H short stories.

The vivid descriptions and the unique plotlines in these stories really captured my imagination. They took me on a journey through different worlds and introduced me to characters that I won't soon forget.

Although I didn't get to the end of the collection, what I read was more than enough to make me a fan of the author's work. I look forward to reading more from this talented writer in the future.

This collection of five novellas presents a rather mixed bag.

One of them is a masterpiece, namely "The Great Lover". It is a bravura and meticulously researched work that serves as the diary of a World War I soldier/poet in the style of Siegfried Sassoon.

There are also two okay novellas, "Entropy's Bed at Midnight" and "Flashback". These feel more like retreads by Simmons. In fact, "Flashback" would later be expanded into a novel that was strongly loathed. In its current form, it lacks the right-wing paranoia that would define the later work and, unfortunately, also led to the downfall of Simmons's reputation.

Tragically, there are two pieces that are utter garbage. "Dying in Bangkok" is execrable, reveling in xenophobia, sexism, and racist stereotypes, even worse than "SONG OF KALI". And "Sleeping with Teeth Women" is an embarrassing attempt by Simmons to write from an indigenous perspective, resulting in a big failure.

However, despite the flaws in the other pieces, "The Great Lover" is truly outstanding. It almost reminds one of Pat Barker's Regeneration cycle and is well worth enduring the rest of the collection to experience.

I'm not historically a fan of the shorter story format. In fact, I've always had a certain aversion to it. So, when I picked up this particular work, I kind of expected that it wasn't going to be my bag. I mean, the shorter story just doesn't seem to have the depth and complexity that I usually look for in a literary piece.

However, I must admit that I've enjoyed Simmons's other work. His novels have always managed to captivate me with their rich characters, engaging plots, and beautiful prose. So, from here on, I think I'll stick to his novels. I'm sure they'll continue to provide me with the kind of reading experience that I truly love.

That being said, I'm not completely ruling out the possibility of enjoying a shorter story in the future. Maybe there's a hidden gem out there that will change my perspective. But for now, I'm content to focus on Simmons's novels and see where they take me.

Under normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't read this book. However, it was recommended to me, and moreover, I wanted to try something else from the author of the amazing "Terror".

Hm, what to write about the book.

It consists of 5 completely different stories that have a connection with love and death. The short stories are interesting, though. It can be seen that the author has studied the environment, the time, the facts, and the curiosities.

The second short story has quite erotic and explicit descriptions, which may not suit everyone.

Overall, it's an interesting read that offers a variety of different perspectives and themes related to love and death. The author's attention to detail and research is evident, making the stories engaging and thought-provoking. While the explicit content in the second story may be a turn-off for some, it doesn't overshadow the other strengths of the book. If you're looking for something different and are open to exploring various themes and writing styles, this book might be worth a try.

Simmons’ Eros and Thanatos are vividly presented in one book.

One story features Vietnam soldiers who encounter a rather strange and disturbing situation. They lose their virginity by fellating a succubus (perhaps - Simmons doesn't clearly state). This succubus has an abnormally long, suckered tongue. In this context, orgasm, as the French would describe it, is “petit mort” or “little death”. It's truly disturbing as the arousal seems to be an invitation to death.

This portrayal by Simmons blurs the lines between the primal forces of Eros (love and sexual desire) and Thanatos (the death drive). It makes the reader question the nature of these powerful instincts and how they interact in such a dark and unusual scenario. The vivid and somewhat macabre details add an element of mystery and unease, leaving a lasting impression on the mind of the reader.

Dan Simmons is truly one of my favorite writers and an unsung hero in America.

Surprisingly, many of my bookish friends haven't even heard of him. He seems to prefer flying under the radar with minimal or no advertising.

However, he has an impressive collection of works across various genres, including horror, mystery, science fiction, and more recently, historical fiction.

He excels equally in all these genres, but what I love most is his original thoughts and vivid imagination when it comes to the subject matter he chooses.

