Bewildering Stories Editorial

by Jerry Wright

Adult

Why do stories called "Adult" seem to emphasize the seamier side of life? One starts out as a child, being told that adult means "responsible" or as a dictionary puts it: "One who has attained maturity or legal age." and "Fully developed and mature." Hmmm. Most of the so-called adult stuff has very little to do with responsibility and maturity. In fact, the language of these "adult" stories is not the language of maturity, but the language of "junior high" or "middle school", in other words, children, wishing to appear "mature".

Piers Anthony, in his Xanth books, talks about the Adult Conspiracy, primarily dealing with man/woman sex relationships that kids aren't supposed to know about, but his writing has a sort of snickering childishness that seems demeaning to me. Don't get me wrong. I've read and enjoyed a lot of Piers Anthony, but Xanth is definitely the pitcher going to often to the well. Not his fault, however. The readers demand them, and they sell, and sell.

Anyway, books CAN have "adult themes" without being semi-pornographic. Of course, now for something to be considered pornographic, it has to have "no redeeming social value". Yeah. Seems like a cop-out to me. But is one man's pornography really another man's "Dick and Jane"?

Whups. Don't think I'll take THAT any further.

However... Most "adult" stories don't seem to have much to do with maturity. In fact, for the most part, they seem pretty childish.

--Jerry