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Slavecraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude: Principles, Skills and Tools
The author of Ties That Bind joins forces with a grateful slave to produce this gripping and personal account on the subject of consensual slavery. Philosophical and intense, SlaveCraft dares to delve beneath the surface of D/s relationships and give us an intimate and revealing view from a rare perspective--that of a slave.
184 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 9, 2014
A very intense, introspective, and personally challenging book. I am still digesting it! But, I must admit that it is mandatory reading for both sexual Dominants and Submissives.
May 3, 2018
undoubtedly i take issue with the language of slavery being used here, although it’s not my place to judge erotic dynamics in hindsight. i kept this critical knowledge with me as i read this book and implore you to consider the racialized language used in conjunction with these dynamics.
that being said, this book was a spiritual experience and was welcomely abstract in a sense that it asked difficult questions on how these dynamics can form and how to nurture them. saw a lot of people in the comments criticize this lofty wording and i imagine it’s because they were looking for more “juicy” bits - go read erotica, then. there’s a plethora of that out there. however, i’ve never seen such introspection like i’ve seen here.
would not recommend to novices, but for anyone trying to expand their understanding and invested enough to criticize from their own perspective, this is a good book to do it.
that being said, this book was a spiritual experience and was welcomely abstract in a sense that it asked difficult questions on how these dynamics can form and how to nurture them. saw a lot of people in the comments criticize this lofty wording and i imagine it’s because they were looking for more “juicy” bits - go read erotica, then. there’s a plethora of that out there. however, i’ve never seen such introspection like i’ve seen here.
would not recommend to novices, but for anyone trying to expand their understanding and invested enough to criticize from their own perspective, this is a good book to do it.
November 1, 2021
I agree with the afterword that this book "takes the concept of and discussion about BDSM play to a whole new level." It's not about technical. It's about the relationship, what's going on between the two people, what's in your own head. The "explosion of sensation and emotion that results." I did not find this a quick, enjoyable read. However, it gave me a lot to think about and I'm glad I got a glimpse into this world.
December 30, 2020
Consensual erotic slavery is not a topic all might find interest in, and perhaps in today’s world the very term itself may prove problematic. However, should the idea of consensual erotic slavery appeal to you, or even merely intrigue you, I find it unlikely there’s a book more apt or important to read than this one.
SlaveCraft is first and foremost a collection of essays. It is not a narrative; it is not a manual. It will not guide you through discovering your inner slave or Master; it will not even tell you where to meet potential partners along this journey. Instead SlaveCraft will offer you a glimpse into the mind of a dedicate slave and a critical analysis of how the pursuit of consensual erotic slavery has impacted his life. Each essay simultaneously tells its own tale while building upon the foundations established in those that precede it; while some small passages provide opportunities for reader contemplation on the themes, most will likely need to forge their own self-inquiry using the author’s perspectives and experiences as guideposts rather than road maps.
I began reading this collection with the understanding that the extent of consensual slavery described by the author far exceeds the sort of power exchange I desire; however, despite the fact that this book did not convince me to pursue relations as extreme as those presented, there were ample opportunities for me to relate my interests and ways of thinking about the topic with what was written. It is, to craft a metaphor, the type of insight an amateur cook might glean from reading the autobiography of their most-admired chef—the profundity of experience shared by the chef may go beyond the cook’s aspirations, but rather than reminding the cook of his limitations, it instead opens his eyes to the brilliance of potential that can be discovered in the culinary world. It may not change his cooking practices, but it will certainly bring more intention and depth of meaning to his established manner of cooking. Likewise, while I might still never aspire to become anyone’s slave, consensual and erotic or not, the descriptions of unassailable surrender the author shares still spoke deeply to me in a spiritual sense. The same could be said of at least some part of every aspect of the book.
That last point warrants special attention: the author flawlessly establishes how a sexual practice may be elevated to the realm of the spiritual, and if for nothing else, that conjoining of the profane and sacred makes this book a worthwhile read.
And if you’re also interested in BDSM broadly or consensual erotic slavery in particular, that only makes this book all the more essential to read.
SlaveCraft is first and foremost a collection of essays. It is not a narrative; it is not a manual. It will not guide you through discovering your inner slave or Master; it will not even tell you where to meet potential partners along this journey. Instead SlaveCraft will offer you a glimpse into the mind of a dedicate slave and a critical analysis of how the pursuit of consensual erotic slavery has impacted his life. Each essay simultaneously tells its own tale while building upon the foundations established in those that precede it; while some small passages provide opportunities for reader contemplation on the themes, most will likely need to forge their own self-inquiry using the author’s perspectives and experiences as guideposts rather than road maps.
I began reading this collection with the understanding that the extent of consensual slavery described by the author far exceeds the sort of power exchange I desire; however, despite the fact that this book did not convince me to pursue relations as extreme as those presented, there were ample opportunities for me to relate my interests and ways of thinking about the topic with what was written. It is, to craft a metaphor, the type of insight an amateur cook might glean from reading the autobiography of their most-admired chef—the profundity of experience shared by the chef may go beyond the cook’s aspirations, but rather than reminding the cook of his limitations, it instead opens his eyes to the brilliance of potential that can be discovered in the culinary world. It may not change his cooking practices, but it will certainly bring more intention and depth of meaning to his established manner of cooking. Likewise, while I might still never aspire to become anyone’s slave, consensual and erotic or not, the descriptions of unassailable surrender the author shares still spoke deeply to me in a spiritual sense. The same could be said of at least some part of every aspect of the book.
