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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exceptional erotic read and intellectual delight, July 6, 2001
This review is from: A Journey Round a Darker Sun (Paperback)
A Journey Round a Darker Sun is an wonderfully written erotic novel based on a story about the beautiful and coquette Claire who's charm and exuberant seductive nature snares any male she meets. She has the upper hand in the lives of several men, toying with them to her heart's desire, until she meets Paul and falls under his inescapable spell. Utterly in love and vulnerable to Paul's unyielding rules on proper behavior, Claire's journey into submission is beautifully described by the author, both psychologically and erotically. Yet she is not the only person to be guided by Paul's domination. Her closest friend of the moment, Tristan, learns first hand of the consequences of Claire's training as he, in turn, is slowly forced into becoming her groveling pet. And there are more characters in the plot who evolve with the trio Claire/Paul/Tristan. Paul's household maid and sexual object, Rachael, is the brunt of several punishments which include hand, cane as well as more intimate chastisements. Claire's childhood friend, Beth, irked by Tristan's disrespect, gives into her sadistic tendencies and undertakes his education with fervor... The book is beautifully written. The psychological ups and downs of the characters are so well described that they seem real. I think it is an exceptional novel and hope to see more from the author very soon.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must-read if you like erotica AND good writing, November 23, 2000
This review is from: A Journey Round a Darker Sun (Paperback)
A Journey Round a Darker Sun may be categorised as erotica with a D/s theme, but it's much, much more than that and a million miles from the standard BDSM offering with its implausible plot and unrealistic characters. Dark Sun is wonderfully written for a start: poetic, witty and full of vivid imagery. The story compels you to keep reading and the characters are so true to life and well realised that you'll recognise aspects of yourself and those around you on every page. Dark Sun tells the story of Claire, a beautiful and much-pursued twenty-two year old. She's also self-centred, manipulative, and a tease. She's never had to try to catch a man; she does the choosing, picking men up and then discarding them when they prove too malleable, too eager to please. Her hopelessly lost and lonely friend Tristan is the most eager of all, and he's used as a confidante, cleaner, baby-sitter and even as a warm-up act before Claire's dates with other men. When Claire meets Paul however, she's forced to change. Too magnetic to resist, too much of a prize not to be fought for, Paul is also too assured to put up with her games. Outclassed for the first time, Claire begins her journey into submission. This journey is highly erotic of course, but it's also perfectly paced, with each step developing naturally from the characters themselves. And power play is explored at every level, from the ever-shifting hierarchy of Claire's friends and hangers-on to the complete power exchange of her relationship with Paul. It's this richness that makes the book so satisfying - it's not just a series of D/s scenes strung together but a journey that changes every character. It's also a great read, even if D/s isn't usually your cup of tea.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Waiting for the sequel..., February 11, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: A Journey Round a Darker Sun (Paperback)
Five years in the making, this is a remarkable book. But it is only Volume 1. The author says he will write volume two, but, he cautions, "I will spend as long on Volume 2 as it takes to get it right, because I intend to tell this story well." Part of me wants him to spend the time, because Volume 1 is so well-written. Another part of me wants Volume 2 NOW! Even so, I'll wait. Mr. Lowrie's patience shows in the novel. Unlike many authors, he doesn't rush through the mundane to get to the action. And the mundane is anything but mundane. This is the first book I've read in a long time that made me reluctant to put it down and sorry to finish it. This is partly because the story is so compelling, but the biggest reason I wanted to keep reading was that the writing was so good. Simon Lowrie tells us a story of a bright, beautiful, self-assured but still uncertain young woman named Claire, and the beginnings of her infatuation with a mysterious man named Paul, who has been taught by his father that women are to submit to men. Yes, the theme of this book is of a D/s relationship, but there is so much more in it than that. There is Tristan, a young man who is so infatuated with Claire that, as one reader said, "he just makes you want to slap him." Tristan seems so hopelessly smitten that it's easy to understand why he does all the things he does -- essentially anything Claire wants him to do -- to help her comply with Paul's demands of her. However, you will need to watch Tristan carefully. There's more to him than you might at first suspect. A lot more. There are other, more shadowy, characters in this tale, and they are nearly as compelling as Paul, Claire and Tristan. Indeed, one should watch them carefully as well. I might try to summarize the novel for you, but the author does it so much better: "DarkSun, though black as pitch, is not a bdsm novel in the tired old sense; one of those books where 'the plot' consists of a string of implausible excuses to be sadistic. It is about love and hate and hope and fear and feelings that do not have names. It is the only story I will ever write, because it is the only one inside me." Yes indeed. You should read this book, even if the D/s theme isn't your "thing." And I sincerely hope there are more stories inside Simon, stories he just hasn't found yet.
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