[Wulfa_Jones]

I have come across these only a few times in Fantasy books and find that then tend to be quite badly written - very clumsy and not very sexy or romantic. The books these scenes have appeared in are all written by men so I don't know if that is the reason. Other times the suggestion that some thing has happened between a couple is there instead of actually have the scene written.


Of course I don't won't full blown Readers Wife's style sex scenes as they would just be plain stupid.

My question is what do people think of the sex scenes in books of a fantasy nature they have read. Do you think they should cotain the actual scenes or just the suggestion that a couple are "getting it on"?

[Dominus]

It depends on the message the author is trying to get through, mostly that they love each other or something, those, I think, are better left just as a sentence or so. Some though portray other things, one example being Martin's Daenerys scene with Drogo. I thought it was well done and actually moved to story because of how it went down, that scene had implications further than just the consumation of love.

[lemming]

I have no objection to explicit sex scenes in fantasy or any other genre, as long as they are well-written and either integral to the story or of a similar level of detail as other aspects of the story.

So far, I think the sex in The Bone Doll's Twin and Hidden Warrior has been done well, and I can think of some other examples... Stardust does it fine, Barbara Hambly tends to leave it mostly implied but does it well. I guess I haven't really noticed this as a shortcoming of the genre.

[allanon]

I dislike sex-scenes in fantasy and in books in general. This is something very private and I feel bad when I read about it.

[ChrisW]

Chris Bunch had some erotic scenes in one of his Seer King, Demon King and Warrior King books. Not sure if they actaully were needed for the story but they were interesting:) .

[e-Morgana]

Interesting Cald?? That's one word for them. ;)

They're certainly not for the faint hearted. :D

I personally don't mind a bit of sex in the story - find it adds a bit of spice. I get a bit sick of questing, and battling - it's good to see the 'softer' side now and then. Unfortunately, I have found few that do these scenes very well.

Lynn Flewelling's portrayal in Nightrunner was well done I thought (though a little different from the norm). Also Anne McCaffrey, Mel Rawn, and Mercedes Lackey deal with the subject sensitively, and I find it adds to the depth of invovement with the characters for me.

Actually, when I think about it, it seems to be the female authors' versions that appeal to me more. Maybe from being a female myself....maybe coincidence....who knows. :D

[AuntiePam]

You'll find bad sex everywhere, not just in fantasy. It's so personal and subjective -- what appeals to me might not appeal to you.

Writers need to think about why they're putting a sex scene in a book. We can assume that people are "doing it" without being told, but we don't usually need details, unless the details advance the plot or explain a character.

How a character makes love is sometimes good to know though, because it tells us a bit more about what kind of person they are.

[Wulfa_Jones]

In a slight off topic moment... Its something I picked up on the first time I read her name... Mercedes Lackey, the name is very porn star like or a very American Soap Opera type name.... Or is it just me?

[Kanin]

I don't mind sex scenes in fantasy fiction. Every other genre has sex scenes. Why should fantasy be different.

[jbcohen]

I agree with Dominus on the matter. Depends if it advances the storyline and contributes to the overall novel.