# What authors handle sex well? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618 "2009-10-21T16:06:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/21 "2009-10-21T23:25:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyone except Jean Auel. I’ll see your Auel and raise you Piers Anthony. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/22 "2009-10-21T23:29:59Z")
Judith Krantz (I think she’s retired) has some pretty sexy sex scenes in her beach novels (_Scruples, Princess Daisy_, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/23 "2009-10-21T23:32:11Z")
Definately not Harry Turtledove! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/24 "2009-10-22T00:32:51Z")
Brett Easton Ellis. A friend of mine got me a copy of _The Rules of Attraction_. All apologies to said friend, but the only parts of that I found particularly enjoyable were the sex scenes. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/25 "2009-10-22T01:15:14Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Definately not Harry Turtledove! :eek: Is it just me or has he stopped with the sex scenes? Now he just says they had sex, but he used to describe everything. Think an editor finally hit him over the head? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/26 "2009-10-22T01:18:39Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > 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 😃 Applause! Some of ]b\Skulldigger\*\*'s and my favorite scenes are listed above. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/27 "2009-10-22T01:20:31Z")
Xaviera Hollander had a nice even hand in writing about sex. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/28 "2009-10-22T01:30:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I will give you a large sum of money if you never ever mention that book again. You have to read it to understand. It truly is the most sexual book I’ve ever read, and the most sexually-intense; if I were a homosexual, I would be extremely turned-on by it. Since I am not, I’m merely fascinated by it. The outlandish level of detail…the sheer depths of human depravity and perversion that Delany plunges into, with an unmatched courage and honesty, breaking the strongest taboos of our society make it a work unparalleled in its transgressive nature. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/29 "2009-10-22T04:01:49Z")
Another vote for Crusie. Diana Gabaldon? All the man on man rape scenes sort of cancelled out the sexy for me. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/30 "2009-10-22T05:33:50Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > I will give you a large sum of money if you never ever mention that book again. I’d be happy to contribute to that fund. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/31 "2009-10-22T05:45:01Z")
_ **HOGG! HOGG! HOGG!** _ You can make it stop! Paypal account info available by PM. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/32 "2009-10-22T06:15:17Z")
> [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](#): > > Well, she did eventually throw in some bestiality porn. I was going to ask if it was with extinct species of animals…but I’m not sure if that’d make it better\* or worse. :eek: \*Read: “Less-awful.” ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/33 "2009-10-22T06:23:48Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > _ **HOGG! HOGG! HOGG!** _ > > You can make it stop! Paypal account info available by PM. 100 dollars and I swear to God I’ll never say another _word_ about Hogg. I have a paypal account. If it really bothers people so much, I’m willing to stop mentioning it if they’re willing to pay me. I happen to think it’s a work of transgressive genius and, hell, if there’s any thread that would actually merit bringing it up, it’s this one - but hey, 100 dollars buys me a lot of beer. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/34 "2009-10-22T14:29:15Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > _ **HOGG! HOGG! HOGG!** _ > > You can make it stop! Paypal account info available by PM. Here’s a nickle for the cause. No offense, **AT**. It’s just that most of us would rather not hear about cacophilliac rapists all the time. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/35 "2009-10-22T14:34:27Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I happen to think it’s a work of transgressive genius and, hell, if there’s any thread that would actually merit bringing it up, it’s this one Except it’s not at all what I was looking for since it sounds exactly like “dragging it down so it’s all obsession and abuse and general unpleasantness with a side order of desperation if you’re lucky” and “a glamorous or sleazy fantasy.” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/36 "2009-10-22T14:42:36Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > Diana Gabaldon? All the man on man rape scenes sort of cancelled out the sexy for me. That’s that book? I remember disliking _Outlander_, but couldn’t remember why. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/37 "2009-10-22T14:44:18Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Except it’s not at all what I was looking for since it sounds exactly like “dragging it down so it’s all obsession and abuse and general unpleasantness with a side order of desperation if you’re lucky” and “a glamorous or sleazy fantasy.” I think that’s why I like Roth’s writing so much. It’s not graphic. It’s the emotional, innermost contemplation of sex. I cannot recall a single graphic description in his writing. It’s by no means a “how to” manual. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/38 "2009-10-22T15:02:03Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I think that’s why I like Roth’s writing so much. It’s not graphic. It’s the emotional, innermost contemplation of sex. I cannot recall a single graphic description in his writing. It’s by no means a “how to” manual. I’ll have to check out Roth some time. He’s one of those authors I’ve been saying that about for years. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/39 "2009-10-22T15:54:14Z")
But with Gabaldon (sp?) even the man on man rape scenes, while stomach-turning, had a twisted kind of tenderness to them. It was an emotional and mental rape much more than physical. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618/40 "2009-10-22T15:56:11Z")
This should be titled “What authors handle sex well, by my standards?” There’s not really an objective definition of handling sex “well.” Some people like sex to be hard and dirty, not “emotional, innermost contemplation.” There are a lot of ways to describe sex in a novel and make it work, on different levels, and they all require skill. A lot of people mocked Tom Wolfe for his novel _I Am Charlotte Simmons_, which presented sex in really over-the-top clinical language, even using the medical names for different bones and muscles in the body and stuff like that; some of them didn’t realize that it was supposed to be a joke because the main character of the book is a science student who views college students as horny animals, like a biologist would. From that standpoint, that book handles sex _really_ well - but from one specific kind of perspective. _Hogg_ handles sex well from the perspective of someone who will do _anything._ Likewise so does _Crash,_ by J.G. Ballard, another transgressive novel. The average person would simply find it bizarre. But if there were someone out there who actually did get turned on by car crashes, and by cars in general, and not only cars but all of the surrounding landscape that’s built around them - roads, exit ramps, parking garages, junkyards, all of which combine to create an atmosphere of sexual excitement in the mind of the book’s protagonist - they would find _Crash_ to be an extreme turn-on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-authors-handle-sex-well/514618.md?page=3)