Cubist, I know I’m right. As I pointed out in the first one, the publishers were, of course, afraid of the censors of the time (1950-60s), so there was a rule in place that no queer characters were allowed a happy ending.* Queer sex/pleasures weren’t regarded as kinky, they were regarded as deviant. The ‘beyond’ stuff always had to do with kink, most often sm/bondage.
*Also pointed out that in the 1960s, Ann Bannon defied this rule more than once, although her earliest books obeyed the rule.
Marcus Ranum says
The cover of the Dykes on Bikes is clearly over the top. They’re not wearing helmets!
Caine says
You have to wonder if the illustrator had ever been on a bike -- riding with that much skin exposed, yeeeouch.
Raucous Indignation says
Fine art, truly. On loan from the National Museum or The Met perhaps?
busterggi says
How do women manage to always have their hair cover their nipples?
Caine says
Busterggi: that’s known as avoiding the censor.
cubist says
“She went beyond normal lesbian pleasures.”
Hmm.
One can only wonder about the blurb-writer’s concept of “normal”, in this context.
Caine says
It’s quite simple: ‘normal’ -- plain sex. ‘beyond normal’ -- kink, which is generally depicted on pulp covers as one person having a whip or a paddle.
cubist says
caine @7: You may be right, but given the likelihood that the publisher regards lesbian pleasures as summat kinky…
Caine says
Cubist, I know I’m right. As I pointed out in the first one, the publishers were, of course, afraid of the censors of the time (1950-60s), so there was a rule in place that no queer characters were allowed a happy ending.* Queer sex/pleasures weren’t regarded as kinky, they were regarded as deviant. The ‘beyond’ stuff always had to do with kink, most often sm/bondage.
*Also pointed out that in the 1960s, Ann Bannon defied this rule more than once, although her earliest books obeyed the rule.