The John Norman thread about his Gor books made me wonder why it is that so many authors write about sex so badly.
It seems most books handle sex in one of two ways, either romancing it up until it’s all stars and rainbows and Twue Wuv and throbbing manhoods, or dragging it down so it’s all obsession and abuse and general unpleasantness with a side order of desperation if you’re lucky.
Of course, some authors just avoid the topic entirely.
So, who does it well? Who makes you feel like you’re reading about real life and not either a glamorous or sleazy fantasy?
Philip Roth writes about sex a lot. From a woman’s point of view, I find it misogynistic, but from his point of view, I’m sure he’s telling it like it is. Frankly, it’s hard to see how a woman could stand him long enough to fuck him. But my sense is that he got a lot over the years.
I believe the topic has been handled very well and realistically in Penthouse forum, though it may be more of a scholarly work than you’re asking about
Well, it’s man sex. That’s the only way I can describe it. I’m not sure he’s particularly interested in sex from the woman’s standpoint (hence, his reputation). From a 70-something miso’s point of view, I think he handles it very realistically.
Diana Gabaldon. Jamie and Clair have done it rough, slow, sweet, hanging off a window ledge, in the aftermath of her fever in a ship’s cabin…plus, there’s humor. Their first time is the stuff of legends.
She got repetitive pretty damn quick there, didn’t she? Jondalar and Ayla’s first time was very sweet, but yeesh, woman, come up with some other ways they can Pleasure each other.
I like Lois McMaster Bujold as well. Some of the stuff is definitely waaaay on the kinky side (don’t read about Mark’s imprisonment if you have a strong imagination and a weak stomach), some would be perfectly normal teenage sex if it wasn’t for the claws, hirsutism and people trying to kill the two characters (Miles, meet Taura… hope you can get it up), some is perfectly normal first-time sex - I love that reminder a set of upset parents get of their first time in one of the most recent books, the Countess sure doesn’t pull punches
She manages to write scenes that are sexy without being pornographic, and without resorting to euphemisms like throbbing manhoods and womanly blossoms. Plus there’s plenty of humor and mishaps, and not necessarily rainbows and unicorns and multiple orgasms every single time.
She’s my favouritest novelist as far as fluffy silly brainless romances go.
Well, they did do it “doggie style” at the end of the second book. But other than that, yeah.
Years ago I remember someone posting here the Jean Auel sex scene formula. I can’t recall the details now (other than the requirement that the word “nodule” be used), but it struck me as being pretty accurate.
Samuel Delany’s novel Hogg describes the sex really well. I mean, it’s really deviant sex, and would disgust most people, but the sheer amount of description is unrivalled by anything I’ve seen before or since. No author describes the sex act with such detail, or intensity.
My daughter likes some romance novels, and since the books were in the house, I read them. I was surprised. Sure, Cruisie’s books are silly, but they’re a lot of fun, too, and the sex scenes are pretty good.
I’ve been trying hard to think of well-written sex scenes, but I can only come up with Horrible Examples instead. I can think of several authors that depict romance or just plain sexual attraction well, but not of specific sex scenes.