For example, in his vampire story, 'Children of the Night', a doctor specializing in blood infections unknowingly adopts a Romanian baby with a certain secret. Can you guess what it is?

The last novel I read by him was 'The Fifth Heart', where Sherlock Holmes and Henry James team up to solve the murder of Henry Adams' wife. It offers historical insights, a captivating mystery, and the relationship between Sherlock and Henry is quite entertaining (spoiler: they aren't exactly friends).

So, I was very intrigued to read Dan's handling of short stories. I initially thought it was just that, but it actually consists of 5 novella-length stories. Each one explores the combination of love and death, with love sometimes causing death. It's quite original.

I liked all the stories, and would only rate one less than 4 stars, but that's because I've never been a fan of wild west/American Indian themed tales.

One of the novellas, 'Flashback', was an early precursor to a novel he also wrote called 'Flashback', which features a drug that allows the user to have flashbacks and revisit any part of their past.

In my humble opinion, Dan Simmons' books come with a guarantee. They are so good that you won't be able to resist reading one after another.

A series of shorter novellas was presented, purportedly delving into the intricate relation between eroticism and horror.

These novellas aimed to explore the often overlooked and complex intersection of these two seemingly disparate themes. However, in the passage of time, their details have unfortunately faded from memory.

Perhaps it was the boldness of the concept that initially caught attention, but as the days turned into months and years, the specific narratives and their impact became less distinct.

Nevertheless, the idea of examining the connection between the alluring and the terrifying remains an intriguing one, and it is possible that future works may revisit and expand upon this exploration with greater success and lasting impression.

Oo, that one set in Vietnam still makes me queasy.

No guy can read that and not freak out. Bbrrrrr.

The Lakota Sioux store, about Women with Sharp Teeth (or something), is an amazing use of his own fiction techniques and Lakota mythology.

Man, I love Dan Simmons. Ever since reading The Terror, which is brilliant, I have felt compelled to read everything by him.

Even his shitty stuff, I have to read!!! He's amazing!!!

His works have this unique charm that keeps pulling me in. The way he weaves together different elements, whether it's historical settings like in The Terror or fictional concepts like in the Lakota Sioux store story, is truly remarkable.

Dan Simmons has a talent for creating vivid and engaging worlds that draw the reader in and don't let go.

I can't wait to explore more of his books and see what other amazing stories he has to offer.

A collection of five short stories lies before us. In my view, two of them are truly brilliant, namely “Sleeping with Teeth women” and “The Great Lover”, while the others are good but not quite as outstanding. I have thoroughly enjoyed this collection, especially now that I have delved into a few of Dan Simmons' books and begun to notice his obsessions with certain themes. War, Native Americans, and spiritual passion are just the most prominent among them. He has crafted the best Native American short story I have ever read. Due to “Sleeping with Teeth women”, I am adding this to my Native American shelf, making it my seventy-second book on that subject. So when I assert that this is the best short story, you can believe that I have some knowledge on this topic. Set approximately in the 1820s from the Lakota point of view, this is a vision quest type of story, very similar in tone to the 2003 movie Dreamkeepers. I was quite impressed with the story. Dan Simmons also did a similarly excellent job with a native story in his book Black Hills, as well as his treatment of northern Canadian tribes in his book The Terror. I would describe his approach as a reverse apple. (Apple is a derogatory term for natives who are more white on the inside than their skin would suggest.) Well, Dan Simmons is the opposite of that; he's an Indian who lives inside a white man. Okay, so that was a rather lame comparison, but it's the best I can come up with unless you can think of something that is white on the outside but red on the inside. Moving on, the last story, “The Great Lover”, is about World War I and the English poet Edward Rooke and his experience at the battle of the Somme. I have read a number of good writers who have created wonderful stories, some based in part on their war experiences, such as Norman Mailer's “The Naked and the Dead” or Harry Harrison's “The Forever War”. Dan Simmons, also a Vietnam veteran like Harry Harrison, wrote a powerful and descriptive account of trench warfare in “The Great Lover”. It's the best thing I've read about the Great War, as it was called. Although I can't claim to have read a vast number of accounts of that war, it was still a very good story overall. There are some enjoyable and interesting stories here. I also want to mention the near future Sci-fi story “Flashback”. It was rather more accurate in its description of present-day 2020 reality (remember, this was published in 1992) than many more well-known efforts like William Gibson's Necromancer. Anyway, “Flashback” was a good effort. It kind of describes cell phone addiction written back before we were addicted to our cell phones. So, I give the whole book four stars overall and promise myself to read a couple more of Dan Simmons' books because he is a really fine writer.

