Rogue Reviews Digest No. 54 - December 18, 1999

NOTICE: If you are easily offended, not of the required legal 
age, or material of an erotic nature is illegal where you are, 
then do not read what follows.

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Shameless Plug

  Check out my home page for reviews of and links to over 475 
  stories of an erotic nature.

    http://www92.pair.com/leevine

=====

Feedback

  The authors of these stories would love to hear from you.  
  Whether you have praise or criticism drop them a line after 
  reading their story.  If you write your reactions in an 
  intelligent manner then they will probably write back to you.  
  Juvenile slobberings and flames are often ignored.

=====

Reviews

  "A Question of Honour" by Delta
  "The Wedding Dance" by Ann Douglas
  "My Niece, Jan, and I" by Cagey
  "Passenger" by Sidney Durham
  "The Uncertainty of the Meek" by The Mysterious Mr. Lee Organization
  "Massaged" by JennTill
  "Phone Sex Diary" by Paris Waterman

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Rogue Review No. 473 - December 6, 1999

TITLE: A Question of Honour
AUTHOR: Delta
LENGTH: 21,700 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Male
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (Female, Male)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Strangers
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Outdoors
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Riltan, a renegade from justice.  Takene, a widow 
and temporary guardian of Iro and Lere, a couple of 
teenagers.  Riltan, half dead, encounters Takene and her two 
wards soon after they survived an attack by bandits.  
Takene, with some help from Iro and Lere, nurses Riltan back 
to health.  She doesn't trust him, but soon finds herself 
caring for more than just his physical health.  Riltan, for 
his part, is rather emotionally dead when he meets Takene.  
Her ministrations and care do as much, possibly more, for 
his spirit as they do for his body.

COMMENTARY: I may have given away some of the plot in my 
summary.  What I cannot give away, what I can only hint at, 
is the beauty of the author's writing.  The story itself is 
somewhat mysterious.  The author does not start the story 
with a detailed explanation of who the characters are and 
how they got where they are.  Instead, he opts to reveal 
this sort of information as the tale progresses.

In some ways, this story reminds me of a Louis L'Amour 
western.  It has some romantic moments, and I think the 
theme is for the most part a romantic one.  It isn't heavy 
on plot, but the author does a very nice job drawing out 
what plot there is.  No one part of the story is focused on 
too heavily.  It doesn't drag, or at least I don't think it 
did.  I can see how some might grow weary of not being told 
explicitly who the main characters are and what exactly 
their initial motivations are for feeling the way they do.  
I, for one, enjoyed piecing together the bits and pieces 
that were thrown my way, as the story unfolded.  It isn't a 
short short story, but it kept my attention.

If you are looking for stroke material, then I recommend you 
look elsewhere.  If you are looking for a story with a plot 
and characters, then you should definitely read this one.  
It also strikes me as being suitable for those of you who 
enjoy romances.  It isn't a wild or incredibly kinky story.  
It is very well written story, that I found to be a very 
enjoyable read.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 9.0 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 4/5
        - Editing: 5/5
        - Plot and Characters: 5/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Excellent

LINK(S): A Question of Honour

         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=479557014&fmt=raw [1/2]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=479560307&fmt=raw [2/2]

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Rogue Review No. 474 - December 8, 1999

TITLE: The Wedding Dance
AUTHOR: Ann Douglas
LENGTH: 8,800 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Male
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (Female, Male)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Older Woman-Younger Man
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Home
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Jack just graduated high school and is still a 
virgin.  He desperately wants to lose his cherry.  Based 
upon information provided by one of his friends, he is 
hopeful that his sister's wedding will put his girlfriend 
"in the mood".  Unfortunately, things don't work out quite 
the way he had planned.  Jack's girlfriend is a no-show, 
although she does have a reasonable excuse, and he gets 
paired up, at the reception, with Tina, one of his new 
brother-in-law's older cousins.

COMMENTARY: Great story.  I love the part that takes place 
at the dance.  It is entirely possible that I am biased 
towards this sort of story, i.e. older woman initiates 
younger man, but I still think that there is much more to it 
than just sex.  The author does a very nice job building the 
story up, so don't be fooled by the first few paragraphs, 
because as I just said there is much more to it than just 
sex.  The scene that the title refers to is priceless.  I 
enjoyed the dialogue and the characters.  The plot is very 
nicely paced.  I think that this story should appeal to 
most.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 8.5 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 4/5
        - Editing: 4/5
        - Plot and Characters: 5/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Excellent

LINK(S): The Wedding Dance

         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21406 [1/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21408 [2/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21409 [3/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21407 [4/4]

         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=551759705&fmt=raw [1/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=551784003&fmt=raw [2/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=551783995&fmt=raw [3/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=551759699&fmt=raw [4/4]

         The Ann Douglas Archive

         - http://www.asstr.org/~Ann_Douglas/

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Rogue Review No. 475 - December 10, 1999

TITLE: My Niece, Jan, and I (Part 1)
AUTHOR: Cagey
LENGTH: 6,800 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Male
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (Female, Male)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Uncle-Niece
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Home
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Jim is a writer.  His 14-year-old niece, Jan, isn't 
satisfied with the sexual education she has received from 
her parents.  She turns to him for enlightenment.  Once he 
starts explaining, one thing leads to another.

