Do you like sex/love scenes in the stories you read?

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Anke Wehner

With Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife books, I knew that I was heading into a romance, and while there were certain squick factors (e.g. age gap) in the relationship, it was affectionate and involved mutual trust, rather than standoffishness, before the sex started. I also got the impression that sex scenes themselves gave more space to the characters' reactions rather than mechanics.

Bujold's actually written an interesting essay on Writing Sex.

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by Enkidu of Abydos

I thought girls usually think love and sex are one and the same, being more emotional than guys ? That's why they usually say "making love" instead of just "f***ing"...

I think we're aware of the difference. Some of us might prefer it with love, others might not care--women are people and people are all different!

[spellbanisher]

Originally Posted by Joykins

women are people and people are all different!

Since When!?

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

I ask about sex/love scenes in fiction because some people really like them, some people don't mind them, and others definitely want their fiction to go through a prude filter. Plus it's interesting to discuss.

I voted choice two. I have no inherent problem with sex scenes in a story, as long as there is a reason for them being there. They must help define the characters and advance the plot, or they risk being gratuitous and there solely to titillate.

If you're writing erotica, the point may be the sex scenes. If you aren't you need to ask yourself what the point is, and why you're including it.

If in your authorial judgement there is reason to include the sex, do so. If readers with prude filters complain, the appropriate response is "My stuff isn't for you. Don't read it."
______
Dennis

[Joykins]

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

Since When!?

1968.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

The next time you read the series I'd propose you wipe the screen more frequently, so you might see more text and less whitespace.

[Ravensknight]

No graphic sex scenes for me. It never adds anything to the plot to describe a blow by blow [sometimes literally] account of the sex. Say they had sex, etc, but graphic doesn't add to the plot.

[spellbanisher]

With all the free porn on the internet, who needs sex scenes in books anymore?

[Nyssa]

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

With all the free porn on the internet, who needs sex scenes in books anymore?

People who like to read?

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

No graphic sex scenes for me. It never adds anything to the plot to describe a blow by blow [sometimes literally] account of the sex. Say they had sex, etc, but graphic doesn't add to the plot.

You are not reading the right kind of sex scenes! Seriously though, explicit really has nothing to do with it (IMO), just the right level of steam can go a long way to enhancing the mood, plot or character development in a story.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Bujold's actually written an interesting essay on Writing Sex.

She manages it in a great way to present sex in the Vorkosiverse as it is - a natural part of life, by showing how the characters psyche shapes their seyual desires and their sexual experiences influence their psychic development.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

No graphic sex scenes for me. It never adds anything to the plot to describe a blow by blow [sometimes literally] account of the sex. Say they had sex, etc, but graphic doesn't add to the plot.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by GoblinWriter

If I'm picking up a science fiction adventure and I'm caught off guard because the author didn't set up a romance, or it's a very minor part of the plot, then I'm probably going to be annoyed the story went into graphic details.

I remember a quote from a friend of mine back in high school when I was reading Piers Anthony's Bio of A Space Tyrant series-- "I'm on an odd numbered page, so people are having sex" (or something similar to that.)

[Enkidu of Abydos]

Originally Posted by orlok

*trying to find a smiley that represents a bucket of water being thrown over the poster...*

Hey pal, the Niagara falls couldn't cool me down, let alone some measly bucket of water ! Especially with that Poppaea chick constantly throwing out kinky hot statements... When I'm running hot I don't let off steam like an overheating engine, I start fuseing atoms like the nucleus of a star !

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

You either haven't learned yet that going the way is the fun and not sitting at its end - or you got lost everytime and never arrived.

This is all just obvious blatant propaganda as part of a smear campaign, you're just trying to take Poppaea for yourself, like that sneaky Spellbinder recently tried a smear campaign on me to steal my herd...

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

*sigh*
1.) there's far more than "mention" about intercourse and relationships between quaddies and humans.
2.) Miles not only "does it" - Miles and Taura have a long-term affair running.

The next time you read the series I'd propose you wipe the screen more frequently, so you might see more text and less whitespace.

Well I read it several yours ago (and carefully !) but I'd swear Miles and Taura did it only once.
And as for the quaddies I don't remember exactly how much was discussed but as I remember not much (I think one Barayarran got himself into some kind of trouble after sleeping with a Quaddie).
Oh yeah, and books are written down so you don't have to memorize every last word.
I've read "Gaea" more times (well it only has 3 books) so try to find mistakes there.

[Enkidu of Abydos]

Originally Posted by Joykins

Bujold's actually written an interesting essay on Writing Sex.

The most interesting non-fiction of hers I read was a Miles Vorkosigan foreword where she described how having a baby changed her and changed her view of Cordelia Vorkosigan and her motivations, and how she would do anything for her baby... Really thoughtfull and touching.

Originally Posted by Joykins

women are people and people are all different!

Hear, hear !

Originally Posted by spellbanisher

Since When!?

Well, either since 6000 years ago, or since a female ape gave birth to a human being, depending on who you ask...

[Enkidu of Abydos]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

She manages it in a great way to present sex in the Vorkosiverse as it is - a natural part of life, by showing how the characters psyche shapes their seyual desires and their sexual experiences influence their psychic development.

Actually, I found sex in some other SF series (like "Gaea") to be more logical and purposefull then in Miles Vorkosigan, where it sometimes seemed to me it only served the purpose of spicing things up. Like Miles and Taura for example.