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Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} Celestial Reviews 377 -- Dec 1, 2000
Date: Tue,  5 Dec 2000 09:10:03 -0500
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Celestial Reviews 377 -- Dec 1, 2000

Note: Keep in mind that I am making a serious attempt to stick
to my REVISED ratings, which are more strict than the old
ones. I have been living a very complex personal life, and in
my free time I have made a deliberate attempt to read stories
that would make my life easier. In other words, my selection
has been greatly biased in favor of stories I was likely to enjoy.
There was a time when nearly all the stories I have reviewed
here would have received 10-10-10 ratings. As I said in a
previous issue, uniformly high ratings are of relatively little
value to my readers when they try to select something to read,
and so I have made a deliberate effort to be stricter in my
ratings.

I strongly encourage people to look at the NARRATIVE of my
reviews, rather than just at the numerical ratings.
Second Note: I am going to publish a Special Christmas Issue
on December 23. At that time I'll announce my selection of the
Celestial Best New Christmas Story. To be eligible, you have to
post a Christmas story that involves sex and that is either new
or substantively revised during the year 2000. If you wish, you
can just post the story on a.s.s.m.; but if you want to be sure I
see it, you should email me a copy as well.

For purposes of this Celestial Christmas Contest, both
Christmas and sex will be loosely defined. Like the Supreme
Court justices, I'll be able to recognize it when I see it.
The deadline will be the exact time of the winter solstice. My
husband's Swimsuit Calendar tells me that will be on
December 21, which is also the day that Hanukkah begins. So
if you wish, you can write about Hanukkah instead of
Christmas.

In the December 23 issue, I'll also post my cumulative list of
the Top 25 Christmas Sex Stories, along with reviews of all the
Christmas stories that I have ever reviewed. Good luck.

THIS WEEK'S JOKE:
One day, Farmer Jones was in town picking up supplies for his
farm. First, he stopped at the hardware store and picked up a
bucket and an anvil. Then stopped by the livestock dealer to
buy a couple of chickens and a goose. Now he had a problem:
how to carry all of his purchases home. The livestock dealer
said, "Why don't you put the anvil in the bucket, carry the
bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry
the goose in your other hand?"

"Hey, thanks!" the farmer said; and off he went.

While walking, he met a fair young lady. She told him she was
lost, and asked, "Can you tell me how to get to 1515
Mockingbird Lane?"

The farmer said, "Well, as a matter of fact, I'm going to visit
my brother at 1616 Mockingbird Lane. Let's take a short cut
and go down this alley. We'll save half the time to get there."

The fair young lady said, "How do I know that when we get in
to the alley you won't hold me up against the wall, pull up my
skirt, and ravish me?"

The farmer said, "I am carrying a bucket, an anvil, 2 chickens,
and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you up
against the wall and do that?"

The young lady said, "Set the goose down, put the bucket over
the goose, put the anvil on top of the bucket, and I'll hold the
chickens."

=====================
Celestial Reviews Index:
=====================
"Johnny Reb" by Ann Douglas (civil war sex) 9.5, 10, 10
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Ann_Douglas/www/reb.htm

"Hate" by Diamond (rape) 9, 9, 9
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27061

"Model Release" by artie (mystery sex) 10, 9, 9
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/artie/www/Model.html

"My First Seduction" by Paris Waterman (FF and bi seduction)
10, 10, 10
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/25803

"Themes" by FelixPhile (sex on the farm) 9.5, 6, 6
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27374
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27489

"One Again" by Redman (romance) 9.5, 10, 10
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Redman/One%20Again.txt

"Anne's Wedding Night" by Tiramisu (bdsm) 10, 9.5, 8
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27373

"To Loathe and Abhor" by The Mysterious Mr. Lee
Organization (sexual addiction) 10, 8, 6
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/23453

"Sign of the Rose" by Wiseguy (Fdom, Mdom, MC, and
Romance) 10, 10, 10
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Wiseguy/www/rose.htm

"The Harem" by MichaelD (sexual thriller) 10, 10, 10
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/24613
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/24618

"A Dormitory Tub for Two" by Frenchy the Third (drunken
college sex) 9, 7, 7
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27584

"Acquisition" by John A (action/adventure sex) 10, 7, 7
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/JohnA/www/Acquisition.htm

"Saigon Remembered" by Captain Steve (sailtwo@hotmail.com)
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Captain_Steve/www/saigon.htm

