They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So I was delighted to read "Five Boys" which recaptures to a "T", the parallel society I tried to depict in the "Simon" series, one in which pre-teen boys are routinely neutered, without trauma and without fuss, to prevent them being a nuisance with girls. The scene in the bedroom where the boy has to confess to the girl that he can't "do it" is particularly nice.

There are also overtones of Slammer's pioneering work on the "Neutersol" culture where a boy's "change of life" is celebrated by a party.

Anyone who enjoyed the "Simon" stories should read "Five Boys". Many congratulations, Coyan Hyde.

C van D

I totally agree I was suprised, too, when I saw this; it's a great read, as the Master above says!

Story:

http://www.eunuch.org/Alpha/F/ea_125857five_boy.htm

And, I have to add.... any chance of somthing new from you, Mr. D? Many fans have their (our!) fingers crossed!

You very kindly asked whether anything new in the "Simon" series might be expected. I think the answer may be found in Paolo's masterly quartet of stories "Ricky Visits America". The good guys are now comfortably provided-for, and the bad guys are either dead or doing 99-year jail sentences. It's a position from which it is very difficult to move forward without muddying Paolo's superb storyline (to illustrate this, I was messing about with something, when "Ricky Visits America" appeared, and I at once abandoned it, because it just wouldn't have fitted in).

Perhaps a "flashback" ofsome sort might be possible. I'll think about it.

C van D