James Barclay

[Lizzy]

What do other people think about sex in books?

I ask because I have just read a book which has a gratuitous graphic sex scene in it which serves no purpose other than a gratuitous sex scene. Can't see the point in that. I thinks it needs to be there for a reason, eg to help define the characters and relationships or something. But is that me being female?

The sex scenes in James's books serve a purpose and also tend to be tastefully done imo.

But it seems to me that some authors throw in sex just for the heck of it or the 'titillation' value. I'm not one for reading very graphic stuff either, leave something to my imagination please. And why can't there be more humour with it? Why does it always have to be an earth movingly wonderful experience? Give me more funny scenes like Bridget Jones' big knickers please.

Years ago I read Jilly Cooper's Riders, Rivals, and Polo and what a hoot they were too. (Taggie in Rivals is still one of my favourite female characters and I don't care if it's not fashionable to admit to that) The thing is there is loads of sex in them, with plenty of humour, things going wrong and just, well more real.

So having ranted above anyone else got any opinion on this ?

But remember to keep the replies clean please.

(for those who go to Chadbourn's forum, yes this is cross posted but I thought I'd ask it here too)
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Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

[Drizzt]

If it serves a purpose, I'm all for it. As Lizzy mentioned, what sex there is in James' books serves a purpose because it develops and furthers the relationships between characters and can also change how you view a character - Gorian, for example (saying nothing more).

In stories like George RR Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' the sex within is also there to further show the reader what someone's like as a character as well as to cement a relationship between multiple characters. It's adult work, we're a demanding audience wanting realism and grit, so new couples politely kissing to cement their love or satisfy their lust just doesn't wash.

I've touched on audience - that's a massive part which the writer needs to think on. If your target demographic is kids/teens, you're not going to be particularly graphic if you do include anything at all. If you're writing for adults, be adult about it. I prefer it when you don't get page upon page of detail since I like to use my imagination when figuring out characters. Now, sex can be used for that as the type of lover a person is tells a lot about them and, if it's done correctly, can make the reader feel closer to a character. It can also change their perception of a character - imagine you have a character you love for 300 pages, who falls for the person you've been hoping they get with, only for a sex scene to reveal they're a rough lover who are unkind to their partner or even hurt their partner... suddenly this character you love becomes something else entirely. Outside the bedroom they're still the same great person you love, yet you know there's another side there lurking beneath the surface. New dimensions to the character are opened.... and the converse works: a loathesome character who is revealed to be a tender and caring lover; suddenly they're maybe not quite so bad after all...??

Ok, I'll sum up before y'all get bored! Sex is a good tool a writer can use to add depths to a character and to develop relationships between characters. But, too much, or if it's poorly executed, you can cross the line where - unless you're into that - it detracts from whatever good work the writer has managed.

One thing though... why are all blokes in most fantasy books wonderfully skilled lovers? And why are the women nearly always lithe, horny and just as skilled... or virgins? Just for once I'd like to see a fat hero fall for the fat elf nobody talks about...
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Pagan Music

[Parmenion]

I sit in the if its a required part of the plot and serves a purpose...fine, otherwise...well its just literary porn for the sake of it.

I have had to read a few submissions recently where its riddled with the stuff and i ddint enjoy it. even in horror / vampire books that seem to be a genre that leans that way, it has to be plot worthy and sometimes its just not.

[Max Power]

If it serves the plot, fine. But I don't think a writer of, say a crime thriller, should necessarily show off his erotic writing skills if his strength is in writing suspense, gruesome murders etc. I think authors who go down the line of setting the scene, and then writing as if the camera was panning away often have it right. If I want erotic writing I know where to look, but many books seem to have a romance, and a sex scene, just for the sake of it. They may be written well, but they don't fit into the context of the book.
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If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

[Selik]

Again, i'm with the, 'if it has a purpose', and I know a lot of people think, as Robin has mentioned, that vampire books have to be filled with it. That's so not true. A vampire book can be just as good without the sex as Raven Dane has proved really well.
'Blood Tears' has no graphic sex scenes and is an excellent read.
So basically, i'm agreeing with everyone else
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"I sit on my arse, not my head." - Baron Gresse.

[DarrenT]

[Lizzy]

ROFL, and no the thought hadn't crossed my mind at all. I'm shocked at you Ariel
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Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

[Parmenion]

I'm not shocked...that once read is just what you would expect from Ariel!!

[jolinare]

i don't mind as long as theres not too more/it's really horribley, horribley written.

Steph Swainston is allowed because she's such an amazing authoress and it is very in character of the narrator to discuss sex. its rather pornographic but still...

you know, i never read the sex scene in dawnthief. I was a bit young when i read it and now i'm too lazy.

[CrazySlyHawk]

Almost all the sex scenes in the raven books usually fix problems or cause more trouble (eventually)!

[Tuval]

I always thought that the sex scenes in the Raven were the most tastefully done ones I've come across to be honest.
I've read a set of books... i can't remember what they're called... they're on top of the tumble dryer at home so I'll tell ye when I go home , but they just contained the most pointless and crass sex scenes I've ever read.
The first few pages into the book you were confronted by a single "scene" that lasted almost an entire chapter if my memory recalls correctly :S
I found it quite disturbing that the entire plot seemed to revolve around the two central characters toting around a perverted "genie" having sex at the most inopportune times and a strange obsession with the villain of the series having dubious sexuall practices involving some sort of livestock :S
Needless to say my father seems to enjoy it :S

(and yessss!! i am back!! Mwahahahahahahaa!!)

[Lizzy]

Welcome back Tuval.

A small request can you reduce your sig please? Admin doesn't like big banner/picture type sigs and will delete it if you don't.

Thank you
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Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

[Tuval]

No probs at all! Done hehe!
making a new one to go in
sorry about that
*hugs*

[Lizzy]

Thanks and no worries. Really good to see you back here.
*hugs*
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Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

[Tuval]

Now I remember what it was called!!
The Books were parts one and two of the War of Powers....
Not bad... but way too much sex in there for my taste :S