The Velderet

by Cecilia Tan

Roommates Kobi and Merin have a problem. They live in a carefree, utopian society where oppression and inequality have been eradicated, everyone has a say in the government, and everyone has plenty of food, clothing, and sex. The problem? Kobi and Merin harbor secret taboo desires, fantasizing about slavery and sexual domination. Through their computer networks, they begin to seek out others who share their desires. But when their society opens diplomacy and trade with a war-like, domineering culture, suppressed desires burst forth. Is it the end of the world as they know it? First published as a chapter-by-chapter serial in the magazine Taste of Latex, The Velderet left many readers unsatisfied when the magazine folded after only six chapters had appeared. After email entreaties from readers to finish the story, author Tan has brought the tale to a thrilling finish with six more never-before-seen chapters.

Genres: Erotica, Science Fiction, BDSM, Fiction, Romance, Sexuality

183 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

Susie Bright says, "Cecilia Tan is simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature." Since the publication of Telepaths Don't Need Safewords in 1992, she has been on the cutting edge of the erotic form, often combining elements of fantasy and science fiction in her work. She is also founder and editor of Circlet Press.

RT Book Reviews awarded her Career Achievement in Erotic Romance in 2015 and her novel Slow Surrender (Hachette/Forever, 2013) won the RT Reviewers Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence from GRW in 2013. She has been publishing Daron's Guitar Chronicles as a web serial since 2009 and her Secrets of a Rock Star series (Taking the Lead, Wild Licks, Hard Rhythm) is published by Hachette/Forever. In 2018 Tor Books will launch her urban fantasy/paranormal series, The Vanished Chronicles. In her other life, Cecilia is also the editor of the Baseball Research Journal and publications director for SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting this novel to be like erotica I have read in the past - entertaining, but shallow and raunchy. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that while The Velderet was definitely sexy, it was also intellectual and thought-provoking. The story was one of passion, humanity and understanding. It explored how we view sex and pushed the boundaries, giving you sex scenes that not only made you hot, but also made you think.

This is definitely a book any fan of erotica should check out. It has an assortment of steamy sex scenes, but it's not another pointless and plotless erotic novel.

[Remittance Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not perfect, The Velderet is probably the best example of plot-driven erotica ever written.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half to two thirds was 4 stars--really hot! But then it turned into a very 2 star drama about alien politics.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dual protagonists of this novel, Merin and Kobi, live in a society in which equality is the supreme value, and in which sexual freedom is nearly complete (except where it bumps up against the aforementioned value.) For many, this would be a utopia, but the problem for Merin and Kobi is that they crave subjugation. That might seem an unusual desire, but one need not look far to see how urges develop for little apparent reason other than a person being told that such activities are prohibited or taboo. Merin is a straight female serving as legislative worker bee. Kobi is a bisexual male who bartends at a leisure club that not only serves drinks but facilitates virtual reality cyber-sex. The two are roommates (part of equality is a pairing of unattached without consideration of gender or sexual orientation), and one evening in a buzz-fed stupor Kobi admits that he would like to know what it’s like to be enslaved.

This story in which these two try to figure out how to develop an underground community of those who revel in power dynamics as part of sexual activities, plays out in a larger geo-political and historical context. It turns out that the reason that this society (i.e. the Belledonians) is so keen on equality in all activities is that they were once a slave-owning empire, and they basically killed off another race of people who they’d enslaved (i.e. the Gehrish.) So, it’s a guilt-driven policy. As the individual level actions play out, this society is in trade and security negotiations with the Kylarans, a more technologically advanced society that still practices slavery. There is a fear that the Kylarans might decide not to trade as equals but to colonize the Belldonians.

The resolution of the story brings this sadomasochism fight club story line into contact with the larger geo-political story, and that raises the stakes and presents one with varying philosophical stances on the dominant – submissive relationship. While the Belledonians had brutally oppressed the race they subjugated (i.e. the Gehrish,) the Kylarans have a much more traditional, protocol-driven, and complex approach to these power dynamic driven relations. For example, leaders must spend time as slaves before they can progress upward in the chain of command.

As I hope has been made clear, this book combines erotica with sci-fi and sex scenes are ubiquitous and kinky. Readers who are squeamish about such matter will probably want to steer clear. However, if one isn’t disturbed by sex, and sexual power play, this story is readable and intriguing. I would recommend it for those who are intrigued by stories at the nexus of science fiction and erotica.

[Thany]

I was assigned this book during undergrad for a Women in Lit or Postmodernism class and will never forget the experience of reading it. In recent weeks, I’ve been thinking back on it, trying to describe its weird wonderfulness to my husband, and wishing I could remember the name of the book. Unfortunately, I could only recall one specific scene that has forever stuck in my memory, and Google searches were taking me to places on the internet that I didn’t want to go... Armed with only this (explicit) description of the scene, it would’ve been pretty embarrassing to reach out to former classmates that I’ve since lost touch with in an attempt to re-learn the title. I’ve been racking my brain trying to remember.

I was in Goodwill this morning, and LO AND BEHOLD this book was on the shelves. The title immediately caught my attention, and I recognized the cover art right away. I even audibly exclaimed, “SHUT. UP!”, causing nearby shoppers to give me strange looks.

I am someone who rarely buys new books and admittedly does not take full advantage of my local library system. Instead I shop for books at random at secondhand stores. Finding this book today was one of those “holy grail” moments, where my love of reading and my love of thrifting intersect, and where I celebrate a tiny personal triumph that is meaningless to everyone else. I can’t wait to re-read this!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of cyber-sex in this one was really intriguing. Some hot sex, a lot of plot. Likeable characters. A little slow or disjointed or something.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird...

[Linda DiMeo Lowman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is billed as a cybersex S&M serial. The sex ain't that great and the S&M is pedestrian. I didn't even like the characters. I stopped reading at page 41 of the 181 pages.

[Maryjane Coons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it a lot.

[D.L. King · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I thought the book got off to a slow start, once it got going it was difficult to put down (in fact, I ended up finishing it at 4:00 a.m.). The premise was actually quite brilliant, juxtaposing the politics of utopia with BDSM. It brought to mind such classics as Brave New World and 1984 (but with really imaginative sex).

[Allan Dyen-Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erotic science fiction, concerning an alien race where BDSM is an accepted part of the culture. What I liked best is that everything was voluntary. That allowed me to enjoy the hot sex without the disgust I felt for novels where it wasn't (e.g, Capturing Beauty by Anne Rice). This is both good science fiction and good erotica--a truly rare combination.

[Sascha Illyvich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and have to admit it was the inspiration for me to write Mistress Kitty and Trent the way I did. Stories all tied together. It's been awhile since I've read this book but it was also one of my earliest memories of science fiction erotica, before I realized I could even WRITE in that genre.

Good job C-tan

[Megan Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty freaking fantastic -- wish there were more!

[DW]

So many great reviews. Must give it a whirl.

[Selenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

read it for the story and not the sex. The plot's pretty good, the sex is not really all that steamy. Or perhaps I've read too much erotica and it now takes a lot to really raise my eyebrows anymore

[Fresno Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

BDSM SF trashy cyberporn, and not in a good way....

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the first S/m novels I read, borrowed from one of my best friends. All these years later, it still stands up as one of, if not THE, best I've read.