Rogue Reviews Digest No. 8 - July 20, 1998


  NOTICE

If you are easily offended or under the age of eighteen then please 
do not read what follows.


  CONTENTS

Mailing List Information

Rogue Reviews Standards and Guidelines (Version 1.1)

  Basic Story Ratings
  What is an Outstanding Story?
  What is an Excellent Story?
  What is a Very Good Story?
  What is a Good Story?
  What is Grudgingly Good Story?
  What is a Not Good Story?
  What Separates Outstanding Stories From Excellent Stories?
  What Separates Excellent Stories from Very Good Stories?
  What separates Excellent and Outstanding Stories from Good and Very
    Good Stories ?
  What Separates Very Good Stories from Good Stories?
  Things I consider when reviewing a story
  Things I like to see in a story
  Things I do NOT like to see in a story
  Random Thoughts

Reviews

  No. 101 [A Brother's Love by Stephen Peters]
  No. 102 [Novice or The Better To Offer My Warmth by Wollstonecraft]
  No. 103 [Suzette's Passion by BitBard]
  No. 104 [Jeremy's Summer Job by Kristen]
  No. 105 [Funeral by John K]
  No. 106 [The Housesitter by Steve]
  No. 107 [Lover's Desire by J. R. Parz]
  No. 108 [And the Lady Danced 'till Dawn by Sven the Elder]
  No. 109 [That Mardi Gras Spirit by DG]
  No. 110 [Teaching the Teacher (Parts 1 & 2) by Day Dreamer]
  No. 111 [He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Parts 1 & 2) by Micky]


*****


  MAILING LIST INFORMATION

I send my reviews individually, when I finish them, to the Sex Stories 
Discussion List.  If you are interested in joining there is a form for 
doing so on my home page.

* Home Page - http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Cafe/3112/
* E-Mail - santiago@switchboardmail.com


*****


  ROGUE REVIEWS STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES (VERSION 1.1) - July 17, 1998


  Basic Story Ratings

* Outstanding
* Excellent
* Very Good
* Good
* Grudgingly Good
* Not Good


  What is an Outstanding Story?

An Outstanding is the best rating I give a story.  The writing is 
technically close to perfect.  The story works on several levels.  
There is more to the story than just sex.  It is an upper echelon 
Excellent Story.


  What is an Excellent Story?

An Excellent Story is close to an outstanding story, but it just does
not have that oompf to put it over the top.


  What is a Very Good Story?

A Very Good Story is well written, but has a minor flaw or two.  
There is a plot, but it may center around just sex.  There is some 
characterization.


  What is a Good Story?

A Good Story shows that the author knows how to write.  There is 
either a major flaw or two, or several minor flaws.  Plot and 
characterization are often sketchy.  The story works, despite its 
flaws.


  What is Grudgingly Good Story?

A Grudgingly Good Story is one that is well written.  If the subject 
matter had not made me queasy it would have gotten a Good, Very Good,
Excellent, or Outstanding.


  What is a Not Good Story?

A Not Good Story is one that was not well written.  On occasion there
is an element in the story that I thought was well handled, but was 
not enough to save the story.


  What Separates Outstanding Stories From Excellent Stories?

Outstanding Stories usually work on several levels.  They are the top
one to five percent of excellent stories, theoretically.


  What Separates Excellent Stories from Very Good Stories?

There are no major or minor flaws.  Technically, the writing should 
be close to perfect.  One or two teensy errors can be overlooked.


  What separates Excellent and Outstanding Stories from Good and Very
    Good Stories ?

Sex is not the be all end all, i.e. it is not a stroke story.  The 
story has plot and characterization.  It has no major or minor flaws.
It can have a couple teensy errors.


  What Separates Very Good Stories from Good Stories?

Elements such as plot and characterization are well handled.  There 
are no major flaws.


  Things I consider when reviewing a story

Plot - Does it have one? If yes, at what pace does it develop?  Does 
it develop logically?

Characters - Are they stereotypes or do they seem real?  Are they 
dynamic? Are they complex?

Dilemma - Is there one?  How is it depicted?  Is it believable?

Arousal - Is the story arousing?  Does the sex begin with the first 
sentence or does the author lead up to it?


