| Author: | Dorian Taylor | ISBN: | 9781458199515 |
| Publisher: | Sangraal Inc. | Publication: | March 29, 2011 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Dorian Taylor |
| ISBN: | 9781458199515 |
| Publisher: | Sangraal Inc. |
| Publication: | March 29, 2011 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
The first half of the book was published separately as
"Volitile Elements" it was reviewed by a reader on Amazon like this:
"I thought Top Forty was one of the most imaginative pieces of literature I had read in years so I naturally gobbled this one up. The Taylor of Top Forty was extremely innovative, all but putting his novel in a brand new category of fiction. In Volatile Elements he is purposefully derivative to the point of satire.
He creates a sort of landed aristocracy on California's Central coast and proceeds with the formulas and clichés of Regency romance, with graphic sex scenes. Along the way he skewers hi-tech, science, art, literature and anything else that comes up. One heroine, for example, grabs hi-tech by the balls, literally. When the Regency formula calls for duel or a sword fight, he substitutes a fetishy catfight.
All and all a nasty bit of satire peppered with allusions from page one's "A Letter from Sherry" to the last page's Dante Gabriel Rossetti. And to top it off, he explains himself. " And if you're going to write sex, about the only interesting thing you can include is the fact that 'she' had an orgasm. Hell, if the guy doesn't he goes to a doctor to figure out what's wrong with him."
As to the erotica, it isn't really all that hot. George Jean Nathan defined pornography as whatever gives an aged magistrate an erection. Taylor seems to get too much romance into most of it; it really doesn't get down and dirty. I'm an aged guy and I'm reviewing the book, and frankly, it ain't porno, which is strange because it is described as "Georgette Heyer meets the Marquis De Sade." His technique here is very De Sade type satire, but De Sade was pornographic, and that is the one literary talent Taylor doesn't seem to have.
Aside from the fact it could have been more porno, because what he is satirizing might have benefited, this is a real delight. More a literary novel with sex in it than stand up erotica, but not for the kiddies. It takes a fairly well read person to even catch on to what's going on. Loved it.
The second half, "Steady States" continues in the same vein through over fifty years of a steadily growing and increasingly powerful family in modern America. It is written to push the envelope a bit on literature and society viewing the modern world through an eighteenth century lens.
The first half of the book was published separately as
"Volitile Elements" it was reviewed by a reader on Amazon like this:
"I thought Top Forty was one of the most imaginative pieces of literature I had read in years so I naturally gobbled this one up. The Taylor of Top Forty was extremely innovative, all but putting his novel in a brand new category of fiction. In Volatile Elements he is purposefully derivative to the point of satire.
He creates a sort of landed aristocracy on California's Central coast and proceeds with the formulas and clichés of Regency romance, with graphic sex scenes. Along the way he skewers hi-tech, science, art, literature and anything else that comes up. One heroine, for example, grabs hi-tech by the balls, literally. When the Regency formula calls for duel or a sword fight, he substitutes a fetishy catfight.
All and all a nasty bit of satire peppered with allusions from page one's "A Letter from Sherry" to the last page's Dante Gabriel Rossetti. And to top it off, he explains himself. " And if you're going to write sex, about the only interesting thing you can include is the fact that 'she' had an orgasm. Hell, if the guy doesn't he goes to a doctor to figure out what's wrong with him."
As to the erotica, it isn't really all that hot. George Jean Nathan defined pornography as whatever gives an aged magistrate an erection. Taylor seems to get too much romance into most of it; it really doesn't get down and dirty. I'm an aged guy and I'm reviewing the book, and frankly, it ain't porno, which is strange because it is described as "Georgette Heyer meets the Marquis De Sade." His technique here is very De Sade type satire, but De Sade was pornographic, and that is the one literary talent Taylor doesn't seem to have.
Aside from the fact it could have been more porno, because what he is satirizing might have benefited, this is a real delight. More a literary novel with sex in it than stand up erotica, but not for the kiddies. It takes a fairly well read person to even catch on to what's going on. Loved it.
The second half, "Steady States" continues in the same vein through over fifty years of a steadily growing and increasingly powerful family in modern America. It is written to push the envelope a bit on literature and society viewing the modern world through an eighteenth century lens.