"Adoration " by Jack of All Trades (romance) 10, 10, 10
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/j/wwwoat/adoration.htm

=====================
Guest Reviews:
=====================

"Horsing Around" by Jennifer Doalfer (masturbation). Myers:
No Rating.
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/doalfer/www/horsingaround.htm

"Birthday Fantasy" by Terri Madison (BDSM). Emily: 7, 9, 10
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/26740

"Be Prepared" by Jenny Wanshel. Jack: {No rating}
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Jenny_Wanshel/www/bp.txt

=====================
Here are the Reviews:
=====================

"Johnny Reb" by Ann Douglas (ann_douglas@hotmail.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Ann_Douglas/www/reb.htm
Like most women in civil war novels, Ashley Walsh has fallen
from the top of the social ladder but has retained her pride. As
the story begins she is going to be raped by two marauding
Union cavalrymen. But before the bastards can complete the
act, she is rescued by a young rebel soldier named John
Warren.

So what we have here is a somewhat shortened version of
"Gone with the Wind," with completely different characters
and a new plot. As usual, Ann Douglas does an excellent job of
blending hot sex into a historical context with interesting
characters. This one had a twist that caught even me by
surprise. Let's just say that some people fuck like bunnies and
then get on with reconstruction.

Ratings for "Johnny Reb"
Athena (technical quality): 9.5
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"Hate" by Diamond (diamond33@mail.com).
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27061

This is what I refer to as a "Dragnet Story." If you remember
the old Dragnet TV series, a very large part of each show
consisted of Sergeant Friday and his valiant partner
conversing with suspects one at a time. One day I listened
closely, and I realized that what they were doing was reading
magazine essays in three part harmony. That is, the cops
would tell the victim, witness, or perpetrator what the law
required or how to avoid crime, and the witness or perp would
feed them straight lines. For example,

Friday: "That's just the facts Ma'am. The perp probably came
in through that window."

Victim Lady: "You mean that one over there?"

Friday: "Yes, Ma'am. That'd be the one. It's wide open, you
know."

Victim Lady: "But I like to have a cool breeze blowing across
my pussy when I lie here naked on these cool sheets with my
legs spread apart --."

Officer Bill Gannon: "Yes Ma'am. You're lucky you're butt ugly.

Victim Lady: "Otherwise the nasty man might have raped me."

Friday: "No, ma'am. Criminals of this sort are usually illiterate
and don't read sex stories. Most people who rape women do so
because they read sex stories. We just think the perp thought
you were a rabid pit bull, and that's why he ran away."

Officer Bill Gannon: "Ten-four. Mark VII. Case closed."

The present story resembles the above only to the extent that
it includes a heavily didactic theme behind the story. The
moral of the story is that rape is not fun. It's a very bad thing.

This is a very moving story -- not quite perfect, but very
moving. It's definitely not stroke material. {If it turns you on,
you should see a psychiatrist. Really.} But it's a very good
story.

Ratings for "Hate"
Athena (technical quality): 9
Venus (plot & character): 9
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 9

"Model Release" by artie (artie@netgate.net).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/artie/www/Model.html

Having sex blindfolded under the control of a benevolent
manipulator can be an ecstatic experience. Since this story
achieves its effect by letting the reader figure out what is
happening to the gentleman bound to the table, I have to
refrain from telling you too many details, and so this story is
going to be very hard to describe.

Let's just say that the narrator's sister has arranged to send a
significant memento of him to his old girlfriend, who has
moved away and misses him greatly. In order to contribute his
part, he has to sign a model release, which he doesn't even
read. In the end, his cooperation in this endeavor is a
rewarding experience.

There! That was sufficiently vague but precise.

Ratings for "Model Release"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 9
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 9

"My First Seduction" by Paris Waterman.
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/25803

Rachel is a college student who befriends and seduces a
beautiful but shy virgin girl named Danielle. A few minutes
later she introduces Danielle to Neil and to the joys of a
bisexual threesome.

This was really hot stuff. It's a nice blend of generosity,
seduction, exploitation, sex education, and hedonism. Of
course, it is much better for young men to meet young women
at church gatherings and to pray together before they kiss and
eventually begin a courtship leading up to the altar and to the
marriage bed. Sarcasm aside, a more mutually gentle approach
is often advisable. But this way is interesting too.
What we have here is a virgin on the verge. Soon she can't
remember ever having been a virgin. Life is like that
sometimes.

