Sexual Universe

Sexual Universe
Michael Stone
Lulu Press
Fiction, Erotic Science Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewed by Jean Roberta

The appeal of a well-conceived sci-fi or fantasy novel (or a series) is the pleasure of living temporarily in an alternative world with its own laws and cultures. Michael Stone's imaginary universe is not exactly that of Star Wars (which seems like its closest equivalent), but it is worth the effort of reading a first volume of almost 300 pages. (There are also two sequels.)
Book One begins with "History of the Sexual Universe," a summary of over 1000 years which serves as an introduction to the main story, that of a quasi-military organization, CUM (the Coalition of Upright Moralists) which was formed to defeat an ancient black market empire run by a hereditary ruler variously known as Maiden Japan, the Empress and the Lady.
According to the historical backstory, discovery of a process named "fasion" (different from fission and fusion) has enabled earthlings to discover numerous other planets capable of supporting human life but with no humanoid local inhabitants. This gave rise to an unprecedented era of space colonization and government incentives for increasing the population. During the "Age of Breeding," the new pioneers accepted tax breaks and start-up grants to produce at least twelve children per family and to submit to genetic tinkering to increase their libidos. Eventually, volunteers mated with non-volunteers, and over a period of 700 years, the whole human race has become hard-wired to be incurably horny. Scientific discovery and invention slows down as all the resources of numerous planets must be used for survival needs.
After many years, a critical mass of brave souls learn to control their appetites enough to direct their efforts toward improving the general quality of life. Although more-or-less-constant lust is part of the general human condition, a conflict develops between those who also desire the greatest good for the greatest number and those who work for the Evil Empire, which exploits the general addiction to sex to make a profit.
In the first few chapters, the reader is introduced to the agents of CUM, whose mission (Operation Blow Job) is to discredit and ultimately destroy the Empire. In this phase of the plot, the actions and the characters seem cartoonish, funny and imaginative. Agent Dawn Shaft has been captured by agents of the Lady, who find the secret microchip she carries in (ahem) a secret place. Back at CUM headquarters, Major Enos is dismayed that Dawn, his best agent and favorite playmate, is in danger along with her mission.
The action is fast-paced and imaginative as the Squad repeatedly escapes from almost certain death or conversion, and more obstacles appear in their path. To add spice to the game, Undercover Angel is CUM's agent in the Lady's headquarters, while someone (who?) is an undercover agent for the Lady at CUM headquarters.

Major Enos is told that Agent Shaft and the Sex Squad have all been killed. In despair, he steals a starship and goes AWOL. Eventually, of course, the Major meets up with Agent Shaft (whom he missed more than he wanted to admit) and the four superheroes. Together, they decide to abort Operation Blow Job because the beans have been spilled. And they know they will have to sniff out and deal with the enemy agent at CUM headquarters. By this time, however, the Squad has a hostage or recruit.
The plot continues to thicken through 27 chapters, and the Squad not only survives but comes to seem surprisingly three-dimensional. The reader is told the histories of each of the four characters which led them to volunteer for dangerous work as well as freakish abilities which would forever separate them from (relatively) normal people. We learn that Orgasma (Victoria) was originally a nurse with a desire to heal the sick, while Captain Testosterone (Sydney), that manliest of men, has self-doubt.
Volume One ends on this heartening note, but not all the loose ends have been tied up. The next Empress is already born, and the Squad has a motive to find her and rescue her from her destiny.
Unfortunately, the endless plot twists and sheer physical exuberance cannot disguise an essentially conservative, exclusively heterosexual model of human love. The Empress as a wily but ultimately tragic victim of the heartless culture in which she was raised can be seen as a sexist and racist stereotype, presented with no noticeable irony. The narrative style is sprinkled with tense shifts and other grammatical glitches which make a complicated story harder to follow than it needs to be. This novel is likely to appeal hugely to teenage boys. While this is not a bad thing, the rest of us would like a little more depth in a story of this length. It is an entertaining X-rated space opera, and it only disappoints the reader when it fails to develop into what it could have been.