I had the audacity to post a story several months ago concerning the final fate of O. I was chastised a bit for my crudeness and cruelty and it was patiently explained to me that I just didn't understand the story. This lead to some interesting conversations with my part time proof reader and editor as to both the legality of appropriating fictional characters, and more interestingly Why "The Story of O" is such a literary icon to the BDSM community. I mean Rice's Sleeping Beauty is all right and Hamilton writes an amusing yarn but nothing really comes close to "The Story of O". Part of it's allure is it's one of the first to be widely published, part is the language and sensitivity,. Some would say it's because a woman wrote it I think a good part of it is the way the eroticism is so laconic. Much is said with so few words and the reader is made to imagine the details. I would be interested in other's thoughts on the matter. Mad Lews