๐๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ: ๐ช๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐โฆ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐บ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ๐น๐ฒ๐!
Introduction to the Summer, 2022 Special Issue by Ralph Greco, Jr.
A pair of robots working out how best to fit their lubed, mechanical parts into one another, a suburban peep show where voyeurism is mixed with regret, a rumination about what truly is obscene (mmm, is it getting hot in here, or is it me?)โspeculative erotica is a ripe and rich field. And in this Granfalloon, we give you a collection of some of the most fantastically smokinโ hot stuff youโre likely to find!
Having been published as much in the world of mainstream writing as adult, I have scribbled lots of whatโs considered โcross-genreโ stuff, smushing together kink and western, a homosexual space pirate liaison, maybe a comely witch getting her pert and perfect backside swatted by adult trick or treaters (you know, the usual Halloween fun). And having dropped a few of my more ribald sci-fi yarns into this particular magazineโs maw in the past, the all-knowing, all-seeing powers-that-be here (obviously full of good taste) thought I might just be the โblokeโ to โstokeโ an issue where one might want to read as much as โstroke.โ In all seriousness, I have been ever humbled by their faith in me and working with them to make this issue a reality was one of the most recent true pleasures of my life, as was getting to read the wonderful stuff you will find in the following pages!
The intersection of the speculative and the salacious has happened so often in history, across TV shows, in literature, and in movies that we could literally spend hours, write entire books, and probably even develop a few college courses on the subject. But for now, take this as our offering of some of the best naughty short stories, ribald poetry, hot illustrations, and even an essay by some of the most gifted speculative creators you are likely to find. We even managed to squeeze in a story from sci-fiโs bygone era into the mix, something I am especially tickled byโand yes, Iโm in the issue too, beyond my guest editing.
I was especially thrilled to get my good buddy, partner-in-crime (ok, no real crime, Iโm kidding), a friend from way-back-when, illustrator Joe Swarctz to contribute the fantastic front and back cover of this issue, and two illustrations inside for my two stories (Joe also helped me revise and cement the idea for our The Smarquim Seduction piece). Joe and I met in high school, way before electricity was invented, played in bands (he drumming, me singing and playing guitar), hung out, ran with the hubris of youth as legends-in-our-own-minds, then lost touch for a good 25 years. Reconnecting four years ago, Joe and I as much settled back into a deep friendship as we began to develop a childrenโs book series (yes, far and away from the erotica we got into in this issue), from Joeโs initial creation of characters and settings, he had been working on for decades. We have self-published 14 books of our Echo City Capers (Echo City Capers) since.
I couldnโt be happier to have my friendship back with Joe and to have worked with him here.
With all thatโs thrown in our direction at the blistering pace of modern dissemination, I feel itโs ever so important to take the time, sit down, crack open a book and put oneโs nose, eyes, and mainly imagination into a story. Surely, we are hoping to tickle and tease you, warm your cockles, maybe even make you think a bit in ways you might typically find with speculative fiction or your everyday reading material. But whatโs life without some warm cockles?
Best of times and health to your cockles, to you and your loved ones, from all of us at Granfalloon. Enjoy the read!
โRalph Greco, Jr., in the wilds of suburban N.J., USA
ralphiedawriter@gmail.com
Cover art by Joe Swarctz ยฉ2022
Ralph Greco, Jr. is a professional writer and musician living in the wilds of suburban NJ on the east coast of the United States. Ralph works in both the mainstream and the adult space and his essays, poetry, fiction, interviews, reviews, erotica and childrenโs stories have appeared in nine countries. Ralph has had his one-act plays produced across the U.S., co-hosts the Licking Non-Vanilla podcast, and is an ASCAP licensed songwriter (Ralphโs music can be found at the cleverly named, www.ralphgrecomusic.com). Ralph can be reached by writing ralphiedawriter@gmail.com