Introduction to SM

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Because of the proliferation of books which provide introductions to BSDM / Leathersex / Power Exchange / Whatever you want to call it, we've broken our SM section in two. This is the "introduction" section; for books beyond these, check out our Leathersex Nonfiction page.
The Kinky Girl's Guide to Dating
Grey, Luna
Greenery Press
If you're new to the world of kinky dating and need a good starting place, look no further. The Kinky Girl's Guide to Dating is an easy-to-read introduction, full of anecdotes and written mainly in a conversational style that makes it fun to read. Full of good advice on how to find and more-or-less safely immerse yourself in your local BDSM scene, this book will help those interested in exploring their naughtier nature feel more secure while doing so. Be warned that more experienced players will find some of this information both too obvious and too scant; the author relies heavily on general references to her Resource section, and we wish she'd at least give some specific pointers in the body of the book itself. Still, the book is such an interesting and comforting read that newer players will probably devour it cover to cover, making it an excellent place to begin your research. (2004, 166 pp.)

item XB-GRN-1138: $16.95 [Order]
b-grn-1138


Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism
Miller, Phillip and Molly Devon
Mystic Rose
This intro to SM book has a bit of just about everything. It's well written, though the fact that it is very much from and for the male-dominant/female-submissive viewpoint sorta got on this reviewer's nerves — but that perspective didn't get in the way of the sheer usefulness of this book. The authors display an entertaining sense of humor throughout (which is a major relief to those of us who've seen a few too many SM writers take themselves way too seriously!). They also show an astounding amount of grace in that, when they didn't have the knowledge to write sensibly or helpfully about something, they said so and left it alone. It's an excellent reference manual for either the complete novice or the player with some experience under his or her belt. (1995, 277 pp.)

item XB-MYS-1362: $24.95 [Order]
b-mys-1362


The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage
Midori (with photographer Craig Morey)
This beautifully printed, well-illustrated coffee-table-size book (no, it's not as big as a coffee-table, you silly people) provides clear, thorough, step-by-step instructions on how to do Japanese rope bondage. (For those of you who aren't familiar with it, Japanese bondage is a centuries-old form of rope bondage, done with the goal of being both decorative and functional.) Written by sex educator Midori (a.k.a. FetishDiva Midori), The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage introduces the reader to the history and general principles of the technique and gives thorough, step-by-step instructions on seven different basic forms/positions, accompanied by clear, detailed line drawings of each step in the process. Plus each position is illustrated with a full-color photo of the completed pose. Like Japanese rope bondage itself, the book is both lovely to look at and extremely functional. (2001, 175 pp.)

item XB-GRN-1860: $27.95 [Order]
b-grn-1860


Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macrame
Harrington, Bridgett
This rope-bondage book is chock-full of instructions for really cool ties, corsets, gauntlets, chest harnesses and even dildo harnesses (which can be made for any size body!) that you can make out of rope! Starting with the basics (the kinds of rope, how tight you should bind, how to care for your rope, etc.), each chapter takes you one step further in the world of Shibari (Japanese decorative rope bondage): One Column Ties, Two Column Ties, Chest Harnesses, Combinations, Rope Corsets and Crotch Ropes. Not as glossy as Bondage for Sex (this one is all black-and-white inside), this book focuses more on wearable bondage (harnesses, wrist bondage, etc.) than on using rope to tie a person down for sex, though there is some overlap between the two. In other words, if you're looking for a book to teach you to make a very nice, all-rope outfit for your next sex party, this is the book you want. (2006, 155 pp.)

item XB-MYP-1322: $22.95 [Order]
b-myp-1322


Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes
Two Knotty Boys, Larry Utley
Green Candy Press
Not just another rope bondage how-to book, Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes is possibly the easiest to understand of all the easy-to-understand rope bondage books that have come out recently. It breaks down the steps so fine that often you get to see both the step in action ("pull the end all the way over the top") and what it looks like once that step is done ("you have two ropes hanging down"), which is way useful when you're trying to figure out if you're doing it right. The photography is black-and-white, but very clear and, we'll say it again, easy to follow. The whole thing is arranged in self-explanatory sections: The Knots (from square knots to trinity Celtic knots), Basic Bondage (Cat's Paw for Ankles, Rope Shackle, etc.), Decorative Bondage (Rope Corset, Trinity Knot Bra, Tortoise Shell Bodysuit, and so on), Dominance Bondage (Wrist Tie-Back, Quick Bit Gag, etc.), and Sex Bondage (from Table Tie-Down to Rope Strap-On). And it's seriously reasonably priced as well. What's knot to like? (2006, 80 pp.)

item XB-GCY-1367: $16.95 [Order]
b-gcy-1367


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