General

COMING TO POWER ed. by SAMOIS (1981,1987). ISBN 0-932870-28-7. Alyson Publications, 40 Plympton St., Boston, MA 02118

This is a book about lesbian SM, written by a former Bay Area women's collective. It has a huge spectrum of pieces from hot fantasy to personal history to political pronouncement. Very worthwhile for all who are interested in SM, lesbian or otherwise. (Rob Jellinghaus)

THE SECOND COMING, edited by Pat Califia and Robin Sweeney, published by Alyson Press.

HOORAY! This is the 1996 update to _Coming to Power_, and is must reading if you liked the first book. See how the community has evolved in twenty years. Get a sense of history. Get a clue. Get your rocks off. Highly recommended. (Rob Jellinghaus)

A positive and empathetic exploration of the world of SM, including extensive interviews with players from around the country. Well written and well-researched it covers a wide range of sexual practices, with the emphasis on the heterosexual. (Stephen S. Davis)

A basic guide to safe and fun S/M lovemaking. This brief volume explains how partners can explore their dominant and submissive S/M fantasies in a safe and fun manner. The author attempts to dispell negative myths and replace them with the truth about the kind of S/M erotic play that so many adults enjoy. You'll learn what safe S/M is, how to do it safely, and more. (Stephen S. Davis)

LEATHERFOLK edited by Mark Thompson. ISBN 1-55583-187-7 (1991). Alyson Publishers, 40 Plympton St., Boston, MA 02118

An EXCELLENT anthology about the SM scene in America, from the 1930s through the present. Focuses mainly on the gay and lesbian SM communities, but contains much worthwhile material for anyone interested in any aspects of SM. (Rob Jellinghaus)

"A Guide for the Curious Outsider and The Serious Player". Lots of good information about Leathersex and the gay male leather scene and play. Includes some history and spiritual insights from a very experienced and thoughtful participant in the leather scene. (Stephen S. Davis)

An honest and supportive guide for the novice into the realm of dominant/submissive sexuality, with explanations of technique and terminology. (Stephen S. Davis)

THE LEATHERMAN'S HANDBOOK II by Larry Townsend ISBN 0-503-09999-6. (1989) Carlyle Communications,462 Broadway, NY 10013

This is fairly widely available, and is by all accounts the best resource for gay male SM information. I personally have never read it, but it's widely known. (The first edition is still available, but II contains more information about AIDS and safer sex, so it's probably what you want.) (Rob Jellinghaus)

URBAN ABORIGINALS by Geoff Mains ISBN 0-917342-38-0 (1984). Gay Sunshine Press, PO Box 410690, San Francisco, CA 94141.

This lyrical exploration of SM and leather popularized the idea of an endorphin high. One of the first books to take SM seriously as a spiritual journey. (Stephen S. Davis)

LESBIAN S/M SAFETY MANUAL (edited by Pat Califia) ISBN 1-55583-301-2 (1988). Alyson Publishers, 40 Plympton St, Boston, Ma 02118

There is information in here oneverything from physical safety to emotional issues to negotiating with bottoms to consensual slave contracts. It's written about lesbians, but very little of the information is actually gender-specific. Excellent. (Rob Jellinghaus)

$19.95 will get you this book, which is one of the most thorough and in-depth explorations of SM safety and SM practice I have had the pleasure to read. I would consider this book very valuable for anyone who is wondering "how do I get started?"--Jay has many relatively specific examples and tips on how to make your scenes delightful and memorable. He's an opinionated guy, but then aren't we all? (Rob Jellinghaus)

This was the first non-fiction book I read on the subject of D/s and bdsm. It is particularly useful for its copious illustrations, both drawings and photographs. Laced with humor, it is an excellent beginning volume for the newbie.

"The format is simple. Fifteen SM scenes described as if they were part of a porn novel. However, there are several important differences between this book and the average porn. First, all of the scenes can be carried out with a relative degree of safety. Second, marginal notes advise the reader on HOW to do this without interrupting the flow of the stories." (John Warren)

Anal Play

The following books are well recommended references on anal play, the first on the general subject, the second concentrating on fisting, and the third focusing on anal play for women:

This book has the complete lowdown on all aspects of anal sex--safety, hygiene, emotional issues, you name it. Extremely valuable information, well presented. (Rob Jellinghaus)

"Trust: The Hand Book" by Bert Herrman. Alamo Square Press, P.O. Box 14543, San Francisco, CA 94114. ISBN 0-9624751-5-7

"The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women", by Tristan Taormino, published by Cleis Press.

