Return To the Celestial Review (This does NOT open a new window) Return To the Index (This does NOT open a new window) Note, to make reading multi-part stories easier, story links (links with dejanews.com or www.qz.to, NOT the review or profile links) will open up a new browser window. When you are done reading the story, or section of the story simply CLOSE the story window. |
"Politically Correct Fuck" by Tim Richards (satirical sex)
8, 10, 9
"Politically Correct Fuck" By Tim Richards (alunrob@mailexcite.com). Guest review by Sandman (sandman@bitsmart.com). In the seventies women burned their bras (You go girl!), in the eighties they started suing men for sexual harassment (and won!), in the nineties they might just dethrone a president. Everyone knows the rules have changed from the good ol' days when a guy could pinch his secretary on the butt, then ride home with all those pesky colored folk forced to the back of the bus to a charming June Cleaver like wife who had a nice warm dinner ready for him. For the most part the changes have been good I think (I miss the warm dinner though). The tough thing for us poor old guys is that while the rules have changed they keep right on changing and we're never REALLY sure where we stand. Take for instance Alun (Which I suppose is some fancy English spelling of Alan), who at his local (pub) meets the much younger, vivacious, and interesting Liz. I mean if all this PC stuff is tough for us thirty something's who grew up with the concept, imagine how tough it is for an older guy, especially when the woman he's interested in is probably a registered member of NOW. Poor Alun has to get her permission in writing to do anything interesting at all, though he does have quite a bit of fun after the details have been worked out. This was a charmingly original story with an absolutely fantastic plot idea mixed with a bit of scathing social commentary on just how silly "politically correct" can be when taken to extremes. As social satire it worked rather well and I was chuckling on more than one occasion. There are however some rather troubling problems with this story. First was the lack of anything resembling a quotation mark or an apostrophe, this makes the story a little hard to read. Second, and this is more serious than the first by far, is that while the idea is absolutely fantastic it interferes with the other subject (namely the sex). When I started getting all hot and bothered when Alun and Liz started getting hot and bothered they'd suddenly stop and start working on their contract again so they could get even more hot and bothered. This, to me, is a serious structural problem in the story and really I don't see how the author could get around it considering what he wanted to say. Really I liked the concept but I think this story will prove to be a frustrating read if you're looking to become aroused. Then again being PC can be terribly frustrating. Ratings for "Politically Correct Fuck" Athena (technical quality): 8 -- " & ‘ needs them. Venus (plot & character): 10 -- For the concept not the sex. Sandman (appeal to reviewer): 9 – Frustrated PC reviewer. |