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* "Elizabeth & Anastasia" by Tom Bombadil (ff romance)
10, 10, 10
* "Elizabeth & Anastasia" by Tom Bombadil (stbush@iglou.com). This author combines timing and tension to create a very good story. At the very start we know simply that Betty (Elizabeth) is upset because her father has thrown Stacy (Anastasia) out of the house and has threatened to kill her if he ever sees her around his daughter again. Then we flash back to a scene in a vice-principal's office, where Betty is describing her problems with a teacher who seems to be making passes at her. There must be some relation, the reader thinks, between what's happening in this flashback and the relationship between Betty and Stacy; but what is it? Is the vice-principal actually Stacy? The vice-principal has recommended a tutor; will that be Stacy? And then there is a sinister note; the vice-principal is apparently interested in exploiting a sexual opening with the teacher who had been harassing Betty. What are the implications of that tidbit for Betty? I can't help it; I root for characters when I read some of these stories. I already sympathize with Betty; and as a hard-working teacher myself, I wouldn't mind seeing the VP stick it to the teacher/pervert, but I hope that Betty and Stacy are people with a wholesome relationship rather than participants in some sort of demeaning ring of sex-slavery. As I finish writing the preceding paragraph, I am only about 2000 words into a 47,000-word story. I mention this because I think it is a sign of a good story to arouse the reader's interest as strongly as this story grabbed my attention. I'm reluctant to tell you too much of the story. I enjoyed finding out what would happen next, and I think you will too. The author uses an interesting strategy of alternating between the past and the present; that is, there is one continuous story starting in the present; and another continuous story - that gives meaning to the current-time story - starts in the past. In general, this is an ingenious and enthralling approach; but at times it becomes confusing. For example, when the girls are arguing in the past and making up in the present, the two plots may become entwined in the reader's mind. It must have been difficult for the author to coordinate these two plots; but he carries it off effectively - with the exception of one point in Chapter 4 where he seems to use in the past storyline information about Joyce that could be known only from the present plot. This is not a wham-bang sex story; it's a romantic story about a relationship that happens to involve intimate sex between two females. The early part of the story (probably the first two thirds - and that's a lot in a story of this size) does not contain any specific sexual activity at all; but sex is implied, and sexual tension pervades even this part. That makes it sexy to me. When explicit sex does occur, it is very hot. To be honest, I have to admit that this story brought tears to my eyes more often than it brought moisture to my lower regions; but they were often tears of joy that I associate with really happy times in the sack. I suppose that makes this pretty much a "chick story," but you studs out there oughta read it too. Maybe it'll put some hair on your chest. This story has some flaws; but it's still excellent. Look at it this way: on several occasions the author actually spelled "english" (as in English Teacher!) with a lower-case "e"; but I still gave the story straight 10's. I can't offer a much stronger recommendation than that! Ratings for "Elizabeth & Anastasia" Athena (technical quality): 10 Venus (plot & character): 10 Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10 -- |