If 99 teenagers illegally read this story and pair off in threes
and have sex this way {yielding 33 threesomes}, 32 of the trios
will have a much worse sexual experience than the
protagonists in this story. Really. After all, Hemingway assures
us that the earth moves only about three times in our lifetimes
-- although I suspect that I live closer to a sexual seismic fault
line than did ole Ernie. But if they each fantasize about this
story during their more banal bawdiness, they'll derive
vicarious benefit that may help them rise from mediocrity.
Then, if they keep working at it long enough, they may
eventually get it right. Either that or get a really bad rash.
Incidentally, this story consists of chapters 15 and 16 of the
author's "Recollections from a Diary." If we're good boys and
girls, maybe Santa will find us the other chapters for
Christmas.

Ratings for "My First Seduction"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"Themes" by FelixPhile (felixphile@hotmaiul.com)
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27374
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27489

The author used this title because he was trying to incorporate
as many themes as possible from the stories of his favorite
authors. That sort of approach worried me. It sounded
contrived and artificial -- and likely to lead to disaster.
Actually, the story was pretty good. The city boy goes to work
on the farm and finds a female cousin who is just a little
younger. They both want to learn about sex.

This story just stops in the middle of nowhere -- apparently in
the middle of chapter 9. I hate when that happens. I
understand that authors often need encouragement from their
readers, but I wish they would post a notice that says
something like, "Don't read this if you expect to have a whole
story." I assume my ratings would have been higher had the
story been complete. What there was was actually pretty good.

Ratings for "Themes"
Athena (technical quality): 9.5
Venus (plot & character):6
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 6

"One Again" by Redman (redman@seductive.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Redman/One%20Again.txt

Quickies are interesting. In my fantasies, quickies are often a
form of instantaneous exchange between two strangers. Those
sound like fun, but the best quickies in my real life have been
with a man with whom I have spent a long time developing the
relationship. The quickie can be so powerful because the brief
episode derives so much meaning from everything that came
before and is likely to come after. Of course, I never think of
that sort of thing when it's happening. Why risk fucking up a
good quickie?

The quickie in this story is my kind of quickie. The man comes
home. The kids are gone for the evening. The wife is as hot to
trot as he is. Dinner can wait. The author tells the story better
than I can.

Ratings for "One Again"
Athena (technical quality): 9.5
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"Anne's Wedding Night" by Tiramisu (Tiramixu@yahoo.com).
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27373

This is a sequel "Anne's Revenge, which itself was a sequel to
"Anne's Punishment." I posted the reviews of the other two
stories in CR 376.

This story wasn't quite what I expected. It begins with Patricia
masturbating in her Jacuzzi, while she reviews in her mind's
eye a detailed description of Patricia's (not Anne's) early
sexual experiences with Jack (who has just married Annie).

As I read the story I got the impression that the main thrust
was to supply a rationalization for the bdsm lifestyle. The odd
thing is that the second story in this sequence -- "Anne's
Revenge," which did NOT seem to be arguing a point -- argued
the point much more effectively to me as an outsider.

This was a good story, but not the best of the trilogy. In
addition, I see another sequel in the future.

Ratings for "Anne's Wedding Night"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 9.5
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 8

"To Loathe and Abhor" by The Mysterious Mr. Lee
Organization (themrlee@hotmail.com).
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/23453

I received a request to review this and the next story back in
April, right before I went on hiatus. They have resurfaced, and
so here are the reviews.

This first story tells us about Kim, who is one of those women
the narrator really knows he should just plain dump, but he is
strongly and dysfunctionally drawn to her. Her every wish
seems to be his command. We hear about some of their past
adventures, while he is on his way to pick her up and drive
her home.

I found this story to be less appealing than most of the other
stories by this mysterious organization. Some details were not
properly developed, and the story was more depressing than
exciting.

Ratings for "To Loathe and Abhor"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 8
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 6

"Sign of the Rose" by Wiseguy (wiseguy35@hotmail.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Wiseguy/www/rose.htm

I'm usually not impressed by Fdom and Mdom stories, and I
was skeptical about how both could be effectively
incorporated into a single story along with FF Oral MF and MC.
After I read the story, I realized that the author had omitted
Rom.

The story is written from the perspective of a woman who is
under hypnotic suggestion. That's a difficult perspective from
which to write a story (since there is a limit on what the
narrator should be able to remember), but the author does it
really well.

