Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 00:24:48 +1300 From: Arthur Subject: left of center epilogue LEFT OF CENTER EPILOGUE By Arthur To write an epilogue for one of my stories is not the norm for me but, due to the furore and controversy that this story has raised, I feel it is only fair to all the readers to validate the dire ending of it. It is now two days since the last chapter was posted and in that time I have recieved in excess of 60 emails about the ending. They are split almost evenly between good and not so good, but none were out and out flames of vindictive in their nature. Because of the intelligent and forthright reasons given I felt it a duty to write this epilogue in the hope that those who were opposed, even slightly, to this ending will understand why the story dictated it. Firstly, I have reread the story a number of times to see why it turned out as it did and I have concluded that it does belong in the eroctic archives for the following reasons. The term "Erotic" in its true form is a story or art form that plays on emotions without actually reverting to physical facts, eg: "I sank my 10" fat cock into the boys virgin ass hole and fucked him wildly for an hour". firstly, this is not erotica, it is in fact Pornography that borders on abuse. To explain the reasoning behind this I will set out below the partial quote of Dr, S.L. Bradshaw, Professor of English Litrature at an English University in 1935 when he was accused and charged for the possession of indecent and pornographic litrature. When asked to give evidence in his defense he stated the following reasons for possessing and reading erotic litrature. Quote; Milord, as a Professor of English Litrature, I have never read nor possessed anything of a pornographic nature and I would be the first achademic to condemn any man who did so. However I do read and possess litrature of an erotic nature and will continue to do so in the endevour to find not a WRITER of erotica but an AUTHOR of erotica. To clarify, for those present, the obvious differences between the crass, lewd and animalistic nature of pornography and the emotional highs and lows of erotica is to liken one to a loud brash dance hall band and the other to a symphony by Bach. Pornography is that presented by a writer with no more talent than being able to place more than three words on a page, none of which could be used in polite company. It is usually full of the baser actions of man and does little to titlate the senses and allow the reader to form in his or her mind a true and possitive picture of the act of love. Erotica however, plays on the emotions and feelings without resorting to the crassness of blow by blow sordid details. True and wholesome erotica takes the reader on an emotional ride through the mountains and valleys of both the highs and lows of the readers emotional plane. I have, in all my readings, found many worthy writers of erotic litrature, they take the reader on a journey of the best of mans emotions, for example, love, tenderness, devotion,longing, desire,and an overall feeling of protectiveness for the characters. A person who can instil most of these feelings and emotions in the reader is truly a fine WRITER, however a truly fine AUTHOR, is one who can not only give the reader those emotions but in the same story can take you to the depths of despair, horror, shame,and yes even hate. When I can find a person who can take me on that journey and he is able to open up my full gammut of good and bad emotions, then, and only then, will I aclaim him as an AUTHOR. Any story can be written by a writer, but only the greatest of litrature is written by Authors, so Milord and gentlemen of the jury, I state again that I follow only the natural order of my profession in that I seek the great works of Authors and not that of crass writers as in the case of Pornography. END QUOTE: While Dr. Bradshaw was still convicted of the charges, his sentence was reduced to such an extent that instead of serving five years in jail he was given a suspended sentence and allowed to go free. His words of defence were used in many literature circles to explain the differences between Pornography and Erotica. How does this concern the ending of my latest story, easily, those who write a slash style of storie are welcome to their style and are enjoyed by many readers, however I personally prefer to read something that is of a nature that will make me think and dream rather than something that is laid out in bare facts and that is what this story is about. To clarify further: One email mentioned that there was no sex in the story, therefore it was not erotica as the archives define it.to this end I ask you this, is masturbation a sexual act? see paragraph 16/17 in part one. While it does not detail the act there is an overiding EMOTIONAL SUGGESTION that it is taking place. Does the desire to partake of sex with a boy by admiring his body or genetalia, a sexual act? see paragraph 20/21 part one. These are only two of the paragraphs that SUGGEST to the reader that there is a sexual content, this is erotica not pornography, the object of any story is to make your emotions take over and for the reader to be a part of the story, to this end the story succeeded as every email has mentioned that they waited for the next chapter to appear with anticipation. Under the guide lines of Dr. Bradshaw does this not fit erotica? For those readers that say they had no emotional contact with the characters I ask you this, how many of you wanted to be the man lying on top of that ridge watching the boy in the valley below? When Manuel was wounded, how many of you wanted to be the one that was running down the hill to help him? When Jay was carrying Manuel to safety, how many of you wanted to be the one holding him to your chest or looking down over his naked torso? When both were under attack from the enemy chopper, how many of you hoped that nothing would happen to them or were afraid that something WOULD happen to them? When Jay was totally exhausted in the chopper on the way to safety, how many of you were thankful he had put himself at risk to save Manuel? When they finally reached safety and the protection of the hospital, how many of you were ready to give thanks for their possible love to blossom? Why was Taylor described as such an ugly little man, how many of you disliked him instantly? When the last act of betrayal was told to Jay, how many of you felt disgust, loathing, horror, even hate for the little piggy man? When Jay took final revenge for Manuel, who among you felt it was justly deserved and a feeling of justifiable satisfaction at Taylors ending. Finally there is the act of love to discover and the last paragrapgh shows you that Jay, the cold hard bitten killer found he had inside himself a softness and love for a boy that he would have only used for his own enjoyment in earlier years and the realisation of his age made him understand what it was to have those feelings. See final Paragraph of part three. The deepest love of all is that of unrequited love, it fills the heart but is never consumated. If you feel that none of these emotions or feelings were felt by you during this story then I bow to your greater knowledge and will allow you to convince me that it is not a story of erotica, however if all or most of those emotions were felt by you then in the words of Dr. Bradshaw it was an erotic story and is rightfully placed in the archives. If there is still doubt in your mind I would then ask you to reread the story and reassess your emotions during the reading of each moment of danger or tenderness between both characters. Thank you Arthur.