Posted by Philip Bell on January 12, 1999 at 11:04:47:
In Reply to: Re: Shocking language in Ports of Call! posted by Rich Thomas on January 05, 1999 at 08:43:34:
:Thus, three examples to counterbalance the argument that Vance :doesn't do bedroom scenes.
I never said he didn't do bedroom scenes, I merely said he didn't venture into the bedroom with them - what happens is left to your imagination (should you get excited by that!). There is a lot of sexual activity between his characters, normally after after a courtship "dance" (his main female characters are nearly always coy), you just don't get to see the end result.
I'm just re-reading Araminta Station at the moment, and that has what maybe his most explicit sex scene, when Arles attempts to rape Wayness. (This book also contains another "arse"!)
I just raised the swearing(or vulgar language if you prefer) aspect of Vance's books, simply because it is refreshing to read an author who makes good use of the English language at at the time I read Ports of Call, it did stand out a bit. Obviously I had just not taken notice of the other references. The sex bit I just added as an afterthought, because unless it is a children's book, I do think it has become increasingly unusual to not have at least one explicit sex scene in a book these days (Don't think Pratchett has done one yet come to think of it).
Philip