I'm always suspicious about hypnosis stories on this
newsgroup. I have seen stage demonstrations of hypnosis, but
I have also read that it is impossible to (say) hypnotize the
president of the United States or the head of a major bank and
reap huge benefits. So I don't know exactly how hypnosis
would really fit in with sexual activity. I am pretty sure that it
could be used as part of therapy {just like systematic
desensitization or other relaxation techniques}, and I don't see
why it couldn't be used to reduce inhibitions; but I doubt that
it could have the effects that appear in some of the mind
control stories on this newsgroup. If somebody knows of a
good book or article on this subject, I'd like to have the
citation. {Note: If the book is one that enables college
sophomores to hypnotize their classmates, teachers, and
parents into having raucous sex with them, I don't need that
citation. Books like that are known as fantasies.}
In spite of the skepticism I expressed in the preceding
paragraph, I WAS impressed with the story line of the present
story. I think the author barely overstates what is possible
with hypnosis, but still gives us an authentic, believable, and
sexy plot. I might classify it as science fiction, even though the
author might have thought he was writing a psychological
romance; but it's still an excellent story.

In addition, the Mdom and Fdom elements of this story make
more sense to me than do most domination stories. The most
important element behind the domination in these stories was
that it would be wonderful for a person who is required to be
in control during most of his/her daily life to be allowed to
relax and enjoy it while someone else is in control. That's a
perfectly believable, non-dysfunctional concept; and it
enabled me to find this to be a sexy and romantic story.

I have to be careful praising stories of this sort. Some people
figure that if Celeste is usually wary about Fdom, Mdom, and
MC stories, then if she praises a story containing all those
elements, then it must be a really good story. If that's what
you think from reading this review, then you're right.

Ratings for "Sign of the Rose"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"The Harem" by MichaelD (MichaelD38@aol.com).
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/24613
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/24618

Shareena gets shanghaied and becomes Greta when she is
brought into the Sultan's harem. The twist is that it's a
futuristic harem, with computerized mind control and lewd
and lascivious lesbians, whom the Sultan likes to watch on his
large television screen with picture-in-picture and remote
control.

Technology also does other marvelous things in this story.
In the back of her computer-controlled mind, however, Greta
has the vague perception that there is something phony about
the pleasure palace. In fact, she can remember a life outside
the harem. But such thoughts are dangerous. Literally.
Shareena's friend Stayci figures out that something is amiss
and contacts the police, but for her trouble Stayci herself is
abducted and hustled off to the harem.

Most of the stories I review are new ones. This one was posted
back in June, but someone called it to my attention at that
time; and even though I wasn't actively reviewing stories, I put
it in my in-basket. I'm glad I did. It's an excellent sexual
thriller.

Ratings for "The Harem"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"A Dormitory Tub for Two" by Frenchy the Third.
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/27584

The author labels this "a partly true story." That sounds about
right. It's about two college kids getting drunk and
experimenting with oral and anal sex in a large dormitory bath
tub. The reason I think it is partly true is that they make some
of the mistakes that people would make while doing this sort
of thing -- like forgetting that water washes away essential
lubricants from orifices into which entry will be attempted.

However, the story also lacks focus -- it just relates a series of
events. I guess that's not all bad, because events are the way
things happen, aren't they?

Ratings for "A Dormitory Tub for Two"
Athena (technical quality): 9
Venus (plot & character): 7
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 7

"Acquisition" by John A (John3365a@aol.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/JohnA/www/Acquisition.htm

The author says this is the beginning of a series that centers
around a new character, an incorrigible, lovable rogue by the
name of Jake Lucas. It's going to be something along the lines
of an action/adventure series with a fair amount of sex mixed
in. I read the story because I liked the sound of that lead-in,
because there was no indication that this story could not stand
alone, and because I know this to be a good author.

I was frankly disappointed. What's here is good -- sometimes
very good -- but there's no legitimate sense in which this is
complete. We start off with a titillating tidbit about Jake and a
flight attendant, but she disappears with a promise of more to
come, but no resolution to the relationship. Later, Jake screws
a mysterious woman in a swanky hotel, and she turns out to
be the wife of the man with whom he is negotiating a huge
business deal. Again, I was left with a sense of more to come.

