Leatherfolk | Radical sex, people, politics, and practice
edited by Mark Thompson
non-fiction S/M book, third edition published in 2004 by Daedalus Publishing, Los Angeles
ISBN: 1-881943-20-8, 360 pages
Certainly, there is no group more cloaked within the mystery and wonder of gay life than leatherfolk, an odd tribe within a tribe that arouses feelings both hostile and seductive. This book is a collection of essays by men and women, which address the complex and sometimes unspeakable topic of sadomasochistic sexuality and the subculture that has formed around it. Thompson gives us the varied voices of those who use extreme sex as an integral part of their lives – those who have undertaken the hero’s journey into a forbidden world and have been transformed. The style of writing covers a spectrum as well: historical memoir, social commentary, and personal testimony. As a result, “Leatherfolk” is a milestone for insiders, newbies and for those who are “just curious”.
This first co-gender, nonfiction anthology presents male and female authors who share little in common other than the desire to explore taboo realms and intense erotic experience. Because the sea of possibilities of sexual fantasies is far greater than most people know, and it is only out of fear that many of us break, turn or reject opportunities that could have made dreams come true. Although the first publishing of this book dates to 1991, it has become a classic, must-read among the most useful books of its kind. Its topicality in 2020 is beyond question. The honest and authentic chapters don’t shy away from taboos. Chapters such as “The Hanged Man”, “Swastika Toys”, “The View from a Sling” or “Sacred Passages and Radical Sex Magic” reflect the wide range of contents of the publication.
My conclusion: For more than 15 years, “Leatherfolk” has been a loyal companion on my journey in the leather and S/M scene. My favorite chapter is “A Dream is a Wish your Heart makes: Notes on the Materialization of Sexual Fantasy” by Michael Bronski. The sexual fantasy is flexible and ecstatic; it can absorb anything that stimulates it, and often we have little power over what slips into it. This book is recommended to everyone who deals with the depths of the leather scene and doesn’t shy critical discussions.