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In 2375, the world's
finally ready to move on. Strife and
war have been left behind in a unified struggle for peace. Life is
slowly
returning to normal and technology's shift can focus on peace and
pleasure.
With diseases and
unwanted pregnancies under control,
sexuality has changed. And along with this has come technological
advances
catering to erotic needs: The B.O.B.’s (Battery Operated Boyfriends), a
cybernetic invention designed to please and pleasure. They're
life-size,
life-like and possibly the most deliciously arousing sex toys to ever
be
invented, and easily the answer to the dreams of many.
Within this world of
heightened sexuality, erotica has
re-emerged and the new sexual revolution is lead by the hedonistic
Elyiana
Richards. It's taking the world by storm, but Ellie's living a happy
existence
far from the perks of more conventional society and she's never dreamed
she'd
experience a B.O.B, never thought her dream of being with a certain man
could
come true. Neither did her archrival, The MacDougal, the reclusive head
of
Cyber-Tronics and the inventor of the B.O.B.
The MacDougal's repressed
desires and long-buried needs soon
result in him undergoing an astonishing experiment and transformation
that will
change his views on Ellie's fictional creations and revolution. He
re-awakens
something within himself long forgotten and finds that maybe; he is
still
capable of love.
I found the rivalry
between Ellie and Mac to be interesting
and the idea of his transferal from man to B.O.B. original. The story
takes off
like a thriller with one rooting for Mac's escape and his emotional
awakening
as he covertly watches Ellie.
Their initial
interactions are a study in contrasts between
people and how they feel about the world. Until Mac goes too far in
this
reviewer's opinion and takes liberties over Ellie's protests and
sodomizes her.
At this point B.O.B.'s Fall
crosses the line from a romantic story to one of assault and domination
of a
victim who is unwilling and protesting this treatment of her person and
freedom
of choice.
I find this treatment of
Ellie by her supposed love
interest, Mac, very disturbing, as is the authors' callous treatment of
rape,
in what is billed as a love story. It also disturbs this reviewer that
the
heroine is portrayed as protesting—then enjoying being sodomized.
Non-consensual sex, no
matter if between lovers, strangers,
casual acquaintances or even spouses is still rape, no matter how it is
presented or defined, and it is this reviewer's opinion that it is out
of place
in the context in which Ms. Leigh and Ms. Chadwick placed it.
Mac's earlier actions are
not really redeemed either, when
he is finally "himself" again and he catches up with Ellie and
demands her to return with him, and rather reluctantly expresses his
"love" for her.
The premise of B.O.B.'s
Fall is sound and quite interesting, but the execution is
flawed and
disturbing in the manner in which is handled by the writers. As such,
this
reviewer does not feel comfortable recommending this book without a
caution to
the more sensitive readers. This book is not for the faint of heart.
Reviewed
by Niniri Theriault for The Road to Romance
September
8, 2004
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