Macho Sluts: Erotic Fiction

Macho Sluts is a book that apparently needs a lot of introduction: 75 pages of it out of the 400 page book. It makes sense, though, because a lot of the appeal and importance of Macho Sluts comes from the reaction to it. It was originally published in the 80s, during the feminist sex wars. BDSM was seen as a patriarchal power display, and something lesbians just didn’t do. Macho Sluts inspired a lot of outrage, but it also just kept selling...

Read the rest of my review here: http://lesbrary.com/2012/07/29/danika-reviews-macho-sluts-by-patrick-califia/

The first thing I noticed about this book was it included 100 pages of introduction and ancillary material. I was worried I would have to wade through a lot of dry writing. However, this material is one of the better aspects of the book and fully explores the historical significance of the work. Califia's own introduction delivers excellent insight into hir motivations and the political aspects of the writing.

As for the actual short stories, they are quite out of the ordinary. Not only do the stories deal with S&M scenes, but they are hardcore scenes. It makes for some difficult reading if you aren't completely comfortable with the subject matter. However, each story goes beyond the physical aspects of the encounters and delves into the personalities, desires, politics and judgements of those who are involved. The stories also do an excellent job of questioning sexuality and the labels and compartments even the most liberal of groups want to place on others.

Macho Sluts is worth reading, but it's important to have an open mind and be able to reserve judgement against those things one might not be comfortable with and completely understand. It's not understanding a person or issue that causes hate and fear towards another, but if you delve into this writing wanting to learn, there are rewards to be gained. ( )

.... I'm really not sure what to say about this book. I loved it. I wasn't all that sure I would, but WOW. Even the incest one, which I'd usually go *squick!!* and skip, even that one gripped me. I think the best way to sum up my overall reaction to this book is this: With *every single story*, I would think "OMG this is definitely my favorite!!"... until I read the next one. When every single story gets that reaction, I think I've found a very special book. ( )

Basically, it's hardcore lesbian S&M porn. I guess you could label it "erotica" because of the quality of the writing, but let's come to terms with the fact that porn can have artistic merit and call a spade a spade. Or, y'know, a cum-shot a cum-shot.
Califia deals with a lot of subjects that make people cringe, but I think more than the bloodplay or watersports what gets to people is the various couplings. There are several unconventional pairings. Pairings (or 3somes or whatever) many people in the queer community don't like to admit exist; for example: 3 gay leathermen topping a submissive dyke; a gay leatherman Dom topping other Doms like him; 8 lesbian Dommes topping one submissive lesbian.

One of the things I liked best about this book, besides the fact that it got me hot, was what Califia says in the introduction about porn. Maybe I'll edit this entry later when I have the book near me and transcribe some quotes. Califia attests that the fact that mainstream pornography is overwhelmingly of such low quality and yet such a booming industry is a very powerful message about people's desire to seek out what arouses them. He criticizes pretty much all lesbian pornography (NB: this was pre-transition when he identified as a lesbian) and emphatically states the necessity of lesbians making porn. He also assures the reader that it's normal to have fantasies that involve things you would never do in real life, that are impossible/illegal/unhealthy, as long as you don't act on them.

Oh! And something that really made me happy was every time there's possibly fluid exchange (even for oral sex) the characters put on condoms! ( )

This was the first book of kinky porn I ever bought and it melted my brain. About 3/4 of the stories I find insanely hot, 20% I like a lot and the last one or two are not to my taste. ( )