Customer Reviews

The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace (The Marketplace Series, 4)

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If you noticed anything about S/M fiction in over the last year or so, then you know that it's been impossible to get your hands on any of the Marketplace books. When Masquerade Books released the third book in the series, The Trainer, it quickly went through two printings before vanishing from sight. Why? Because Masquerade Books vanished from sight. Yes, no matter how many Masquerade Books you may see on your local Borders bookshelves, they are actually no longer in business.

Fear not. Mystic Rose Books has picked up where Masquerade Books left off, continuing Laura Antoniou's celebrated Marketplace series with the release of The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace. Set in Japan, Antoniou's newest novel places trainer Chris Parker in the heat of the Marketplace's annual gathering where he must present a proposal that could threaten a schism within its ranks. Parker's deft maneuvering amid the politics of the Marketplace becomes a lesson in savvy thinking and honorable actions for the reader.

And that's only part of the novel's rich content. Again, we're treated to Michael LaGuardia and his ongoing struggle to become a trainer. We witness more of the Marketplace in all its variety with pony and dog trainers, in its world-wide diversity which ranges from the upper crust of English society to the wild, wild west of Canada's northwest to the formality and stern expectations of Japanese mores. Plus, we learn even more about the elusive Chris Parker's identity (a Must Do for Parker fans). And, yes, there's the occasional orgy and hot sex too.

However, the one-hand pages are few. Antoniou intentionally puts the sex on simmer so she can turn up the heat on the world-building and she applies the same skill that SF/F writers use in their craft to her book. The result? The Marketplace has never been more fully rendered, and Antoniou's novels are pretty much the only pieces of S/M fiction that explore the inner workings of its world more than it explores sex and sexuality. (And I'd like to think the S/M reading world is big enough to accommodate and celebrate her brand of fiction.)

Just as innovative as Antoniou's world-building focus is her invention and use of her "novelogy" template. She invited authors Karen Taylor, david stein, M. Christian, Cecelia Tan, and Michael Hernandez to contribute a series of short stories to The Academy's pages. Each story weaves itself into the overall novel and furthers the lore of the Marketplace. On the whole, the stories explore everything from the first moments of submission to spotters gone wrong to husband hunting via the Marketplace.

Best of all, as you grow use to the stories' presence in the novel, you find that their interludes begin to take on a Canterbury Tales feel to them. You begin to enjoy their place and presence and look forward to one character or another interrupting the novel to tell you a story. I found the novelogy a warm and wonderful thing and I became as rapt as a child during kindergarten story time.

Perhaps the only real criticism I have with The Academy is Michael LaGuardia's role in the novel. Between The Trainer and The Academy, I invested a lot of energy in Michael (even when I didn't like him), and when Anderson reveals LaGuardia's most likely outcome to Parker and then to see it played out in a few swift pages, it all felt very abrupt and dismaying. Even if Michael's route was preordained, it was worthy of a novel in and of itself, given the amount of time readers have spent with him.

The Academy has smaller quirks as well, too. It's obvious that Antoniou wrote the novel some time ago, what with references to Hong Kong's impending (and now passed) return to mainland China and to the emerging (and now dominant) "World WideWeb." On the one hand, those passages do capture S/M sentiments circa 1996 and, in time, these portrayals will become charming. On the other hand, it does mark just how long Antoniou has waited for this novel to see print and reminds me just how disruptive Masquerade's demise has been for established authors.

Laura's getting back on track, though. Mystic Rose Books will release the first three Marketplace books in coming months, plus Laura's fifth Marketplace book, The Reunion, will follow soon after. She's even at work on a sixth novel, The Inheritor. Given the rich tapestry that Antoniou wove in her newest novel and given the pent-up demand for Marketplace books, the new novels can't see print soon enough. Which is a wonderful position to be in.

Finally some insight into Chris Parker! Laura Antoniou pleases her readers by continuing her series set in the world of the "Marketplace" which many of those in the SM community wish existed, I'm sure. If you've read the first three books in this series, you'll be well equipped you jump into the Academy and learn along side the trainers and spotters. Many questions from the previous novels are answered in intelligent and arousing ways. Even better, the format, a novel with short stories interwoven into it, allows one to easily return to a section or two to enjoy over and over if one wants a more immediate form of gratification. Kudos to Ms. Antoniou for this novel and these short stories! It was well worth the wait.

Laura Antoniou had a great idea: her Marketplace series was so popular and fans wanted so much more, why not continue the story but also allow others to create their own Marketplace pieces? The result is the wonderful story of the Marketplace worldwide meeting with the intriguing Kris Parker as the main character. We also meet older slaves, trainers, and owners, and those somewhere in between at the Asia meeting. Not only do we find out more about Kris Parker but we also get the wonderfully varied works of sevearl well-known and fairly new erotica authors other than Antoniou. Almost every taste and every orientation and every combination is covered as we go from formal slavery in Asia and England to the new age of California and the proper victorian style households. I enjoyed it greatly; only wished I could have written a story for it too.

After too many years of waiting for the 4th MarketPlace book to come out, Ms Antoniou has gifted her fans with a continuation of her entertaining, thought-provoking, and mentally stimulating world of a fictional modern day consentual slave market. There are new characters to get to know and love or hate. Characters from previous books are re-visited and details gone into about some of the more intriging personalities. The novelogy style of the book works well, and the transition from story to story and author to author is done in such a way that it doesn't interfer with the reader's enjoyment of the various tales of politics, self discovery, and yes, the occassional orgy, though not quite like what one might think. It's much better. If your tastes are to sit back with a series of stories about things that could really happen, that you might have wished would happen, and dream might happen to you one day, this book as well as the other MP books, are for you. This book pulls you in, brings you into the character's lives, and makes you care about them. Everything a well written book, no matter what the subject matter, should do. Laura Antoniou gives her readers writings of substance, a meal instead of a light snack.

