Screw the Roses, Send me the Thorns by Philip Miller

Philip Miller and Molly Devon think that S/M is fun, and "that reading about it should be fun, too." Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns is definitely fun, not to mention approachable, chatty, and insightful. What makes it truly special, however, is the sheer weight of loving details. There's clear explanations and detailed tutorials for beginners, as general as "safe, sane, and consensual" and as specific as "you will be swinging the whip with your arm pivoting at the shoulder." There's also solid advice, safety measures, steamy suggestions, plenty of black-and-white photographs, useful and humorous drawings, an extensive glossary, and over 900 entries of S/M clothing and equipment vendors, publications, computer bulletin boards, and organizations worldwide. As sadomasochism is a practice that's still taboo for many people, the chapter on finding partners and sharing your fantasies with existing partners can be invaluable.

Paperback: 274 Pages
Publisher: Mystic Rose

Price: $24.95

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Learning the Ropes by Race Bannon

Race Bannon provides some much-appreciated accurate information in this honest and straightforward basic guide to S/M. He explodes prevalent myths about S/M and replaces them with a playground of erotic fantasy and an emphasis on consensuality. The fantasy visualization exercises and the examples of scenes and negotiation provide rich fodder for crafting new experiences, and regardless of your gender, orientation, or skill level, you'll find that the advice sprinkled throughout the book is useful. Possibly the most important trait of this book, though, is that it's delightfully devoid of the "This is the One True Way" trap evident in too many sexuality manuals.

Paperback: 159 Pages
Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company

Price: $12.95

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Leatherfolk by Mark Thompson

Since its publication a decade ago, this Lambda Literary Award-nominated book has become a classic must-read on the shelf of books adressing human sexuality and identity. Widely cited as among the most useful books of its kind, Leatherfolk is both historical witness and provocative treatise regarding a distinct subculture that has withstood decades of political harassment and other challenges to its health. Spanning the decades from the 1940s onward, this collection of vibrant writing documents the many eras and shifts of attitude that have informed the gay and lesbian leather underground and its influence on the society beyond. A new preface by editor Mark Thompson, and a new annotated bibliography provide an up-to-date look at this community and provide valuable resources for researchers and interested parties.

Paperback: 328 Pages
Publisher: Alyson Pubns

Price: $14.95

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Sensuous Magic: A Guide to S/M for Adventurous Couples by Patrick Califia

Sensuous Magic is clear, succinct and engaging even for the reader for whom S/M isn't the sexual behavior of choice. Califia's prose is soothing, informative and non-judgmentalshe both instructs her reader and explores the territory for them. When she is writing about the dynamics of sex and the technical aspects of it, Califia is the Dr. Ruth of the alternative sexuality set.

Price: $14.95

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SM 101: A Realistic Introduction by Jay Wiseman

It goes by many names: bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and more. In Jay Wiseman's SM 101, the long-taboo subject of consentual sadomasochism is accurately, insightful presented in the context of adult human sexuality, experience and tradition for the interested non-specialist general reader. SM 101 surveys the entire spectrum of consentual sadomasochistic practices from from bondage, to spanking, to erotic role-playing, and more. Now in an expanded second edition, SM 101 includes a new chapter on starting and running sadomaschistic organizations and events for consenting adults. Greenery Press has an extensive title list in the area of human sexuality and maintains a site on the World Wide Web (see the above URL) with a complete roster of their publications in various aspects of human sexuality and practices.

Price: $24.95

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Leatherman Handbook by Larry Townsend

This is a great book for those who are leather curious. It clearly explains what the scene is all about and describes some of the games people play and how to make them successful for all parties involved. It gets pretty kinky though so this is not for the prudish.

Paperback: 320 Pages
Publisher: Lt Pubn

Price: $15.95

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Erotic Surrender: The Sensual Joys of Female Submission

Varrin relates her personal experiences with submissive fantasies as she introduces the general D&S (dominance and submission) vocabulary and emphasizes the emotional and physical benefits that can be derived from erotic surrender.

Price: $15.95

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by Claudia Varrin

Miss Abernathy's Concise Slave Training Manual by Christina Abernathy

Down-to-earth information about how consensual owner-slave relationships really work. Detailed suggestions on service, sex, ownership symbols, rewards, punishments, contracts and more. One of kitten’s Favorites!

Price: $15.95

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The New Bottoming Book by Dossie Easton

Almost a decade ago, the first `Bottoming Book` taught tens of thousands of people that bottoming - being a submissive, masochist, slave, `boy` or `girl,` or other BDSM recipient - is as much an art as topping. Since then, the growing popularity of BDSM, and the blossoming of the Internet as a source of information and connection, have created a whole new universe of possibilities for players. Now, the completely updated revised `New Bottoming Book` gives even more insights and ideas, updated for a new millennium, about how to be a successful, popular bottom! New sections on dominance/submission play, bridging the gap from on-line to real-time relationships, the four stages of a scene, and more. Plus, Fish`s hot illustrations of bottoms in action, many moving and funny anecdotes, and an extra-large helping of the realistic wisdom for which these authors are known.

