The Seduction of Susie, novel

Introduction

The novel tells the story of Lady Susie’s initiation into lesbian relations by her schoolfriend and confidante Darby St Claire, between in November 1994 until February 1995. 

Plot

Visiting a few days after Lady Susie’s 15^th birthday, Darby presents her with a gift of revealing lingerie knickers, encouraging her to experiment with them.  A few weeks later, Lady Susie hosts Darby at Camelot castle and, whilst the two are basking under the indoor sunlamps, Darby becomes aroused and masturbates silently, admitting it to Lady Susie as they share a shower afterwards.  After the New Year, Darby continues to encourage Lady Susie to become intimately involved; but Lady Susie repeatedly rebuffs her attempts to take control of the relationship.

Determined to discover just what Lady Susie can do, Darby tries a new tack and introduces her first to Nicole Bonelle and then to Terri Peale, both of whom are experienced lesbians and who are successful at enticing Lady Susie into sexual intimacy.  Convinced by Terri that Darby truly does care for her, Lady Susie finally yields herself to her admiring friend after a sleepover party at Bonnie Watson’s house. The two consummate a new phase of their friendship with a romantic night at the Knight’s Head Inn apartment; and Darby confesses she had never imagined a relationship with the formerly-reluctant Lady Susie could seem so uninhibited and so pleasant.

Characterisation

The Seduction of Susie establishes the character of Darby St Claire as being cowardly yet conniving, one to use others’ efforts to her own advantage and to allow others to risk their reputations before she ventures forth on her own.

The story is interesting for characterising Lady Susie as inexperienced, somewhat shy and even prudish, an early view of one who later goes on to become one of the most outspoken and audaciously-free-spirited characters in the whole fiction/fantasy realm.

Other characters appearing in the novel include Bonnie Watson, Sherry Moss, Laura Ivey, Jenny Talbot, Alex Whittaker, and Mrs St Claire.

Features

The novel contains numerous examples of fan service, especially in frequent mentions of Lady Susie's nudity. Detailed accounts of sexual activity, particularly masturbation and various forms of lesbian sex, represent mature themes not for younger readers. In general such elements are treated with polite respect, the narration being largely constrained to characters' perceptions rather than explicit descriptions.

The interrelated associations amongst Lady Susie, Darby, Nicole and Terri are represented with restraint; it is clear, though not explicit in the text, that Darby has had numerous encounters with both girls before.

The Seduction of Susie is the first-completed instalment in the Paradise Two arc, having reached a published draft in mid-1993. As of August 2015 it is to be released as a commercially-available e-text, with paperback edition to follow.

Sequence

The story’s events are preceded by those of the compilation Twilight Comes Soon and followed by those of the novella A Night On The Town.