Please list all the books on poly that you may have come across so others may enjoy them too. Please include Name of Book, Author, Year published, and a little info on what the book was about and how you liked it. How poly was it? Did it include bisexuality, transgender or gay/lesbian concepts?? Was it ethnically diverse?

Thanks for your suggestions...

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000

Answers

This was from Quondeaux@aol.com

I've been as busy as usual of late, but I wanted to toss in one of my favorite series of books. It was actually the series that drove me to find the word/lifestyle of polyamory. The series is called The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. While it doesnt mention the word poly per se, the eight huge novels create an incredibly intricate world tapestry. There are many different cultures explored as the storyline progresses. Some of the cultures are dour and sexually inhibited (except for a three day festival wear everyone wears masks and anything goes), others are matrilineage. There is also one culture that is tribal and though sex may be initiated by either sex, the females decide marriage and oftentimes will share a husband with close friend or family members as 'sister-wives'. Often, the male warrior may not have any say in the decision to be shared.

In all, they are intricate and vivid books that weave a rich story with a very poly friendly atmosphere.

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000

This is from Aurora:

It's "The Fifth Sacred Thing" by Starhawk. I LOVED that book. To me it described a utopian society based on a lot of the spiritual principals I believe in. It did also show some wonderful models of polyamory. I was especially intrigued by the scene in which the 5 young people got together in the ritual room to enjoy each other... they began by selecting one person and the other 4 centered all their attention on that one person, to love, soothe, and heal with loving touch. After a while, when the first person was satiated, they turned to the next one and so on until all of them had been thoroughly treasured, loved, and satiated. I thought it sounded so wonderful, this idea of having all that loving attention at once. (Heck, in our world, sometimes it's difficult to find that degree of concern and love with just ONE person.) After reading it I wondered if I would ever be able to have an experience like that. A great book and I'd highly recommend it! Bright Blessings,

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000

This review is from Julie Bonser

For those of you who are science fiction fans, I picked up a book Through Alien Eyes by Amy Thomson copyright1999. The story mentions poly marriages (not with the name poly). The structure seems similar to the line marriage system in Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

The story line involves courtship of a women by a family and includes a joining ceremony. The words of the ceremony were "Welcome, friends and family, to this celebration of joining." The vows were "Do you join yourself to this family to give aid and comfort in times of trouble, to share your joys, and to strive for peace and harmony within your family and in the world at large."

The story was interesting and well written and it was a pleasant surprise to find a poly family structure as an integral part of the setting.

I would be interested in any book recommendations others would make regarding poly friendly stories.

Julie Bonser julbon@aol.com

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000