Price: $14.95

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SlaveCraft: Road Maps for Erotic Servitude by Guy Baldwin

This book, just like Guy Baldwin himself, is likely to stir up strong emotions for years to come. By focusing on the personal and individual journey of someone who imagines himself as a slave, this book challenges several of the assumptions current in the gay SM subculture. While the chapters are thought provoking and the "exercises" possibly useful, the emotions of the writer (whoever that is since the "slave" is unnamed) are what really stick out. Patrick Califia's response from the dominant side of things is a wonderful addition. This book cannot and should not be the one and only you use if you are undertaking the slave role but it can be a useful addition to your education.

Price: $15.95

SlaveCraft: Road Maps for Erotic Servitude by Guy Baldwin

The Masters Manual by Jack Rinella

This is an essential read for anyone wanting to understand how S/M can be primal, when leather can be spiritual, why someone could be proud of being a sadist, or how to find joy and wholeness in our dark sides. Rinella notes that "attitude makes the difference between being a master and a top," and The Master's Manual is unequaled in its discussion of the attitude of power and the soul of a master. This is the second book any novice dominant or submissive should read.
The Master's Manual builds on that knowledge with things such as "Rinella's Six Attributes Every Master Needs" (like self-confidence, trustworthiness, and acceptance of self), the strength and courage of submissives, the application of discipline, and suggestions on the training of submissives. It's a peerless resource for anyone who wants to be, or wants to understand, a master.

Paperback: 199 pages
Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company

Price: $15.95

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The Mistress Manual by Mistrss Lorelei

If anyone has any questions, doubts of how to do femdom, or where to start a scene, this book tells how. This work by Lorelei is the best how-to that I've read. I recommend it for any of the ladies out there who are uncertain about "femdom". This book will show you how to have fun with female dominance.

Paperback: 220 Pages
Publisher: Greenery Press

Price: $16.95

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The New Topping Book by Dossie Easton

Tens of thousands learned the emotional and ethical skills of BDSM topping from the first `Topping Book.` Now, in addition to the sage advice and good humor that made the first edition a classic, the authors tackle some of the issues that have come up for tops in the last six years: on-line domination, the challenges and rewards of `lifestyle` relationships, ensuring our own and our partners` safety, and more.

Price: $14.95

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I Love Bad Boys by Lori Foster, Janelle Denison and Donna Kauffman

They are the men of our wildest dreams. The word bad doesnt even begin to describe their wicked ways. With just a look, they can jump-start our deepest desires. So, crack open the cover. Turn the pages. And discover men who cant be tamed...

Price: $14.00

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The Art of Sensual Female Dominance by Caludia Varrin

Are you looking for something novel in your sex life, a new and exciting way to express your most intimate feelings? The Art of Sensual Female Dominance is an introduction to a different, more daring love-style. Leather one night, lace the next, D&S can provide the techniques and confidence to turn you into a different woman every night, the possibilities limited only by your imagination. Besides bringing adventure to the bedroom, female dominance can be liberating and life-changing, putting you in touch with your female power and heightening your self-esteem.

Claudia Varrin is a former professional dominatrix who writes fiction and nonfiction books and articles that reflect her belief in the rewards of consensual D&S sex. A native New Yorker, she divides her time between Miami and London..

Price: $15.95

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Extreme Space by F.R.R Mallory

Extreme Space is not a book you can read through once and not expect to pick it up again... great for referencing when you encounter new and old situations alike. Several times, Ms. Mallory addressed issues that I'd never seen addressed before, but had been searching for information on for a long time, such as Primal Space and latent behaviors.

Paperback: 323 pages
Publisher: Unbound Books

Price: $21.95

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The Compleat Slave by Jack Rinella

Jack's easy to read, common-sense writing style presents a reality-based perspective on how M/s relationships succeed, and if you look beneath the specific erotically-charge concepts you will see he is simply saying that succeeding as a Master or slave in a relationship requires the same skills that any good relationship requires. You won't find protocols or positions discussed or rules and regulations touted. Instead you will find discussions about sucessful communication, financial considerations, everyday existence and sexual maturity.

If you really want to be in a successful Dominant/submissive relationship then this feet-firmly-planted-on-the-ground discussion is certainly a must read.

Paperback: 172 Pages
Publisher: Daedalus Publishing Company

Price: $15.95

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Partners in Power : Living in Kinky Relationships by Jack Rinella

From the beginning chapter on "leather vocabulary," to the chapter called "Archetypes of SM relationships," to chapters on "knowing yourself" and "knowing what you want" in a SM partner. And he devotes a separate chapter to looking for partners. There's a lot of advice he offers that a lot of us don't always follow but should. A must read if you are in a SM relationship.

Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Greenery Press

Price: $15.95

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