The Library Discipline Bibliography
A
selection of favourite BDSM Books.
Short Stories
Delta of
Venus by Anais Nin, New York, Pocket Books, 1969
Anais Nin is a new discovery of
mine (newer than real-life Dominance/submission!). I love the way she explores
human sexuality in all its diversity, with characters trying out different
emotional situations, finding out what suits and what doesn't.
Novels
Story of O
by Pauline Reage, London, Corgi, 1972
Orgasmic. So much for me to
enjoy! Good descriptions of D/s rules and practices in O's trip to Roissy. I
particularly enjoy all the controlling details of Sir Stephen's relationship
with O. Terrible ending(s) and "Story of O part 2" isn't anywhere near
as good.
Justine,
Philosophy in the bedroom and other writings by Marquis de Sade,
London, Arrow Books, 1991
Much easier to read than "The
One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sodom". I liked the monks best. Lots of
anally focussed sexual practices, also cutting and asphyxia. "Philosophy in
the Bedroom" is the most extreme play I've ever read.
Tribesman
of Gor by John Norman, New York, Masquerade Books, 1998
I particularly liked the sensual
slaves and their training. Features slave girls being raped and branded. The
descriptions of dancing slave girls is particularly memorable. I would have
liked more descriptive, emotive sex.
Beauty's
punishment by Anne Rice, London, Arner Books, 1994
Male and female accounts of being
slaves in a fairy tale village. I particularly like the description of the slave
prince becoming a pony boy and being fitted with a horse's tail dildo. I think
her Vampire Books have good Dom/sub elements in them particularly
"Interview with a Vampire" and "Memnoch the Devil."
Venus in
Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Hertfordshire, Wordsworth Editions, 1997
Interesting, historical read.
Includes details of a Mistress/ slave contract. Quite a bit of flagellation but
no sex. I think Severin was more a fur fetishist than anything else.
Melinda and
Esmeralda by Susanna Hughes, London, Nexus, 1995
Melinda and Esmeralda are two
beautiful slave girls, who are shackled together and made to pick fruit in
Southern Spain. Features Dominant lesbians, all-girl threesomes and a Master who
prefers being a slave. All the usual holiday goings-on?!
Story of
the Eye by Georges Bataille, London, Penguin, 1982
Surreal. Features a horrible
description of a bull fight and various gooey eyeballs popping up in unexpected
places. A curious read. Too cruel for me, but well worth reading.
Querelle of
Brest by Jean Genet, London, Panther, 1969
Excellent writer of gay fiction.
The descriptions of anal intercourse are particularly good. I especially
empathise with the effeminate Armenian who Querelle strangles. Other interesting
books by this author are "Our lady of the flowers" and "The
thief's journal".
Poetry
Between
the Cracks by Gavin Dillard, San Francisco, Daedalus, 1996
A diverse, comprehensive collection
of kinky verse from poets ancient and modern, famous and unknown, mild and wild.
Illustrated with a few tasteful black and white photos of subjects being tied
up, behaving like dogs and showing off their tattoos.
The Poetry
of Surrender by SubVerse Writers, Northolt, SubVerse, 2004
Poetic musings on the value of surrender, submission and submissive people.
Taken from many different views, BDSM and religion, East and West, sensual and
philosophical, from many different voices.
Guide Books
The Velvet
Underground by Michael Leigh, London, Velvet Publications/ Annihilation Press,
1991
Bizarre personal ads investigated
by a journalist who remains easily shocked throughout. Features couples into
group sex, Female Domination/ male submission, slave training and exhibitionism.
I liked the bit about the well-trained dog.
The Loving
Dominant by John Warren, California, Greenery Press, 2000
I found this a more gentle
introduction to BDSM than "Screw the Roses, Send me the Thorns". The
chapter by John Warren's submissive partner, I found to be particularly helpful
to someone trying to understand their submissiveness.
