''Coming to Power: Writings and Graphics on Lesbian S/M'' is a 1981 book edited by members of the lesbian feminist S/M organisation

Samois Samois was a lesbian- feminist BDSM organization based in San Francisco that existed from 1978 to 1983. It was the first lesbian BDSM group in the United States. It took its name from Samois-sur-Seine, the location of the fictional estate of Ann ...

. It is an anthology of lesbian S/M writings. It was a founding work of the lesbian

BDSM BDSM is a variety of often erotic practices or roleplaying involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged ...

movement. It was quickly out-of-print and reached a worldwide audience the following year when it was reprinted by

Alyson Publications Alyson Books, formerly known as Alyson Publications, was a book publishing house which specialized in LGBT fiction and non-fiction. Former publisher Don Weise described it as "the world's oldest and largest publisher of LGBT literature" and "th ...

. The book alternates short stories with advice on techniques, a model that has been used by various other BDSM books since then. A sequel '' The Second Coming: A Leatherdyke Reader'' was published in 1996, edited by Pat Califia and Robin Sweeney. Many of the authors in ''Coming to Power'' characterise sadomasochism as the epitome of

eroticism Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, sc ...

. It is described in ''Coming on Strong: Gay Politics and Culture'' as containing

lesbian erotica Lesbian erotica deals with depictions in the visual arts of lesbianism, which is the expression of female-on-female sexuality. Lesbianism has been a theme in erotic art since at least the time of Culture of ancient Rome, ancient Rome, and many ...

References

BDSM literature Queer theory 1981 books Gender studies books Feminist books Lesbian erotica Lesbian BDSM 1980s LGBT literature LGBT literature in the United States {{critical-theory-stub