  Things I like to see in a story

sarcasm, wit, humor, build up before the sex begins, characters 
capable of both happiness and sadness, personal dilemmas, characters 
who have to make tough choices, creativity


  Things I do NOT like to see in a story

sex without a plot or a dilemma, characters without a function in 
life other than sex, non-consensual sex or other non-consensual 
activities that are supposedly fun, pedophilia (under the age of 
15-16)*, ...And They Lived Happily Ever After endings

* Yes, I realize this is statutory rape in some places


  Random Thoughts

+ My reviews reflect how a story strikes me.
+ To each their own.
+ Feel free to disagree with me, you will not be the first or the 
  last.
+ There are exceptions to every rule.
+ Authors should write to please themselves, as well as others.


I reserve the right to modify this enumeration of standards.


*****


  REVIEWS


No. 101 - July 13, 1998

A Brother's Love by Stephen Peters

F/M, Teen, Inc

Length: 6,400 words


  SUMMARY

Jamie talks about her "special" relationship with her brother.


  COMMENTARY

There was not much restraint shown in this story.  From the beginning
it is clear that Jamie has an incestuous relationship with her 
brother, David.  The author seems to use it as a gimmick.  It does 
not work because incest seems rather commonplace in sex stories.  I 
wish this story had more of a plot.

Despite giving the ending away on page one, the author does take the 
time to go back and show what led Jamie and David to share a bed.  
He does not use the bulk of the story to show them attempting the 
traditional "sex story frolics".

If the author could have built up to the sex, or shown that either 
one of the characters had some real doubts about the relationship, 
then I might have liked it.

This story is not without merit, but the narrative lacked any build 
up or tension.


  JUDGMENT

This is not a good story, but the author does take the time to 
explain how the current relationship came to be.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12586.txt


-----


No. 102 - July 13, 1998

Novice or The Better To Offer My Warmth by Wollstonecraft

F/M, Cons?

Length: 7,500 words


  SUMMARY

A nun reaps benefits and punishment for offering shelter to a beggar.


  COMMENTARY

This story was well written and well paced.  The descriptions were
rich, although at times they were practically gynecological.  I found
the twist at the end both unexpected and a little nauseating.

The sex in this story is initially consensual, but by the end seems
to be non-consensual.  This story is not for all.


  JUDGMENT

This story is grudgingly good.  The last few pages made me a cringe.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12631.txt


-----


No. 103 - July 14, 1998

Suzette's Passion by BitBard

F/F, F/M

Length: 12,500 words


  SUMMARY

Suzette, a French maiden of noble birth, is about to be married off 
to an Italian count, when she is captured and held for ransom by 
Captain Jack, an English privateer.


  COMMENTARY

This story was well paced.  The author takes his time, and allows the
relationship to grow, rather than forcing it.  There is some 
reluctance on Suzette's part.  I think this makes the story more 
realistic and enjoyable.

Suzette and Jack seem to connect, first on both a personal level and 
then on a sexual one.  Their mutual attraction is not based on the 
size of his cock or of her breasts.

This story has both plot and characterization.  It does not come on 
too strong or too fast, but slowly and gently pulls the reader in 
with its descriptions.  There is a lot more to this story than just 
sex.


  JUDGMENT

This is an excellent story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12673.txt


-----


No. 104 - July 15, 1998

Jeremy's Summer Job by Kristen

M/F/F/F, Teen

Length: 2,600 words


  SUMMARY

Jeremy gets a job at a movie theater and gets laid.


  COMMENTARY

This is a quick, little, stroke story.  I found it arousing and I 
liked the twist at the end.  Jeremy's lack of control, in more ways 
then one, helped make this story more realistic.

I have to admit to a sexist bias.  If this story had been about a 
young woman, instead of a young man, it would have seemed like rape.


  JUDGMENT

This is a good story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12676.txt


-----


No. 105 - July 15, 1998

Funeral by John K

M/F, Spank

Length: 1,900 words


  SUMMARY

While attending the funeral of friend the narrator gets some action 
from a beautiful redhead.


  COMMENTARY

This story might squick some people.  It mixes sex, religion, and 
death.  It did not bother me.

I like the way the woman keeps calling the narrator "Mr. Mysterious".
I found this story very arousing.


