The Demi-Wang

Humor is rare in erotic books, for our CULTURE seems to find it infinitely difficult to see that there can, indeed, be humor in matters sexual without descending to the level of the “dirty” joke. The Demi-Wang is an exception, and it is apparently the work of a highly-skilled author, whose sense of the ridiculous he put admirably to work here. Egbert is a rare character, one to be admired, perhaps pitied, never envied but always revered. The poor chap never had a chance at a normal life after his nurse took the bite that ruined his future — and his sex life.

The pathos inherent in his search for normalcy in his relations with women is never more apparent that when he is reduced to loving a dog in preference to a woman. It is the closest poor Egbert can come to a real love affair, and he is as heartbroken when they are forcibly separated as he would be had his paramour been a woman. Somehow the stern, forbidding father failed completely to understand poor Egbert's plight, even though he did agree to pay for the operation that would restore Egbert's confidence... as well as his ability to perform adequately in bed. The drunken doctor, whose warped sense of humor made Egbert a sexual giant and sealed his doom, must be held responsible for the outcome of Egbert's brief but tragic life. Although there is comedy inherent in Egbert's search for love and affection, there is tragedy in the end — the kind of tragedy only a true epic hero could experience. For once having screwed a lion to death, there was but one fate for him — and with the stoicism of a classical Greek, he accepted it willingly.