Trine Erotic

Alice Andrews' brilliant novel, Trine Erotic, is a story, within a story, within a story, all masterfully linked by themes revealing the interplay of evolution, experience and culture. Here are some questions and answers from her website, "Entelechy: Mind & Culture:"

Q You say 'feministy,' but sometimes you sound downright backwards about women in the novel. What about the thing about that woman not caring about orgasm. . .about some emotional, spiritual connection. 'It's what a woman wants' you write - is there anybody who believes this?

A Right - it's not a terribly popular or progressive-sounding view. But I truly believe, because of our evolution and our biology, that sex will only be fulfilling for a woman when it is very connected, emotionally and even spiritually. The orgasm is often connected to a woman's sense of intimacy and trust with her lover (though not always), but ultimately its importance is overshadowed by real connection. That is, a woman can feel 'unfulfilled' even if, say, she climaxes with her lover. And I believe the reverse is also true. A woman can feel quite 'fulfilled' with connected/emotional lovemaking, without an orgasm. I'm not so sure this holds for the majority (certainly there are many exceptions!) of men. And this must have a lot to do with evolution, our brains, and our bodies.

Q The scene with the woman walking behind Caleb, for example, you're not critical of it - you seem to romanticize it.

A Well, first of all, the most interesting thing about people is their contradictions. I think that's why Ed and Caleb's characters are interesting. I am putting those questions out there, because we have all felt them. I mean, I say something like, 'it was a walking dance which fulfilled something primal for them and though they both understood the sexist implications, they didn't care . . .' It's dealing with the different layers again - accepting and integrating them - not trying to ban certain impulses or desires because we are told to. Is it bad or is she inferior because she is turned on by walking behind him? I don't know. I don't think so. If she feels free as a woman, then I don't see the problem. But I see the potential danger in this position - just as there is potential danger in an EP/essentialist position. But Steven Pinker I think does the best job of explaining why it doesn't have to be dangerous - and in fact, in the long run might do more good than harm.

Love Trap [Catalyst TV show, Australia]

We call it love. But the most exhilarating of human emotions is merely nature's way of keeping the human species alive and reproducing. Wielding an irresistible cocktail of chemical love potions, our body entices us into unwittingly playing the mating game. And science is beginning to discover just how manipulative nature can be. In this eye-opening journey into the world of twenty-first century dating, we'll find that there's a chemical mating system for every stage of love - from lust, to romance, and ultimately to long-term commitment. And most of the time we're completely unaware of what's driving us on. We believe we're choosing a partner. But we may merely be victims of nature's "Love Trap."