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"Friendship" by Sven the Elder (older woman & younger man)
10, 10, 10
"Friendship" by Sven the Elder (sven@brass-neck.demon.co.uk). {Note: Inadvertantly, I both reviewed this story myself and sent it to a guest reviewer. So you get a bonus review this week!} "Friendship Clause" is a very brief story, almost a short-short. It tells, in first-person, of a young man, his female best friend, and a couple of times they dared to see if their friendship could last a closer relationship. I liked this story. It has considerable believability and a certain gentle charm. Ultimately, unfortunately, it left me feeling a trifle unsatisfied. I don't mean the sex; that's so brief it didn't even get me started. It is, I think, the relating of the relationship itself. This story is so short that you just get into the couple's heads, just start understanding and connecting with them, and it's over. Maybe I'm greedy, but I wanted more. And that is both my compliment and criticism. Brother Cadfael (not to be confused with the 11th Century detective of the same name) has created a couple I'd definately like to know more of. He has the talent; it's just a shame he didn't take the time or energy to flesh them, and their relationship, out a bit more. There are about three typos that, when he redoes this story, I'm sure he'll find and remove. They won't get in your way reading it. Ratings for "Friendship Clause" Athena (technical): 8 Aphrodite (sensual): 6 Apollo (personal): 9 |