  JUDGMENT

This is an excellent story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12776.txt


-----


No. 106 - July 17, 1998

The Housesitter by Steve

M/F, Teen

Length: 7,800 words


  SUMMARY

Brian's mother hires a 19-year-old woman to look after a 17-year-old 
boy.


  COMMENTARY

I thought the author did a good job with describing things from 
Brian's point of view.  There is a plot.  He builds up to the sex and
does not have too much of it.

If I wanted to find fault with this story I would say that the 
dialogue left something to be desired.  It lacked emotions.  The 
characters did not seem to be feeling anything, emotionally, when 
they spoke.  It was like actors who read their lines without 
communicating any feeling.

I should not complain about the dialogue, it's stilted nature did 
make me laugh.


  JUDGMENT

This is a very good story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12696.txt [1/3]
http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12697.txt [2/3]
http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12698.txt [3/3]


-----


No. 107 - July 18, 1998

Lover's Desire by J. R. Parz

TG, Transform, F/F, Cons, F/F/F, MC

Length: 5,900 words


  SUMMARY

Jess buys a magic potion that transforms him into a woman.


  COMMENTARY

This story was too straight forward.  There was no real tension or 
build up, leading to the sex.  The sex itself was a jumble of bodies 
with no real emotions.  The characters were rather thin.  There was 
not much to them.

What I like to see in a transgender story is a man or woman getting 
transformed into a member of the opposite sex and then see how the 
transformation affects their sexual orientation.  The main character 
in this story seemed to have no problem adjusting.  He went from 
being a heterosexual man to a homosexual woman.  His tastes did not 
change.  I found this boring.


  JUDGMENT

This is not a good story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12714.txt


-----


No. 108 - July 18, 1998

And the Lady Danced 'till Dawn by Sven the Elder

M/F

Length: 3,800 words


  SUMMARY

Mike goes to a strip club, where he meets Carrie.


  COMMENTARY

This is a very well written story.  It is well paced and well 
plotted.  The characters seem real, although they are not complex or 
dynamic.  I could not find any awkward sentences or misspelled words.
Maybe some of the paragraphs could have been broken into smaller 
ones.

This is basically a stroke story, but the author obviously put quite 
a bit of effort into it.

  JUDGMENT

This is an excellent story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12742.txt


-----


No. 109 - July 18, 1998

That Mardi Gras Spirit by DG

M/F, F-solo, M-solo

Length: 5,500 words


  SUMMARY

DG and Cindy visit New Orleans with Bart and Rayeanne.


  COMMENTARY

This story is a lot of fun.  It takes it's time.  There is plenty of 
humor.  The sex is hot.  The story had a very nice feel to it.

I liked all the characters.  They complemented each other quite well.


  JUDGMENT

This is an excellent story.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12778.txt


-----


No. 110 - July 18, 1998

Teaching the Teacher (Parts 1 & 2) by Day Dreamer

F-solo, M-solo, M/F

Length: 7,500 words


  SUMMARY

Joey seduces his teacher, Birdie.


  COMMENTARY

I had a few problems with this story.  Number one, I would prefer a 
bit more dialogue, there is very little in this story.  Number two, 
the sex takes up a large portion of this story.  Number three, there 
did not seem to be a dilemma.

These are only the first two parts of a longer work.  I am not too 
sure where the author can take Joey and Birdie, from here, except to 
further libidinous heights in bed.

This story is very well edited.


  JUDGMENT

This is a good story, but the sex takes up a disproportionate part of
the it and neither of the characters seemed to be challenged or face 
a personal dilemma.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12788.txt [1/2]
http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12789.txt [2/2]


-----


No. 111 - July 19, 1998

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother (Parts 1 & 2) by Micky

M/F, Inc, D&S

Length: 15,100 words


  SUMMARY

Anna and Alex, siblings, share some sexual adventures.


  COMMENTARY

This was not an easy read.  It was a bit long and some of the details
made me a bit queasy.

The scene at the end with Alex, Anna, and a second woman is very 
arousing.  There are parts that work, and parts that do not.

I think the author did a pretty good job, considering the fact that 
English is not his first language.  The reference to Lex Barker 
puzzled me.  I believe he played Tarzan, in the movies, sometime 
after Johnny Weismuller did.


  JUDGMENT

This is a good story, but some parts made me queasy and as a whole 
the story did not flow real well.


  LINK(S)

http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year98/12795.txt


*****


7/20/98