Erotic
Surrender by Claudia Varrin, New York, Kensington, 2001
A meticulous exploration of chivalrous female submission right down to
what shoes to wear and what words to say. A very enlightening epilogue about how
BDSM can lead to greater spiritual awareness. Sumptuous reading.
Free
Wealin' by Ishmael Skyes, Hereford, The Academy Club and Ishmael Skyes, 1997
Handy guidebook to the SM scene, includes guidance in choosing partners,
prostitutes, toys and fetish clubs. Goes into great detail about how to spank or
cane someone in an SSC way, plus other ideas for Topping your bottom (dominating
your submissive!). Rubbished the idea of lifestyle D/s relationships, very
unfairly I thought. The appendices were entertaining.
Screw
the roses, send me the thorns by Philip Miller and Molly Devon, Connecticut,
Mystic Rose, 1995
A classic book, both serious and funny. Detail about the emotional and
deeper meanings behind BDSM as well as measurements for dungeon equipment and
practical "how to flog" type information. The section on would-bes and
wannabes is cruel but truthful (I recognised bits of myself in there!).
The
Sadeian Woman by Angela Carter, London, Virago, 1979
Interesting feminist view of Justine and Juliette. Unfortunately no
mention of the joys of being a submissive woman (or a dominant one at that!).
Rituals
of Love by Ted Polhemus and Housk Randall, London, Picador, 1994
Interesting photographs and interviews with "ordinary" people into S
& M. Interesting discussions between chapters. A lot of philosophising about
Story of O, a lot of which I didn't agree with.
The
Good Sex Book, Paul Brown and Christine Kell, Surrey, Bramley Books, 1997
A good straight sex book, with neat sketches, informative detail, male and
female points of view. Chapters on kinky sex are quite broad minded. Offers a
good understanding of basic human sexuality.
Self Help
Men are
from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray, London, Thorsons, 1993
I found this a marvellously
enlightening book for understanding and improving relationships with men. The
chapter on men being like rubber bands was particularly helpful. If only my
husband would read it!
The
Surrendered Wife by Laura Doyle, New York, Fireside, 2001
A self-help book on how to surrender to your husband without letting him
know you're doing it. I found it a helpful approach although I'm not sure how
safe, sane and consensual it all is.
The
Power of Femininity by Michelle McKinney Hammond, Oregon, Harvest House, 1999
Religious instruction for Christian submissive women, aided by tales from
the old testament. Very insightful even if a bit bigoted in places. The story of
Ruth is my favourite.
Feel
the fear and do it anyway by Susan Jeffers, London, Arrow Books, 1991
A good explanation of how to come to terms and live with fear rather than
attempt to overcome it. It gave me courage as I was approaching my first BDSM
encounter. Like most self-help books it is best taken with a pinch of salt (just
like this bibliography!).
Philosophy
The
Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, London, Penguin Books, 1992
A favourite spiritual philosophy
book among BDSMers. It contains pearls of wisdom such as “Your pain is the
breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding” and “It is when you
give of yourself that you truly give”.
The Book of
Tea by Kakuzo Okakura, New York, Kodasha America, 1989
Another great spiritual philosophy
book that BDSMers have taken to their hearts. It was written to “Introduce
Asian thought and civilisation to the West”. It extols the virtues of harmony,
respect, purity and tranquillity using tea as a metaphor. It is also short and
easy to read!
Magazines
Fetish
Times, Fetish Times, London
An informative S & M and other sexual perversions magazine. Good articles on
the more practical side of S & M, safer sex, cheaper equipment, building
dungeons. Also information on specialist shops, clubs and societies, including
the Lady O Society. I like reading the adverts best.
Skin
Two, Tim Woodward Publishing, London
Full of glossy photos of people into the fetish rubber and leather scene.
I find it generally shallow and superficial, although it does have the odd
deeper piece. The adverts are good and I like the book reviews.
Desire,
Moondance Media, London
A well-written sex magazine for couples. Includes Dom/sub stories.
Readers letters. Adverts for a wide range of sexual interests including adult
babies and water sports. Adverts from men, women and couples, including a lot of
kinky ones.