"Erotic futuristic fantasy short story"

Dee was somehow catapulted from current-day Earth to the planet Dementia in another dimension. The ruling species on the planet is almost completely male -- and they may have the intelligence and speech of humans, but they look like gorillas! Females are slaves used for sexual pleasure and for breeding. Dee has spent a year struggling to survive alone in the jungle highlands of Dementia, looking for a way to get home, and mainly trying to outrun the slave traders. Now she is being hunted by General Zaab, leader of one of the most powerful clans, who wants her for himself.

I was initially hesitant about this story because of the description of the hero and his people as looking like gorillas. And the cover art depicts a very simian-faced male. Okay, I can deal with aliens, but somehow, if they look like Earth animals, it raises thoughts of . . . bestiality. But my concern didn't last long. I couldn't think of these guys as apes when they called women "lass" and said things like "Tis honored you are . . ." (Of course, that's when they weren't saying "Beg your Master for his cum, slave.")

The short story format (and this one is quite short at only 23 pages) greatly limits an author's ability to develop characters and motivations, but Ms. Black did quite well within those bounds. I did think the initial sex scenes lacked her trademark fun and finesse, but she kept the story moving along. It was rather touching to see the affection Zaab developed for his human sex slave -- and his confusion at feeling emotions not commonly accepted by his people.

This story does provide a very good sample of Ms. Black's writing style and the types of characters and settings she creates, so is an excellent way to "try out" her Trek Mi Q'an series.

Reviewed by Raelene Gorlinsky
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted August 10, 2002

Summary

Short story. Part of Trek Mi Q'an series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Dee Ellison is catapulted from earth and ends up in a mysterious alien world reminiscent of Planet of the Apes. The males of the planet, she soon discovers, keep human females as sex slaves. More terrifying yet, the Alpha Male of the Hoard is hot on Dee's trail.