Of all the erotic bdsm fiction, this is the one series that consistantly mesmerizes. With its delicious characters, it's hot, yet tasteful scenes and it's totally original concept, Laura Antoniou remains the true master of medium. The most remarkable thing about "The Academy" is that even though more than one writer contributes to the piece (in reality a series of short stories rather than one fluid work), it reads like the perfect novel. With my personal hero Chris Parker being the tie that binds the stories together we learn so much about the players and (as always) ourselves. I hear there is one more book due for release in the imminent future. I hope there are many more.

Finally Ms Antinou is back with her fantastic Marketplace series. Initially I was uncertain that I would like this book due to the fact that it was a series of short stories rather than a complete novel. However, the individual short stories are held together by a plot line dominated by a political battle within the Marketplace that defines it's very essence. This subplot helps maintain coherence and moves the novel along very well.

The only other fault that you may notice is that some of the references are dated (such as describing the coming return of Hong Kong to China). But nothing serious enough to ruin the enjoyment of well written prose.

For those readers that fell in love with the BDSM classic, the Story of O, there has finally come a series that treats BDSM as more than just a cheap trick to sell poorly written porn. This book is well written, has identifiable characters and an interesting premise. Lara Antinou is a frequent guest at many BDSM conferences. I believe that her premise taps into the desire of many of BDSM scene (whether they go the events or just dream at home) that there is a group of people out there that take the leather scene a little more seriously than your average S&M aficionado. It is just a little exciting to think that if you can shine as a truly powerful Master or well behaved slave, that you may be allowed into a special clique of true devotees.

In addition to her well conceived premise, the characters in the book are well developed and interesting to read about. And while you may or may not identify with the disciplined Chris Parker or the self indulgent Michael, they sure would be a lot of fun to meet in the proper setting.

Just one note of caution, if you are not comfortable with male bisexuality then you may not enjoy this book. Otherwise I think that you find it is a welcome break from aggressive, badly written fare that passes for BDSM novels.

Although I've read (and contributed to) Laura Antoniou's anthologies, this was the first Marketplace novel I read. I must admit that I'm now eager to "start at the beginning," and am thrilled that the first three books are returning, and a fifth is on its way -- the tantalizing inclusion of the first chapter of the next novel was wonderful! For first time Marketplace readers, I found this to be a book that thoroughly immersed me in an exciting, erotic world of Owner/slave relationships, and the behind-the-scenes machinations that make such a world exist. The short stories were marvelous, and added new voices to the main theme. Antoniou's writing is excellent; I look forward to more from her in this series.

The Academy: Tales of the Marketplace is set in Japan. We find Chris Parker, among other reader favourites, at the Marketplace's annual gathering, The Academy. Chris is to present a proposal that may cause some waves within the organization. Michael LaGuardia has accompanied Chris to this annual event and we watch him as he continues to struggle to become a Trainer. Of course, the book is filled with all the wonders of The Marketplace, such as pony and dog slaves, pleasure slaves, and other specialty slaves.

If you ever wanted to know about Parker, this book is definitely for you. We learn quite a bit more about how Parker came to be as well as a few other interesting bits about other Marketplace favourites. I couldn't put the book down (but then again, I couldn't do it with the first three either). At first, Parker wasn't my main focus, but by the time I reached The Trainer, I was hooked. I needed to know more and was in agony until I found that a fourth novel was coming out, The Academy. I prayed that I would finally be put out of my pleasant misery with more tidbits about Parker. My begging was answered.

As an interesting twist, Antoniou has invited authors Karen Taylor, david stein, M. Christian, Cecelia Tan, and Michael Hernandez to contribute a series of short stories. Each story is it's own, but blends nicely and gives us more glimpses of The Marketplace.

My only disappointment was Michael's role in the novel. When Anderson reveals to Parker what she feels Michael's most likely outcome would be. I laughed, thinking it was surely a joke. But when I saw her prediction played out in a few very short pages, I was very let down...cheated. I didn't like Michael at the beginning, but I grew to like him, even started following him more closely. I felt my time invested in him was a waste.

Lifting my spirits at the end was a glimpse of Antoniou's next book, The Reunion. Once again, I feel anxious. Must have Parker.

Laura has done it again, even though I wished she wrote this two years ago! The Marketplace series are great books, and the Academy continues the effort. Laura has guest authors, which at first made me wonder how the story would be told, but everything came into place, and held my attention throughout each chapter. The story takes place in Japan, and gives details that you wouldn't even think of are there, guiding us to meet and understand each person, and see each room as they do. Chris Parker is once again my favorite character, and he continues to amaze with his knowledge and grace, and patience, which he needs when training Michael! Read the first 3 if you can, but don't miss The Academy!

Finally it's here! Ms Antoniou's talent to weave excitingreality into her sensuous characters is applauded once again with herunique Novelogy "The Academy; Tales from the Marketplace". The stories are hot and tingly fruit for the imagination and the vivid descriptions of scenes and places put me there with all the senses in my imagination! The weaving of the other excellent stories by various authors throughout the tales as 'sides' is skillfully done and strengthens the plot. Her ability to hold interest by teasing with little bits and pieces of mystery scattered throughout the tales, makes it hard to put down and already has me wanting answers from the next book! This book has class, as do the Marketplace Tales and Ms Antoniou, and everyone should read it! I love it and will read this one twice, too! Thank you, Laura.