The Novats were purely an order of all females. They believed in feminine superiority with strong spiritual traditions that were primarily based upon celibacy. Most Novats had very little experience with visitors, and only a handful had been around or known about men. Their leader was an old, wise woman named Novat Eigna. She wanted to explore the possibilities of developing an association with men. She thought that by exposing the women to men it would enhance work performance and enrich the great oneness of their lives--a oneness that at times had apparently been missing. Many women were experiencing a spiritual problem, a void, and an imbalance of the psyche known as the yearning. Many believed it was a bi-product of the exclusion of males.

As the story progressed, one Novat in particular, Pasha, became afflicted with the yearning. Eigna wanted to help her but was unsure how and enlisted the assistance of a gorgeous, male, Uni Order Emissary named Tristan. Tristan went on a quest to slowly and patiently heal her from her affliction. Pasha was totally and completely unaware of what was happening to her. The transformation that she experienced upon meeting Tristan stirred up all kinds of new feelings and emotions inside her. He told her that in some places the feelings she was experiencing were As Commonplace as Rain and that he was just one man, but that there were many others in the world that could do what he could do. They described, discussed and finally engaged in a wonderful, romantic interlude. She fell in love, but in the end Tristan couldn't stay.

This story is about virginity, purity, curiosity and longing for intimacy. It goes on to basically show that men and women need each other in order to fulfill various needs, wants and desires. I liked the innocence conveyed through Pasha; her naivety made the relationship more intimate and sensual. After reading about the affliction--the yearning--these women would experience, it made me so thankful to know that we don't live in a world without men!

Reviewed by: Laurie Johns
July 3, 2004

This story has now been combined with others to create SOULFUL SEX: EROTIC TALES OF FANTASY AND ROMANCE
VOLUME II .