![]() ![]() ![]() The story opens with Liam, a sergeant in the human military, worried about an incompetent new commander. It involves much negotiation, and it is a treat to read. Ondry earnestly pursues Liam with precise questions to unravel the nuances of Liam’s psychological makeup. Liam sorts through linguistic roots for subtle shades of meaning and tries to avoid committing social offenses. Human Liam and alien Ondry may be traders (the most esteemed vocation on this particular planet), but their perspective is purely and rigorously anthropological. The book’s other strength is in its portrayal of two lovers attempting to understand each other across the vast chasm of different cultures. Even though the book does not offer traditional scenes of ritualized BDSM, it convincingly portrays the mindset of a submissive. The novella downplays sex scenes in favor of plot and character development. Claimings, Tails, and other Alien Artifacts by Lyn Gala is a strikingly original take on the usual BDSM story in which the hero overcomes society’s prejudices and his own troubled past to get in touch with his deeply repressed desire to submit. ![]()
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