The Ecstatic Moment: The Best of Libido

Founded in 1988, Libido has made a name for itself as a purveyor of tasteful erotica for readers who don't shed their political sensibilities with their clothes. These 40 greatest hits show off the magazine's warm-and-fuzzy strengths from top to bottom, foreplay to afterglow. The collection begins with a steamy alphabet-inspired trilogy by Johanna Barid. Other notable entries include Sophie du Chien's ""Playing with the Goddess,"" a no-holds-barred romp about a group of women who enjoy more than each other's company; ""Milk, Butter and Eggs,"" in which Jane Underwood proves that sensuality lurks in the most prosaic objects; and ""Not So Tender Is the Night"" by Mario Dworkin, which explodes the traditional interrogation scene by throwing in a Molotov cocktail of desire. Short poems bind the stories together and keep the tension high. There are no Nins or Millers, but there is surprise and abundant humor in this high-toned compilation. (Aug.)