$13.95
ISBN 1890159468
available through
Amazon
Reviewed by Jean Roberta
(02/11/04)
The author of this user-friendly little guidebook defines erotic tickling as "the feather-light, insistent stroking, teasing, or caressing of sensitive body parts to create sexual excitement and gratification, often used during a bondage session." He describes ET, as he calls it, as "a kink for the new millennium." He explains: "It is gentle and playful, suggestive of innocence and the frolics of children, yet capable of inducing powerful orgasms."
Not everyone is attracted to the idea of tickling or being tickled, of course, as Moran acknowledges. He identifies three types of readers: those who are averse to ET, those who are somewhat interested, and those who love ET so much that it is a staple of their sex lives. He dedicates the book to those fans, and explains that any adult can practice ET on the consenting adult of his/her choice. Despite the standard disclaimer that this book is not intended to express gender or sexual-orientation bias, the author's heterosexual approach is clear throughout.
On this note, the author's revelation that the "Michael" described at length in "Case Histories" is really himself seems unnecessary. His real identity remains hidden under the pen name "Michael Moran," which is defined as "the pseudonym of a well-known author of articles and nonfiction." However, his account of his relationship with his late wife, a wonderfully compatible tickle-partner, seems heartbreakingly authentic. As the author reminds the reader, the meshing of sexual tastes (and the length of a human life) can never be taken for granted.
In "Accessories," the reader is encouraged to try using various objects beyond fingers: feathers, brushes, bracelets and other jewelry, mirrors, fabric, furs, home-made "ticklers," and bondage equipment. The significance of bondage to enforce the helplessness of the tickle-victim (even if this is only imaginary) is explained further in its own chapter.
In the chapter on bondage and throughout the book, the author tries to occupy a middle ground between the world-view of conservative married couples and that of the experienced leather community. He claims:
The idea of tying up your lover and giving him -- and yourself -- a good time has become almost commonplace among the sexually sophisticated, and even less adventurous couples can be seen at novelty shops giggling over the 'bondage kits' that contain cheap plastic handcuffs and fluffy red feathers.... Still, it is wise to keep in mind that bondage can be heavily freighted with negativity; it is, after all, a standard practice of the torturer, the rapist, the serial killer...one must be cautious, as bondage can be frightening or disagreeable for some people.
The author advises the tickler to be especially cautious the first time, and to incorporate more explicitly sexual forms of stimulation into the tickling, or vice versa.
There is a chapter on problems and solutions and another one on scenarios, or standard tickling fantasies: the Gestapo (or "secret police") officer and the beautiful spy, the eco-terrorist and the CEO of an oil company, the businesswoman and the UPS man who arrived late with an important delivery, the gruff cowboy who has kidnapped the uppity schoolmarm, the therapist and the patient who needs to shed her sexual inhibitions. The author claims that the "therapy" fantasy is milder than those that are more clearly associated with BDSM, and would be suitable for tickle-victims who are unwilling to be "abused," even in play.
In "Extreme Tickling," the author points out: "in tickling the line between ecstasy and violent discomfort can sometimes blur." He describes his own preference: "I am a person who has no desire whatsoever to experience any kind of discomfort," but in an "each to his/her own" passage, he quotes Jay Wiseman (in SM 101) on masochism:
They [masochists] sometimes enter a mental state where the blows no longer feel unpleasant.... Masochists seem to have states of consciousness in common with yogis, fakirs, and other people who follow altered-consciousness pathways."
The author admits that tickling, in itself, does not qualify as a black-hanky SM activity, but he suggests ways in which ET can be combined with more intense stimulation, as required.
ET is also discussed in a context of fetishism. The sole of the foot is described as one of the most ticklish places on a human body (although not to the exclusion of other sensitive areas, as the author points out) and therefore ET can be combined with other forms of foot-worship or foot-torture. On a historical note, "Moran" explains: "foot fetishism is a relatively recent phenomenon, since throughout human history feet were unhygienic and grossly calloused, and consequently lacked erotic appeal.... Foot-fetishism, and by extension tickle-fetishism, are refinements of high civilization."
This description sums up the tone of this book, which seems intended for the relatively privileged reader (or couple) who wants to dip one toe, as it were, safely into the pool of kink. This book definitely fills a niche, but the author need not have approached every sub-topic with a feather-duster.
