Storycodes: FM/f; bond; kidnap; trunk; transport; toys; nc; X
This afternoon I had the opportunity to read TS Fesseln's "A Great Volume of Trouble". I can't even begin to tell you how pleased I was with the tale. There is a craft to short story telling and it involves much more than merely putting words on a page. You must create characters, tension, and plot. You must craft scenes and reach a climax, as well as a resolution. TS Fesseln does all of this is in "A Great Volume of Trouble" and it is a rare thing for me to see such elegance in simplicity.
Erika Adams is a bookseller who has recently acquired the collection of a deceased collector. Svelte, elegant, and beautiful, she sets aside a certain volume that sparks her interest on title alone. Unfortunately, she doesn't have time to read the intriguing book, instead leaving it on her bedside nightstand. She never gets the chance to delve into its secrets however, since that afternoon a couple come to the store, looking for that particular book. They tie her up and demand the volume when it appears she isn't cooperative.
First of all, the sexual tension of this story is particularly well done. From Erika's initial bondage scene to the finale, everything is not only tasteful, but accordingly placed so that the reader is pulled gently up the slope toward the climax. Tension building is everything in a short story and clearly the author understands that flooring the accelerator right from the starting line is not always the right thing to do.
The story has three main characters, all of which are well defined. While the initial introduction into Erika Adams, particularly her description, was rather formulaic and felt more as if I were reading a biography of a model, the story quickly moves into a more personal frame, leaving the reader with vivid images and well formed parameters for Ms. Adams. The two nefarious villains of the piece; the bald headed Marx and his obviously aliased accomplice Ms. Roberts, are less defined, but still dominating. Marx is described as a large man, bald, and strong. Ms. Roberts changes appearance half way through the story, adopting or discarding a disguise. Regardless, it is easy to envision both antagonists with clarity based upon their actions.
While near to perfect, there were a few instances where I felt there could be some improvement. There were two distinct tense issues that I felt needed to be corrected and nearing the climax, there were a few sentences that I felt were awkward. The description of Erika Adams was related, rather than the told or shown. However, in the grand scheme of things, this story more than earned high marks.
In summary, this beautiful little tale is exactly the kind of story that I like to enjoy. It is quick, detailed, crammed with sensory input, and well balanced with description, action, and dialog. The sexual tension shines through and lends itself to making a great story into something that is beautiful and elegant in it's own right. For me, ten out of ten stars is how I rate "A Great Volume of Trouble, by TS Fesseln.
Read "A Great Volume of Trouble" here, and don't forget to visit the author's blog to see more of what TS Fesseln is up to.
