INTRODUCTION
Recall, if you will, those mystical days of sexual awakening.
Few opportunities presented themselves to make love—or just get your rocks off—in the comfort of a warm bed, unless your parents were away. More likely, you were at a drive-in, or a lovers’ lane. And on those occasions when the folks returned early, or the flashlight man banged at your car window, remember how you felt? Your libido was iced by the first foreign sound. Your heart thumped against your chest as you scrambled to dress or hide. Your hormones were chilled by the panic of discovery.
Sex and fear. They meshed naturally in the good old days, and the same holds true today in the Hot Blood series.
This edition’s group of writers provides further proof that sex and horror are a bottomless well that has not begun to go dry. Fresh ideas crop up in every story we read, from both new and established writers. One of the fascinations of editing this series is watching the horror field change with the times. We’re seeing fewer vampire stories and more about psychopaths, fewer werewolves and more horny husbands cheating on their wives … with disastrous results. As readers, it puts the horror more squarely in our own backyards, living rooms, and, of course, bedrooms. As a result, the current crop of Hot Blood stories is closer to home than most we’re presented so far. That ups their fear quotient, so … be warned!
To put it all in perspective, we are honored to present a personalized overview of the history of erotic horror, courtesy of legendary horror fan #1, Forrest J. Ackerman. We both grew up reading (and hiding from our parents!) dog-eared copies of Famous Monsters, passed from kid to kid (and which we are now passing on to our kids, much to their delight!). In his own inimitable style, Forry provides a unique look at the role of the birds and bees in horror in his “Forryword” to this volume. But of course, in Forry’s world, the birds might be the size of Rodan and the bees could be a killer swarm migrating north from South America. Enjoy his unique vision and sense of humor in this edition of “Fahrenheit 452,” as Forry terms the Hot Blood series.
So caress this volume and relax in your favorite chair or the backseat of your car—whatever turns you on—to experience a new rush of excitement. And, oh, by the way—is this your first time? Have you missed the earlier volumns of the Hot Blood series? If so, you’re in for a real treat, not only between these covers, but also through the pioneering editions that await you at your favorite bookstore. If you’ve been with us since the original volume, you already know what to expect. In either case, rest assured more volumes are coming.
For us, and for thousands of readers the world over, erotic horror fiction is a particularly enticing piece of forbidden fruit, one we must return to now and again, to satisfy some primal urge as essential as sex itself. And it’s an urge you can explore guilt-free.
So … indulge!
Jeff Gelb
Michael Garrett
January 1994