As chapters in a novel, this might be good stuff. As a stand-
alone story, it's far below what I had expected. I suspect the
main problem is with what I perceived to be the labeling
process. I think perhaps this is an example of why I adamantly
refuse to review stories until they are completed. If the story
appears to be incomplete because this is only the first
installment and wasn't expected to stand alone, then I
shouldn't have reviewed it at all yet. If the author adds a lot
more plot development with hot sex, this may yet turn out to
be a winner.

Ratings for "Acquisition"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 7
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 7

"Saigon Remembered" by Captain Steve
(sailtwo@hotmail.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Captain_Steve/www/saigon.htm

When I returned after my vacation, somebody sent me this
story as "one that I should not miss." I just got around to
reading it, and my friend was right.

This is a poignant love story about a man who meets a woman
in Vietnam. That's about it. But take my word for it: it's an
excellent story.

Ratings for "Saigon Remembered"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

"Adoration " by Jack of All Trades
(tradesjackofall@hotmail.com).
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/j/wwwoat/adoration.htm

This is the oldest story in my in-basket . It's dated January 17,
2000. What you have to understand is that I go through my in-
basket about once a month, throwing away anything that's too
old -- unless it has redeeming value that makes me want to
hang onto it. When I opened this file today, I figured this one
had survived termination so often that it must be a really good
one. And I was right!

It's a story about a man and woman spending a winter night
together, thinking about their lives together and making love.
It's a real nice romantic winner. It's so short that you can read
it out loud to someone you love, and probably reap an
immense benefit. I know I did.

I think I am going to continue this practice of pulling the
bottom story out of my in-basket and reviewing it. The next
one's a paradox -- dated in the message December 20, 1999;
but created as a file on my hard drive on February 29. You'll
just have to wait and see!

Ratings for "Adoration"
Athena (technical quality): 10
Venus (plot & character): 10
Celeste (appeal to reviewer): 10

=====================
Guest Reviews:
=====================

"Birthday Fantasy" by Terri Madison. Guest review by Emily.
http://assm.asstr-mirror.org/Year2000/26740

If you don't like gang whipping a naked woman, this isn't a 10.
But if you do, this is pushing an 11. It certainly delivers in the
length of the telling, with an additional post-birthday epilogue
tacked on just in case you can last the pace.

I won't give the plot away as the story is told from the
woman's point of view -- bound, blindfold and with earplugs
in. It unfolds as she is trying to make sense of what is
happening to her. On the down side, the author keeps
relentlessly to the sex n' whipping theme -- if you've gone to
the bother of immobilising a someone, I think that it's you
duty to use as wide and imaginative range of pain and
humiliation techniques as can be applied -- but if you like the
lash, it's not much of a down side. Of course, by the
anonymous nature of the assault, there were no characters.

But hey, it's just a medium-core sex story with lots of sex and
even more whipped flesh.

Ratings for "Birthday Fantasy"
Athena (plot & character): 7
Venus (technical quality): 9
Emily (appeal to reviewer): 10

"Horsing Around" by Jennifer Doalfer. Guest review by Dave
Myers.

First things first for people who don't always read all the way
to the end of things: Don't get fooled, this is not a beastiality
story. It's an excellent, if atypical, fantasy piece.

What distinguishes it? Well, I suspect that only about 10% of
the authors of freely available Internet erotica have a strong
"voice". If it is one thing that Ms. Doalfer has as an author, it is
a highly visible narrative voice. In part, this has to do with her
subject matter. Frequently, she chooses to elaborate on
fantasies she's had or real-life experiences. Most of her best
work is of this sort.

For "Horsing Around", we're given even more background
than usual on the genesis of this story. Most of the time, I am
not a fan of preparatory remarks for stories of the inspired-by-
life genre. Usually it dulls the mood. In this case, the author
works it to her advantage, though, by allowing us to see along
with her the experience that she has fantasized about a
younger version of herself. This happens to be significant
because it leads me back to my original point- which is the
strong narrative voice that flows through the piece. It is
precisely because the audience can often draw an imaginary
line between the older character as the invisible
writer/narrator (and her needs, turn-ons, and feelings) and
the younger character (unabashedly working through a truly
inventive discovery phase of sexuality) that this piece works so
well.

The basic theme is female masturbation coupled with
horseriding, and by telling you this much I've hardly spoiled
anything at all. While this is a common enough fantasy (and
perhaps reality) for many women, it is fairly unexplored
terrain in erotica, strangely enough. The story does good
service to this territory even if the foundation really rests not
on masturbation, but on preoccupation with the riding teacher
and a handsome but devilish man who frequents the stables.

