Bestiality: CAUTION - Adult themes and language

[Thekherham]

How taboo is bestiality in a novel? Well, if it is bestiality, that is.

You see, I'm working on a novel in which the main character is part human, part horse. (No, not a centaur, that would be too cliche). He is a typical male human except for three equine-like features- hooves, a tail, and genitals (no, Not that big). So in other words, sexually he is a horse... I guess by now you've figured out that this is a fantasy. Anyway, since he is not interested in girls, but in fillies and mares, would it be bestiality if he does it with a filly or a mare?

In my novel I have the preacher of the church the MC and his family attend say that it is wrong. He even quotes Leviticus.

So... is it, or isn't it?

 

[scarletpeaches]

Nope, I ain't touching this with a ten foot pole.

 

[alleycat]

Only by his genitals is he "sexually a horse". If he's also a typical human (in other words, he thinks like a human being) except for the things you mentioned, why does he want to do it with a mare? Just having a horse's, uh, thing, wouldn't automatic make someone want to hump a filly.

He'd make one hell of a porn star, by the way. ;-)

 

[NeuroFizz]

He'd also need a step-stool and a mare who is a really good sport.

 

[MidnightMuse]

 

[alleycat]

I guess this would give a whole new meaning to "bareback ride".

 

[Cath]

Uh, what's your target audience? Because you'll need to tailor the story to their limitations.

And is this absolutely essential to the story you're telling?

 

[JBI]

You are one deranged person...

 

[swvaughn]

I gotta say, Thek -- I have never come across anything like this. You get points for extreme originality!

Is this a niche novel? I would assume it has to be. Written for furries, maybe? If it's for a more mainstream novel, I think you're going to run into problems... I'd say the question here isn't whether this is taboo, but whether readers are going to be able to sympathize with your MC.

I'm aware there are some who might be able to sympathize, but that is a small market...

So, if you have a specific niche in mind, go with their conventions. And if not, you may want to consider switching things up a bit. Good luck!

 

[Bravo]

funniest. thread. ever.

i needed that.

thank you.

 

[veinglory]

Yes, it would definitely be bestiality unless you are in a world where horses have human intelligence. Even then I dare say you would be severely limiting your audience even within the anthro/furry demographic.

 

[swvaughn]

Now, Bravo. We're trying to be serious, here.

 

[maestrowork]

Well, we have had centaurs and fauns making love to humans in classic fantasies and myths. Are they bestiality? I don't know. But certainly it's fantasy and it's not like you're writing about a realistic depiction of human-animal sex.

 

[aruna]

PICTURES! PICTURES!

 

[Jack Nog]

When I saw the title, I was repulsed...yet strangely intrigued...


I guess my question would be the target audience. Who are they exactly?

 

[davids]

We have heard that there is an agent in Tiajuana accepting queerys

 

[Gillhoughly]

You might want to consider doing your story for fun then put it in a trunk until the world is ready.

Speaking as an editor I'd send it back so fast there would be scorch marks on the envelope--but that's just me, the person who recommends books to the check-writing Suits. Perhaps your book barely mentions the sex life of your hero, but hey--the readers are all gonna be thinking about it.

THIS is what you can expect from readers:

http://www.journalfen.net/community/otf_wank/519621.html

Apparently the guy who started it all, "darkhorseman" had to take his LJ down because of the flames. His postings about his intimate relationship with--well, you figure it out, this is a family forum--caused rather too much of an uproar in what might be considered extremely liberated, non-judgmental circles.

There's a book from Roc out that includes bestiality involving underaged females. Not a lot of people care for it. Just google "venom c**k" and have a read.

 

[veinglory]

There is an equine-sex specific target audience (don't ask, we aren't in the erotica forum--google is your friend) but it is not a terribly large one and it is divided across a large number of very specific niches re: who does what to whom. If you do that research you will find your configuration of body parts is in fact one of the main types.

 

[Thekherham]

Whoa! I didn't know I would be getting so many replies in such a short time.