COMMENTARY: The thing that impresses me the most about this 
story is the author's restraint.  He doesn't push the story 
too fast.  He takes the time to set the scene and allows it 
to develop.  I was also impressed with the manner in which 
the author handled Jan.  She was both hesitant and eager at 
the same time.  That seemed realistic to me.  Jim, on the 
other hand, did not seem to be quite as torn between 
options.  He knew what he wanted and went after it.  I think 
I would have enjoyed this story more if he had been more 
like Jan, in that respect.  I was less impressed with the 
ending, than I was with the beginning.  The plot seemed to 
go out the window and the story devolved into a series of 
physical interactions with little or no plot development.

In my estimation this story describes a male fantasy, not a 
female one.  Jan isn't just a type or a body, but the story 
seems to be primarily about how Jim lived out one of his 
fantasies.  Jan seems to enjoy herself, but for the most 
part the story seems to be about him, not her.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 6.5 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 3/5
        - Editing: 3/5
        - Plot and Characters: 4/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Good

LINK(S): Stories written by Cagey

         - http://www.mrdouble.com/htm/authors/cagey.htm

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Rogue Review No. 476 - December 11, 1999

TITLE: Passenger
AUTHOR: Sidney Durham
LENGTH: 2,000 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Male
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (Female, Male)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Strangers
KINK(S): Exhibitionism
SETTING(S): Car
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Albert is an accountant, very straight-laced.  He 
is headed to Asheville when he meets Indigo, who is anything 
but straight-laced.  She is headed to Gatlinburg and needs a 
lift.

COMMENTARY: This is a fun little vignette.  I like the 
interaction between Albert and Indigo.  The author does 
wonderful job showing how they contrast without explicitly 
saying that they contrast.

I call this a vignette, because it seems more like an 
episode in something longer than it does a stand alone 
story.  There isn't much of an introduction or a conclusion.  
I think the author intended it that way.  

I think that this one should appeal to readers of both 
sexes.  I can't see how anyone, who enjoys erotica, could be 
offended by anything in this story.  Both characters get 
treated fairly.  I just wish there had been more to the 
story.  It left me wanting more.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 8.5 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 4/5
        - Editing: 5/5
        - Plot and Characters: 4/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Very Good

LINK(S): Stories by Sidney Durham

         - http://www.asstr.org/~SidneyDurham/

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Rogue Review No. 477 - December 12, 1999

TITLE: The Uncertainty of the Meek
AUTHOR: The Mysterious Mr. Lee Organization
LENGTH: 12,400 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Female
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (Female, Male)
                Twosome (2 Females)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
                Homosexual (Female)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Friends
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Home
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: This is the story of Michi's life.  In particular 
it focuses on her love life, from high school, through 
college and grad school, until after she turns thirty.  She 
is, in her own words, meek.  It is this quality of her 
personality that shapes her development.

COMMENTARY: This story evokes a lot of thoughts and 
feelings.  I'm not too sure where to begin but why don't I 
start with what I perceive to be the central theme of the 
story: growing up. That is what this story is all about, in 
my mind.  It tracks Michi's development from her teen years 
until she is about thirty.  Maybe growing up isn't the best 
way to describe the focus of the story; maybe maturation is 
a better way to think of it.  The story is about how Michi 
matures over those years.  Yes, I think that sounds better; 
is more accurate.  I really think that part of the reason I 
enjoyed this story is because that was the focus of the 
story.

Another reason why I liked this story was the narration and 
author's descriptive abilities.  Michi's recollections of 
her life are rich in details.  She does not speak as much 
about why things happened as she does about what happened.  
All the little details that she remembers made the story 
that much more real to me.  The fact that she didn't feel 
the need to explain most of them was perfectly all right 
with me.  In fact, I usually prefer it that way.  She had 
her notions about why some things happened, but didn't get 
caught up in trying to explain too much.  She merely 
described.

Yet another reason why I liked this story is the main 
character, Michi.  Being a devout introvert, I felt that I 
could empathize with her.  Well, actually it was her manner 
of speaking that made feel close to her.  She described the 
shortcomings in her life in ways that spoke volumes to me.  
I felt like I knew the song, even though I only got to hear 
a few notes played by one instrument.  It was really quite 
beautiful and moved me in a number of ways.  It would not 
surprise me to find out that not everyone who reads this 
story has the same reaction, as this was a very personal 
reaction on my part.

