I've registered quite a few books that range from "sensual" to outright erotica; this one, I have to admit, leaps boldly past "erotica" and lands solidly in the middle of "porn". It's cartoon porn, true, with bits of humor, but is still most definitely porn. And in a good way!

The author (who has made himself a character in the story - "Sounds like artistic masturbation," says his editor in an early frame, adding "You're not even attractive!" to which the author-character replies "I can simply draw myself much hotter than I am") describes his own book-within-the-book as "It's like a good porn movie - no text, loads of sex and no plot whatsoever!" While that book does adhere to the rules, the book-as-a-whole does have text and some stabs at a plot, as well as some self-referential humor and the odd dig at the lifestyle. From visual quips, such as bordering one page of illustrations with what looks like heaps of pink roses - but turns out to be clusters of rolled-up pink condoms - to the manner in which one pair of characters make the acquaintance of our author and are eventually privileged to read the hot-off-the-presses edition of his newest book, it's quite entertaining. And the sex scenes aren't bad either {grin}...

One of many bits that amused me: the "classic porn" book-within-the-book shows panel after panel of enthusiastic sex acts, with both partners completely silent the whole time, but one of the lead-in stories has two characters engaging in equally enthusiastic sex, but including snippets of conversation - sometimes at very inconvenient moments, as does happen between lovers who've been together for some time.

Another tidbit: the scene has shifted to a pair of more glossily-handsome men going at it, and the dialogue is suddenly much, much different: "Please don't be diffident. Act in a crude or ruthless manner toward me. I have no use for delicacy, like that of an elderly nun. Every fibre of my vibrating being yearns to be subsumed by every inch of your fleshy rod." Etc. "What the...?" I'm thinking - and then at the end of the panel we pull back to see the previous characters watching all this on TV, with the comment "You know, I expected something different when I read 'Classic Gay Porn' on the DVD-cover." {snerk!}

Cute, funny, steamy - and safe-sex, too; all the cartoon characters use condoms. What more can one ask?

*** October, 2018: I'm sending this to an online buyer in San Francisco. Enjoy! ***