"Lawyers in Love" by A. Van Peebles (an182636@anon.penet.fi).

Q. How many lawyers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A. Just two. Most lawyers will screw anywhere. But it may be hard for them to get inside the light bulb.

That joke has nothing to do with this story (except it's about lawyers), but humor and social commentary are important components of these reviews.

This is one of the best stories involving lesbian love that I have ever read. If someone wanted to write a textbook chapter on how an older woman who identifies herself as a lesbian should begin a romantic relationship with a younger person confused about her sexual identity, this story would provide a good foundation. While realistically portraying the feelings of Kate and Becky, this story avoids such pitfalls as stereotyping people as gays or straights and exploiting a vulnerable young woman who is confused about life. The story doesn't use gimmicks to turn us on. I have never been involved in a relationship like the one described here, but as I read the story I could REMEMBER these things happening to me. What I mean by that is that the author presented the story line so plausibly and authentically that I found myself identifying with the characters and saying to myself, "Yeah, that's the way it was."

An important comment that I want to add is that the story was so well written that when I was near the middle of the story and Becky in her drunken stupor first kissed Kate, at least two endings would have been perfectly plausible and acceptable. First, Becky could have realized the value of a lesbian lifestyle for herself and entered into a relationship with Kate. Alternatively, Becky could have found the relationship with Kate to be fulfilling, but could have continued to seek an even more fulfilling relationship with someone else - perhaps with Peter. (Other endings would also be possible and emotionally acceptable.)

While reading this story, I was reminded of events and fantasies in my own life. As I point out in my FAQ, I lead a monogamous heterosexual lifestyle, yet I happily admit to enjoying and being turned on by the activities and emotions expressed in this story about a lesbian relationship. I mention this because I think it is important to stress that while sexual identity is obviously important, it is also sensible to avoid premature or inaccurate labeling. I think it is important that people (especially young people) avoid labeling themselves as "gay," "straight," or "bisexual" based on fantasies or isolated experiences.

When I was young, I had trouble relating to guys and found myself thinking horny thoughts about other women. I even had a crush on a female teacher. As an adult, I have discovered that nearly all my female friends report similar feelings. In retrospect, I think my feelings occurred because I was shy (or perhaps socially inept) around boys - nearly all of whom were assholes at that time anyway, while the girls with whom I participated in sports seemed to me to be mature, sexy creatures whose tits bounced enticingly when I was with them in the showers and locker rooms. I had access to two highly competent persons at the time (known as parents) who noticed my reactions and convinced me that I was normal - even though they never gave me a specific lecture about it.

I think it would have been foolish for me to have concluded at that time that I "was" lesbian. Even now, sexy women turn me on. The cosmetic companies count on them to do so; otherwise I would never buy that overpriced stuff they put into bottles and other containers. I recently had an orgasm while I was alone and watching a woman masturbate in a porn flick.. I also got turned on while reading the sexy lesbian scenes in this story. I don't think either of these admissions make it sensible to say that I "am" bisexual today.

I have selected heterosexual monogamy as my lifestyle, and I feel good about it. Because of this choice, I'll never have an opportunity to make passionate love to a sexy woman; but I see no conflict in enjoying a good story about someone else doing so.

The label "heterosexual" is also detrimental, but in a more subtle way (because it is more socially accepted in the culture that surrounds me). I enjoy playing with myself. I enjoy it when my husband fondles, kisses, licks, etc. my genitals (or practically anything else, for that matter). By what grotesque stretch of logic am I supposed to believe that it would be UNenjoyable to have a sensitive female partner play with me instead? I'm not going to do it; but that's because of a lifestyle choice (called marriage), not because it would be anything but intensely satisfying to have a luscious little beauty tongue my clit while I felt her juices drip across my face as I buried my face in her pussy.

Do I think that reading and enjoying stories about hot lesbian love is likely to "make" me a lesbian? No, I don't. I DO think these stories make it more likely that if something would happen to my present relationship with my husband (for example, if he would die) I would be more likely to consider a lesbian relationship afterwards; but if I were a betting person, I'd still bet on my finding a good man for my next relationship.

I guess what I'm saying is that good erotic fiction should and does have an effect on readers; but to the extent that it's realistic and readers have their heads on straight, this is not really a problem. If readers don't have their heads on straight or if the stories give a well written but distorted view of reality, I think such stories can and do cause problems.

I'm sorry! I've just realized that I've written 550 words that tend to digress from my topic. I'll stop right now - except to say that I think the logic expressed in the preceding paragraphs applies to other areas as well. For example, enjoying a well written, stimulating pedophile or D&s story does not mean that you "are" a pedophile or submissive or whatever; it just means that you recognize certain sexy aspects of such stories. It is my opinion that regularly reading and enjoying such stories does, in fact, make it more likely that the person reading and enjoying them would engage in these activities if given a chance to do so and if there were no good reasons to refrain. If that presents a problem (as I think is the case with rape and pedophilia), the solution is not to blame or denounce the stories, but rather to look for and give importance to legitimate, sound reasons why such behaviors need to be avoided - perhaps by reading or writing stories that show more realistic consequences. (One of the stories on my Top 100 list did just that. In "Raped Teen Burglar" TEX took a story about how much fun it would be to rape a teenage girl and turned it into a vivid description of the likely consequences of that kind of activity.) These insights may obvious to many of you, and others may disagree with them; but I think I'll leave them in this review. After all, I gave you that great lawyer joke; so a little seriousness may be in order.

Back to the story. The first two thirds of the story was about the development of the relationship and contained no sex, and while I read it I thought that maybe the extreme objectivity of the author's style might make the eventual sex scene less than interesting. Not to worry! This is a really good story, and I hope to see more writing by this author. (Rating: 10)