Yes, I know it is a sensitive subject, but I thought I would try something different than the usual run-of-the-mill novel.
Yes, it is a fantasy. If fantasy can have impossible creatures (dragons, elves, centaurs, satyrs, etc.) then I can write about my MC.
I wish people wouldn't get so technical. I'm not writing a treatise on human-horse relationships, I'm writing a fantasy novel.
I know that no conventional publisher would touch this with a ten-foot blue pencil, so I'm going to have it printed out by lulu.com (O.k., don't bother telling me how bad POD is)
I have a few friends and family members who said they would like to read this.
The actual bestiality happens long before the novel opens, and 'bestiality' is only a minor part of the novel, a very minor part. As a matter of fact, I have something happening between the MC and a mare near the last portion of the book.
My MC can communicate telepathically with horses. (Yeah, I know, that's impossible, but like I said, it's fantasy). Mr. Ed talked with Wilbur Post, didn't he?
I'm not going to let negative comments discourage me. If somebody doesn't want to read something like this, then they don't have to.

 

[Bravo]

I'm not going to let negative comments discourage me. If somebody doesn't want to read something like this, then they don't have to.

then why did you ask:

How taboo is bestiality in a novel? Well, if it is bestiality, that is.

?

looks like you already have your mind set.

good luck with that.

 

[Toothpaste]

I think this is one of those instances where you have to decide if being 'original' outweighs any other consequence of your novel. Do you really want a small detail like, um, who this character copulates with to overshadow the plot of your novel (unless of course that is the plot). Do you really want to risk losing a heck of a lot of readers, because you came up with something "cool" and "different"? Sometimes we have good ideas, or ideas that just seem so out there we want to shock the world with them. And then we sit back and go, but will this help my story. I think unless your story is about this man and his relationship with horses, you may want to reconsider, because it will distract greatly from anything else you write in your book.

ETA: we were posting at the same time. And now I am convinced you want to 'be different', and if you want to self publish, then man do whatever you want.

 

[scarletpeaches]

There was a man in Scotland a while back who was jailed for having sex with a goat. He was caught as he made sweet love to his beau near a railway line. Train pulls up, lots of people see him. Caught with his trousers down.

His defence? "I'm HIV positive and no human would have me."

Riiiiight. Gotta love those Scottish loons.

 

[Thekherham]

Speaking as an editor I'd send it back so fast there would be scorch marks on the envelope--but that's just me, the person who recommends books to the check-writing Suits. Perhaps your book barely mentions the sex life of your hero, but hey--the readers are all gonna be thinking about it.

I know that you would reject this novel, no matter how good it is overall. (I'm not saying it would be a great novel, but I guess that one element makes it a no-no)

Oh, well, maybe I should just forget about it, and just write Stephen King-like novels or Robert Ludlum-type novels or name-your-author-type novels.

Keep it nice and safe, I guess.

 

[engmajor2005]

Whoa! I didn't know I would be getting so many replies in such a short time.

Yes, I know it is a sensitive subject, but I thought I would try something different than the usual run-of-the-mill novel.
Yes, it is a fantasy. If fantasy can have impossible creatures (dragons, elves, centaurs, satyrs, etc.) then I can write about my MC.
I wish people wouldn't get so technical. I'm not writing a treatise on human-horse relationships, I'm writing a fantasy novel.
I know that no conventional publisher would touch this with a ten-foot blue pencil, so I'm going to have it printed out by lulu.com (O.k., don't bother telling me how bad POD is)
I have a few friends and family members who said they would like to read this.
The actual bestiality happens long before the novel opens, and 'bestiality' is only a minor part of the novel, a very minor part. As a matter of fact, I have something happening between the MC and a mare near the last portion of the book.
My MC can communicate telepathically with horses. (Yeah, I know, that's impossible, but like I said, it's fantasy). Mr. Ed talked with Wilbur Post, didn't he?
I'm not going to let negative comments discourage me. If somebody doesn't want to read something like this, then they don't have to.

With all due respect, I'm doubting why you would ask for advice as to how appropriate your content is if you're going to say "Don't like, don't read it!" and then blow everybody a raspberry.

With that being said, I see your MC being a source of some great internal conflict. The fact that he has half of a horse's body aside, there's the whole animal attraction thing. I see this as an interesting set-up for some kind of strained love story.

As with all things, if done in good taste and not done just to say "Hey! Look at this everybody!" and it has some artistic merit, I have no problem with beastiality in fiction.

 

[scarletpeaches]

Seems like you've already made up your mind. So why ask our opinion?

Trouble is, the opinions of the general public are also the opinions of those who might be your readers, and if potential readers find the subject matter distasteful, well...you have a problem.

We can always find another book to read.