Domination/submission

"The format is simple. Fifteen SM scenes described as if they were part of a porn novel. However, there are several important differences between this book and the average porn. First, all of the scenes can be carried out with a relative degree of safety. Second, marginal notes advise the reader on HOW to do this without interrupting the flow of the stories." (John Warren)

"Erotic Power: An Exploration of Dominance and Submission" by Gini Graham Scott, PhD. (1983) ISBN 0-8065-0968-6 Citadel Press, Carol Publishing Group, Editorial Offices: 600 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022. Sales & Distributions: 120 Enterprise Avenue / Secaucus, NJ 07094

This is a sociological treatise and in-depth exploration of the physical as well as the psychological dynamics of D&S. The author functioned both as an observer and as a participant in the scene. The primary limitation is that it gives short shift to male doms. (John Warren)

"Pain and Passion: A Psychoanalyst Explores the World of S&M" by Robert J. Stoller 1991, Plenum Press, ISBN 0-306-43770-8

 I've heard that this book does an excellent job of revisiting (and refuting) the common Freudian biases against SM, in spite of several far-from-objective judgmental sections. (Rob Jellinghaus)

"Public Sex: The Culture of Radical Sex" by Pat Califia (1994) ISBN 0-939416-88-3 (hardcover) 0-939416-89-1 (paperback) Cleis Press, PO Box 8933, Pittsburgh, PA 15221, PO box 14684, San Francisco, CA 94114

"Sadomasochism in Everyday Life: The Dynamics of Power and Powerlessness", Lynn S. Chancer (1992) ISBN 0-8135-1808-3.

Chancer's book takes a long, hard look at the many social contexts in which one group exercises power abusively over another. It's a fascinating perspective from which to analyze racism, sexism, etc., and there is a fair amount of material about BDSM . . . (Rob Jellinghaus)

"Ties that Bind: The SM/Leather/Fetish Erotic Style" by Guy Baldwin, M.S. Daedalus Publishing Company, Los Angeles, 1993, 244 pages, $14.95.

Baldwin is a therapist who sees many people in the SM community. He has a unique healer's perspective on many of the emotional and psychological issues that arise for people in the scene. If you are doing a lot of thinking about whether SM is right for you, or if you're working on your SM with your partner and you want another point of view, do yourself a COLOSSAL favor and buy this book. (Rob Jellinghaus)

Electrical Play

Bondage

"Ashley Book of Knots" by Clifford W. Ashley. (1944) ISBN 0-385-04025-4 Faber and Faber, London & Boston, 1981/1944 (Reprint). 620 pp, ill. Hardcover, 8 3/4 x 11 1/4..

"The Morrow Guide to Knots", by Mario Bigon and Guido Regazzoni (1982) ISBN 0-688-01226-4 William Morrow and Co, Inc; 105 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016;

Toymaking

"Whips and Whipmaking: With a Practical Introduction to Braiding" by David Morgan (1972, eighth printing 1991) ISBN # 0-87033-270-8 Cornell Maritime Press, Centerville, Maryland

Human Sexuality

"The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex" by Cathy Winks & Anne Semans, (1994, Cleis Press) is a well recommended guide to sexuality. Its 18 chapters include one on BDSM, which is reported to be quite good (the chapter that is; we already *know* that BDSM is quite good).

For a printed directory to all kinds of BDSM businesses, organizations, and resources (as well as other sex-positive resources for all for various types of sexualities and lifestyles), look in "The Black Book"

The Black Book, 4th edition, 1996. ISBN 0-9637401-3-X

Edited by Bill Brent. Published by Black Books.

There's a 4th edition Supplement, 1997.

Booksellers

Books on D/s and bdsm are available many places, but if you can't find them locally, many firms sell them by mail. Among the places to try are:

Periodicals

"Black Leather In Color" is a zine for people of color into SM. It's published a the BLIC collective, who can be reached at BLIC, 874 Broadway, Suite 808, New York, NY 10003

"Skin Two", Freepost, 23 Grand Union Centre, Kensal Rd, London W10 5BR.

"Body Play and Modern Primitives Quarterly", Insight Books, P.O. Box 2575, Menlo Park, CA 94026-2575

This magazine, published and edited by the celebrated Fakir Musafar, has monthly articles on subjects from corseting and waist training to tattoos, piercings, and intense SM practices. Very well produced. Subs are $45/4 issues. (Rob Jellinghaus)

Jay Edwards Collection/Close-Up Productions/John Floyd Productions, P.O. Box 691658, Los Angeles, CA 90069. These companies release various heterosexual bondage videos, mostly with women as the bottoms. Very popular. (Rob Jellinghaus)

Learning the Ropes,_ Ona Zee Productions, P.O. Box 9951, Marina Del Rey, CA 90295. Ona and her husband Frank have put together seven (going on eight) instructional videos about BDSM, on topics from bondage to dildoes to whips and hot wax. I've heard they're very worth getting. (Rob Jellinghaus)