Telepaths Don't Need Safewords

by Cecilia Tan

Cecilia Tan's first book, a compliation of three stories. The classic, groundbreaking chapbook of BDSM science fiction by Cecilia Tan, originally published in 1992.

Kinky, intense erotic love stories mixing bondage & domination with sci-fi/fantasy.

All three stories from the original collection are included: Telepaths Don't Need Safewords, Cat Scratch Fever, and Heart's Desire.


Telepaths Don’t Need Safewords
A tale of Arshan and Mriah, an established couple attending a glitzy, decadent BDSM costume party, and the adventures and trouble they run into there. What no one there knows is that they have a secret, a telepathic bond that allows them to read each other’s thoughts and share feelings.

Cat Scratch Fever
As humans attempt to gain a foothold on an exotic and alien planet, their leader finds taming a cat-like female alien the key to establishing peace.

Heart’s Desire
A lonely domme hosts a play party, where everyone takes on a fantasy role. But reality can be so much more painful, and so much sweeter.

Genres: Erotica, BDSM, Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Sexuality

100 pages, chapbook

First published March 1, 1992

About the author

Susie Bright says, "Cecilia Tan is simply one of the most important writers, editors, and innovators in contemporary American erotic literature." Since the publication of Telepaths Don't Need Safewords in 1992, she has been on the cutting edge of the erotic form, often combining elements of fantasy and science fiction in her work. She is also founder and editor of Circlet Press.

RT Book Reviews awarded her Career Achievement in Erotic Romance in 2015 and her novel Slow Surrender (Hachette/Forever, 2013) won the RT Reviewers Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence from GRW in 2013. She has been publishing Daron's Guitar Chronicles as a web serial since 2009 and her Secrets of a Rock Star series (Taking the Lead, Wild Licks, Hard Rhythm) is published by Hachette/Forever. In 2018 Tor Books will launch her urban fantasy/paranormal series, The Vanished Chronicles. In her other life, Cecilia is also the editor of the Baseball Research Journal and publications director for SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly worse than buying a book for its cover, my interest in this was first based solely on the title, maybe the best title of any erotic bdsm story yet.

The book is just 3 short stories. I wish more had been included. The title story was my favorite. It was very bad, in that good way. I was surprised by the turn of direction in the story near the end. For a story of such short length, Tan did an excellent job of giving the characters some depth and an obvious affection for eachother.

Cat Scratch Fever did not interest me. Rather, it threw me off as I did not like the descriptions, which brought beastiality to mind, and that is a guaranteed interest killer on my part. But the story was well written and interesting at the conclusion, with a near brilliant end that I loved. The third story, Heart's Desire, was sweet and touching.

I'm very impressed with Tan's writing. This was some of her earlier work so considering that, I am looking forward to seeing what she has published in the years since.

[Hot Mess Sommelière ~ Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories that I enjoyed. First one was about telepaths in a BDSM club!

[Annabeth Leong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very cool to read this early take on BDSM erotica/specfic erotica. I feel like each of the stories gets at something at the heart of how BDSM can feel. In Telepaths, there's a powerful contrast drawn between the surface act of cruelty and strife and the inner (telepathic) dialogue of trust and love. In Cat Scratch Fever, questions are raised about who "owns" who, and what it means to top or bottom. And Heart's Desire, my favorite of the three, gets into the issue of the motivations for giving pain (and powerfully portrays the motivation of giving pain out of love and appreciation, as a sort of tribute and recognition).

There are some rough edges, which I attribute to the work being early in the author's career and in the genre as a whole. The ending to Telepaths felt a little abrupt to me. Cat Scratch Fever left many of my questions about the world and the relationship between the characters unanswered.

That said, the writing was scorching hot, even to this jaded reader, and each story felt meaningful and character-driven.

(Disclaimer: I write and edit for Circlet Press, though I was not involved in creating or putting together this book. I read this as part of the Circlet Backlist Readalong.)

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is criminal that Cecilia Tan and Circlet Press have never received credit for basically creating the paranormal/BDSM/GBLTQ/sci-fi/fantasy genre. Back in the early 90's, there really wasn't much of a market, especially for books featuring BDSM and/or GLBTQ characters. Yes, there were publishers like Alyson and Naiad, but they were specialized markets for lesbian writers and readers. Tan opened the floodgates with her chapbook Telepaths Don't Need Safewords, pushing the envelope for erotic fantasy and sci-fi. This has always been one of my favorite little hot reads, and I've always wondered if she'll every revisit one of my all-time sexy M/M couples from the title story.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I've just discovered (and very much enjoyed) Daron's Guitar Chronicles I was prompted to reread Tan's classic erotica - and, no surprise here, I still love it.

And this is one of her best: georgously evocative, relationship-driven, creative, poignant, dirty.

[Ellen Bard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite like the Magic university series (which I loved!), this explores some interesting ideas.

[Lori Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites for Sf/Fantasy Erotica. Well worth reading all of Cecilia Tan's work - and I have a special fondness for this chapbook

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic, I'm told, a very early work of BDSM erotica.

I've always loved the first story, Telepaths Don't Need Safewords. The couple involved are in a long-term TPE and totally comfortable with it. I love confident, experienced subs. There's a party and some play, then an evil dom, a non-con scene, and a rescue. For me the story is more about the relatoinship than hot sex. Just reread it and liked it just as much.

Cat Scratch Fever is sort of bestiality, though the "beast" is an intelligent, alien female. It was interesting, with a strong unequal power dynamic, but did't do a lot for me. Not unpleasant just not hot for me.

Heart's Desire is sadomasochism taken to an extreme with no real regard for the sub (but a rescue in the end). It still manages to be sweet. Very quick. A whole lot of female Dommes and a male sub.

All three read sort of more like thoughts on the nature of D/s and BDSM than the hot fiction I'm used to in erotic shorts. I could see teaching these in a college sexuality course. Very well written. I've reread them twice.

[Megan Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like The Velderet, sadly -- but cute.

[Sandra]

$2.99 on Nook

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this after reading her odd, but fun, short story in the Summer Rain anthology (which is fantastic, AND proceeds go to RAINN, so go buy it!). Not bad, but not really grabbing me.

[Ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short read. The writing was good, but BDSM, it turns out, isn't really my thing.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three too short, slightly connected stories, really just enough to whet the appetite. This is the first I've read by Tan, despite her reputation, and I enjoyed her voice.