But the story stumbles slightly in a final sequence which seems
less like the telling of an old story by a grown woman looking
back on her experiences, than something concocted hurriedly
for release to the internet. The reactions of the main
characters don't seem realistic as as the last little bits of a
voyeuristic interruption take place. This is odd, too, as the
(lack of) embarrassment of the main character's flagrantly
public display of sexuality had been handled fairly well in the
netherworld between fantasy and reality, up until the very last
part of the text. This is all fairly excusable given the richness
of the narrative voice which flows through the story, making it
all feel quite tangible. I just felt the ending could have been
cleaned up minorly, or made less complex, and the story
would have been improved.

No Rating {Because the reviewer doesn't like to give numerical
ratings.}

"Be Prepared" by Jenny Wanshel, Guest review by Jack Beattie.

It seems to me that one of the best things about erotic
literature is the way that it plays to our fantasies and takes us
beyond reality. A finely tuned erotic story goes just far enough
to remain believable and at the same time, its slightly
exaggerated nature titillates and thrills us. For example, just
seeing the title, Be Prepared, conjures up images of naughty
girl scouts in all manner of exciting situations. Unfortunately,
this story is too realistic to live up to the suggestions of its
title. This story or something like it has already happened and
will likely happen again. As a reader I know that, and so I am
not as excited as I could be by this otherwise reasonably good
story.

This is the story of several young girls(ages are never
specified) going off to Girl Scout Camp, which, surprise,
borders on the Boy Scout Camp. Panty raids and other mild hi-
jinks occur between the girls and the boys along with several
very confusing flashbacks and sidetracks. They all seem pretty
ordinary. Finally, we get to the night where the girls meet the
boys in the woods. Sadly, there is very little build-up to the sex
which ultimately occurs. Then relatively suddenly, it's over
with the girls wondering how they will ever be able to contact
the boys again. Ho-hum.

Technically, this is a well written story with excellent
grammar, syntax, spelling and sentence structure.(It seems to
me that the more exciting and erotic a story is, the more shaky
the grammar and spelling.) The dialogue is believable and
realistic. The characters, however, are two dimensional and
the plot is disjointed and often confusing.

While this story is definitely worth a read, it's not one that I'll
save in the archive of all time greats. I may not even save it at
all.
{No numerical rating}

=====================
CELESTIAL WORD STUDY:
=====================

AREOLA/AUREOLE

The AREOLA is the circle of skin that surrounds the nipples.
The plural can be either AREOLAS or AREOLAE. An AUREOLE is
a halo, like the ones that often appear around the heads of
holy people in medieval paintings. An alternate spelling of
AREOLA is AREOLE, but this is not a very common usage, and I
suggest avoiding it.

A really good AUREOLE emits luminescence. A really good
AREOLA emits (and/or causes) other stimuli.

Most of the people to whom AUREOLES are attributed in this
newsgroup would not qualify for a halo, even by the mellowest
of standards. In almost every the case, the author is thinking
about ye ole AREOLA and has made a Freudian slip.

Interestingly, AREOLOGY refers to neither of the above, but
rather to the study of the planet Mars. That's because Mars is
the Roman name of the Greek God Ares, and Marsology really
does suck as a scientific term. This information can be
valuable, if only by dissuading horny but overburdened
freshmen from taking electives in theoretical astronomy, when
their real interest is applied anatomy. However, in spite of
what my unabridged dictionary says, I still think AREOLOGY
can refer to the study of AREOLAS -- otherwise, what word
would one use for this area of graphic arts, which is obviously
of considerable practical importance for whoever retouches
the calendar photos that hang above my husband's desk?

DESPERATE/DISPARATE

A person who is DESPERATE is likely to try anything to get rid
of his desperation. DISPARATE means different or dissimilar.

ASSURE/INSURE/ENSURE

ASSURE means to promise. INSURE and ENSURE can both be
used to mean to make certain. If you want to make a
distinction between INSURE and ENSURE, then reserve INSURE
to mean to purchase insurance.

I can ASSURE you that you'll be popular at the party if you dress
like that.

Dressing like that will ENSURE (or INSURE) that you'll get laid.

Rumor has it that her husband INSURED her body for a million dollars
before he let her take a job at the high school.

<end>

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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