I found that each story in this collection offered something unique and engaging. The way Simmons weaves together different themes and historical periods is truly remarkable. His attention to detail and ability to bring the characters and settings to life make for a captivating read.

“Sleeping with Teeth women” stands out for its vivid portrayal of Native American culture and the spiritual journey of the protagonist. The story is filled with rich imagery and a sense of mystery that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

“The Great Lover” is a powerful and poignant account of war and its impact on the human psyche. Simmons' description of the horrors of trench warfare is both graphic and moving, and the character of Edward Rooke is well-developed and sympathetic.

The other stories in the collection are also值得一读. They explore a range of themes, from science fiction to historical fiction, and each one has its own charm and appeal.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection of short stories to anyone who enjoys good writing and engaging stories. Dan Simmons is a talented writer who has a lot to offer, and this collection is a great introduction to his work.

Ultimately, there wasn't a single story within these pages that truly seized my attention. The WWI novella was, without a doubt, the strongest among them, yet I couldn't help but feel that it lost some of its impact towards the end. It's quite fascinating, however, to come to the realization that a significant portion of this work could never see the light of day in today's publishing landscape. The sexual horror, the exoticist depiction of Southeast Asian people, especially women, and the story in which Simmons, who is identified as 'white' (I use quotes here because I firmly believe that ethnicity and, more specifically, ethnic 'whiteness' is a social construct that we should strive to eliminate), writes from the perspective of a Native American narrator - all of these elements would, in all likelihood, be rejected today for not being 'ownvoices', regardless of how meticulously researched the story might be. It's rather disheartening to recognize just how puritanical our society has become.

This is an outstanding short story book.

The tale regarding the being with the serpentine tongue is truly one of the finest erotic stories ever penned.

It has a captivating charm that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

The author's vivid descriptions and imaginative plot make it a truly unforgettable read.

If Simmons were to write cereal boxes, I would毫不犹豫地purchase every brand.

Such is his talent that he could even make the most mundane of things, like cereal boxes, interesting and engaging.

His writing style is unique and engaging, and it is clear that he has a real gift for storytelling.

This short story book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys erotic literature or simply a good story.

Of the five stories encompassed within this volume, only the very last one, namely "The Great Lover," can truly be regarded as first-rate and in the same league as Simmons' novel-length creations.

Among the remaining four, "Sleeping With Teeth Women," which delves into Native American lore, is moderately interesting, albeit overly long. "Flashback" is founded on an interesting concept, yet it lacks internal logic and has an ending that is blatantly foreseeable. I am by no means a prudish person, but I found "Dying In Bangkok" to be a thoroughly revolting work that nearly trivializes AIDS.

Finally, "Entropy's Bed At Midnight" is a trifle, the kind of thing that a community college creative writing instructor might generously assign a grade of C to. It is worth purchasing solely for "The Great Lover" if you can obtain it at a reasonable discount off the cover price.

This volume presents a mixed bag of stories, with only one truly standing out as exceptional. The others have their flaws and shortcomings, but for those who are particularly interested in Simmons' work or the specific themes explored in these stories, it may still hold some value, especially if they can get it at a good price.