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"Awakenings" by Ann Douglas (emerging ff sexuality) 9, 9, 9 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524630 01 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524625 02 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524620 03 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524636 04 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524641 05 "Awakenings" by Ann Douglas (annd@pop.tiac.net). http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524630 01 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524625 02 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524620 03 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524636 04 http://www.dejanews.com/getdoc.xp?AN=381524641 05 Kathryn has a good job at her company's introductory level and has aspirations for a future career. This makes her a little unpopular with some of her female coworkers, who view their jobs as interim activity between weekend cock hunts. Since she stays to herself and isn't out to get laid, she acquires an inaccurate reputation as a lesbian. Kathryn's relationship with her boyfriend has about run its course, and a female friend at work has invited her to a play in the city. Where do you think this is heading? What Ann Douglas is really good at is her intelligent handling of the ambivalence of emerging ff sexual feelings. Her characters are not airheads looking for a sexual thrill, but intelligent people who are integrating their emotions with their personalities. As usual, Ann does a good job of combining present activities with flashbacks to the past. The result is an excellent combination of well-described mf, ff, and solo sexual action. There are a few stylistic lapses in this story. For example, within a span of two sentences we have this sequence: "So you'll just have to get along with out me." "Suite yourself," Angela said as she got up to leave. And in the next paragraph the author refers to Kathryn as Yolanda. In another place a spellcheck has apparently changed "elevator" to "elevation," even though she was riding the "lift" to a lower floor. Later Angela hugs a friend in a "pubic place." There's no law against proofreading! Ratings for "Awakenings" Athena (technical quality): 9 Venus (plot & character): 9 Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 9