Finally, the part you've all been waiting for, I found this 
story to be wildly arousing.  I hope that you are still 
reading, because I'm not sure that all of you will find this 
story quite as arousing as I did.  There is sex in this 
story, but sex is not the focus of the story.  The focus of 
the story is Michi's emotional development, or at least that 
is how I would phrase it.  There are things in this story 
that I found arousing, which I am sure some of you would 
not.  There are descriptions of kisses and touches, that had 
the blood pounding through my veins with inevitable 
consequences.  Likewise there are also conversations that 
had little or nothing to do with sex that I found to be 
extremely intimate and got me quite aroused.  There are also 
some explicit descriptions of sexual couplings, but those 
aren't as easy to find in this story as some of the other 
things that turned me on.

I wish I could say that you will all enjoy this story, but 
I'm sure that some of you may not.  I found it to be a very 
satisfying read in more ways than one.  I hope that this 
review has made that clear.  I think that it should appeal 
to those of you who want more than just sex, those of you 
who want a story that isn't about sex, but maybe has some 
sex in it.  I think that it should appeal to those of you 
who like stories about characters, about growing up, or 
about emotional development.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 10.0 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 5/5
        - Editing: 5/5
        - Plot and Characters: 5/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Outstanding

LINK(S): The Uncertainty of Meekness

         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21707 [1/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21708 [2/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21709 [3/4]
         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21710 [4/4]

         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=558444848&fmt=raw [1/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=558444854&fmt=raw [2/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=558458856&fmt=raw [3/4]
         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=558458860&fmt=raw [4/4]

         The Mysterious Mr. Lee Erotica Emporium

         - http://pages.ripco.net/~metrdesn/

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Rogue Review No. 478 - December 15, 1999

TITLE: Massaged
AUTHOR: JennTill
LENGTH: 3,200 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Female
COMBINATION(S): Threesome (2 Females, 1 Male)
ORIENTATION(S): Heterosexual (Female, Male)
                Homosexual (Female)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Friends
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Home
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Jenn accepts an offer from a married couple, Fred 
and Jeannie.  An offer to give her a massage, that is, with 
no strings attached.  But what if she wants more than just a 
massage?

COMMENTARY: What I like about this story is how the author 
builds it up.  She does a great job making it arousing, long 
before the sex begins.  The focus of the story seems to be 
Jenn's experience.

I had a hard time following some of the descriptions of the 
menage-a-trois.  The mental images that I conjured were not 
always consistent with normal humans having sex.  Maybe 
Jenn, Jeannie, and Fred are contortionists?  Maybe my brain 
just wasn't functioning correctly when I read this story?  
Either way, it did not detract form my ability to enjoy the 
story, but taken from an objective point of view, it is a 
flaw.

If you are looking for a story with a deep plot, then you 
might want to skip this one.  The author does a beautiful 
job with narration, but the overwhelming focus is on Jenn's 
emotional state and not the progression of a series of 
events.  That sounds overly clinical to me, so let me end 
this review by saying that I really did enjoy this story.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 9.0 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 5/5
        - Editing: 4/5
        - Plot and Characters: 4/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Excellent

LINK(S): Erotic Love Stories by JennTill

         - http://www.asstr.org/~Kristen/jenn/

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Rogue Review No. 479 - December 16, 1999

TITLE: Phone Sex Diary
AUTHOR: Paris Waterman
LENGTH: 5,000 words
MAIN CHARACTER: Female
COMBINATION(S): Twosome (2 Females)
ORIENTATION(S): Homosexual (Female)
RELATIONSHIP(S): Cousins
KINK(S): --
SETTING(S): Restaurant
GENRE(S): --
CAUTION(S): --

SUMMARY: Rachel tells her friend Lisa about her two cousins, 
Brenda and Josie, over the phone.

COMMENTARY: I thoroughly enjoyed this story.  I think that 
it has two strengths.  The first is the omnipresent 
dialogue.  Almost the entire story consists of dialogue.  
The author uses it quite effectively.  In particular, it is 
a medium that allows the author to reveal how Rachel and 
Lisa differ.  He does so quite effectively.

The second strength of this story is the manner in which the 
author weaves two narratives together.  The story begins 
with Rachel and Lisa talking on the phone.  Soon there 
after, Rachel begins to tell Lisa about her night on the 
town with her cousins.  I suppose that this could also be 
referred to as a story-within-a-story.  Either way, the 
author does a very nice job jumping back and forth, quite 
seamlessly I might add, and in the end tying the two 
together.

If you don't care for stories of lesbian lust, then this may 
not be the story for you.  Other than that, I can't see 
anything else that should bother most avid readers of 
erotica.

OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: 9.5 (out of 10)

        - Arousal: 5/5
        - Editing: 5/5
        - Plot and Characters: 4/5

SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS: Excellent

LINK(S): Phone Sex Diary

         - http://assm.asstr.org/Year1999/21364

         - http://www.deja.com/=gh/getdoc.xp?AN=551056435&fmt=raw

         Paris' Place

         - http://www.asstr.org/~Paris_Waterman/