That last point warrants special attention: the author flawlessly establishes how a sexual practice may be elevated to the realm of the spiritual, and if for nothing else, that conjoining of the profane and sacred makes this book a worthwhile read.
And if you’re also interested in BDSM broadly or consensual erotic slavery in particular, that only makes this book all the more essential to read.
May 30, 2019
A Must-Read for anyone considering the BDSM lifestyle or anyone curious as to the psychology at work in the M/S dynamic. Reading this with a journal nearby made a huge difference in my journey as a D-type. Not a replacement for a mentor but certainly worth the read.
December 4, 2021
The afterword was the highlight for me and the bit that offered new insights and a somewhat informative framework for my thinking
September 13, 2023
Great and important read. Very helpful and will likely reread for years to come.
December 30, 2024
Slavecraft is more, much more, than a framework for the would-be consensual slave. It is a treatise on cultivating fulfilling, meaningful, affirming relationships in which our core desires are fully celebrated and embraced. In that way, it is a book for anyone and everyone, regardless of preference, persuasion, or flavoring of individualistic sexual appetites. For years now, this book has been at the top of the heap of required reading for both my submissive partners, AND the D-types that I have mentored, equally.
The subtitle is fitting - this is definitely a roadmap, not a field manual, and because of that I suspect that this book often does not receive the attention that it deserves, much less the level of attention that more technical, how-to titles would get. When it comes to things that involve a certain level of physical and emotional risk, we tend to focus much more on how to do the thing versus how to think about doing the thing - especially in the early days of our kink journey. I know that my 20-year-old novice sadist self would not have been able to appreciate this book with the same depth of understanding that my almost 40-year-old self does now.
Despite the fact that information and resources concerning BDSM have become increasingly more available these days, there is still precious little out there that is geared specifically toward the internal work and processes of submissives. Perhaps the author himself has captured this best when he describes the work of the master as being visible, physical, obvious to the naked eye, whereas the work of the submissive is invisible, internal, and deeply personal to the individual.
Understanding the internal work of submission is worthy of dedication, and it is every bit as valuable as a commitment to learn and perform hard skills well, for both sides of the slash.
The subtitle is fitting - this is definitely a roadmap, not a field manual, and because of that I suspect that this book often does not receive the attention that it deserves, much less the level of attention that more technical, how-to titles would get. When it comes to things that involve a certain level of physical and emotional risk, we tend to focus much more on how to do the thing versus how to think about doing the thing - especially in the early days of our kink journey. I know that my 20-year-old novice sadist self would not have been able to appreciate this book with the same depth of understanding that my almost 40-year-old self does now.
Despite the fact that information and resources concerning BDSM have become increasingly more available these days, there is still precious little out there that is geared specifically toward the internal work and processes of submissives. Perhaps the author himself has captured this best when he describes the work of the master as being visible, physical, obvious to the naked eye, whereas the work of the submissive is invisible, internal, and deeply personal to the individual.
Understanding the internal work of submission is worthy of dedication, and it is every bit as valuable as a commitment to learn and perform hard skills well, for both sides of the slash.
October 19, 2012
This is an insightful and well-researched book about the intricacies of a formal M/s partnership. it is written from the perspective of a gay male couple, but principles are the same for any partnership of this kind.
I did learn a lot, and have a lot of food for thought after reading, but when it comes down to it, I didn't come away with anything I felt important enough to share with my Dom. Now, this is just me, mind you, and you might come up with vital insights and earth-shattering revelations from this slim volume. But I'm just saying, I didn't.
Short, sweet, competently written.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER REVIEWS: http://dirtyfilthybookslut.blogspot.com
I did learn a lot, and have a lot of food for thought after reading, but when it comes down to it, I didn't come away with anything I felt important enough to share with my Dom. Now, this is just me, mind you, and you might come up with vital insights and earth-shattering revelations from this slim volume. But I'm just saying, I didn't.
Short, sweet, competently written.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER REVIEWS: http://dirtyfilthybookslut.blogspot.com
June 16, 2014
There were some really useful things in this book. I did have a difficult time getting past the pronoun usage, since it is written more toward the M/m Master/slave dynamic.
Still, a wonderful book and welcome asset to a Lifestyle library.
Still, a wonderful book and welcome asset to a Lifestyle library.
June 29, 2014
There were some really useful things in this book. I did have a difficult time getting past the pronoun usage, since it is written more toward the M/m Master/slave dynamic.
Still, a wonderful book and welcome asset to a Lifestyle library.
Still, a wonderful book and welcome asset to a Lifestyle library.
June 6, 2012
well thought out, a must read for anyone interested in becoming a slave, training a slave or those who are just plain interested in this lifestyle
maybe
August 8, 2013Do I really want to do that to myself? I know I already loathe the sameyness of US-BDSM and these how-to-D/s-guides are worse than any vanilla pillow-book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews