Friday, February 10, 2012

Villains, with naked slave-boys...

CONAN is taken prisoner through a combination of ambush, deception and sorcery. He is brought before his gloating, enemies, Tsotha the evil sorcerer, and the  silk wearing, divan lounging Kings, Strabonus and Amalrus.
In front of him stood Tsotha, and on divans lounged Strabonus and Amalrus in their silks and golds, gleaming with jewels, naked slave-boys beside them pouring wine into cups carved of a single sapphire.
From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 49. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

So far in,(About 500 pages) this reference to "naked slave-boys" is the only reference to imply homosexual activity that I've picked up on. There was some lesbian S. and M, but references to homosexuality, other than the subtle one here seem pretty much non-existent so far*.

I think this an instance that brings home how long ago the stories were written, when you read an implication of homosexuality being used to emphasise negative traits in the villains.
 

*Obviously I'm not counting the unavoidable homoerotic aspects of a series of books based entirely on the adventures of a largely shirtless, sun tanned guy that works out a lot! :-)

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