The solar system is a different place in the future. Machines do the lion’s share of the work. Unemployment is rampant. Society has its rich and its poor. Hmmm. Maybe the solar system isn’t so very different.

Zee, a black girl recently out of school, travels to Theseus, located on the outer edge of the solar system. There she visits Anastasia, an old flame from college. Out on the distant edges of colonisation, Zee is unusual not only for her skin colour, but for her dress and her more conservative sexual upbringing. You see, Zee isn’t used to open orgies, incest and totally casual sexual experience despite her college escapades with Anastasia. But she can get used to the idea.  But when Zee discovers Themira, Anastasia’s sex slave, the sexual “liberation” begins to seem excessive and Zee has second thoughts.

I found this story a little heavy. All right, I’ll be honest. I found this story exceptionally heavy. The “caution” code is certainly appropriate here. Bradley touches on a huge number of social and sexual issues in this tale.

There is certainly sexual content here. I have to admit to being uncomfortable with some of the genres that aren’t really mentioned in the story codes, including incest, anal, MM, toilet sports, heavy BDSM and sexual slavery. The sex isn’t really the focus of the story, but for some readers the sexual content might be a wee bit extreme if unwarned. Then again, some will really like the multitudes of experiences portrayed. Too much for me, but I’m a relatively conservative Dragon.

I’m also unsure if I liked the ending. I know what Bradley was trying to show, but I found it oddly unsatisfying, if also scarily realistic. I think that’s what Bradley was going for, and so, I believe he’s succeeded in his endeavour. It did make me think.

As with all Bradley Stoke stories, this is certainly worth reading -- just be prepared for a heavy tale.

Rating: [10,10,10,10]