Stephen Coghlan’s Centaur Erotica Novel
Comedy has to walk a thin line, take risks. Comedy is the lecherous little elf whispering into the king’s ear, always telling the truth about human behavior. -Mel Brooks
I have always enjoyed comedy. I love parody and satire in the style of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and other comedians of the 70’s and 80’s. There have been many who argue that the rise of political correctness will be the death of comedy. Stephen Coghlan’s 50 Shades of Neigh, a Centaur Erotica Novel, parodies some themes of a famous novel of a similar name. Yes, you read that correctly, Centaurs. There’s a little interspecies action going on here too. I would argue the focus of his novel is more on racial and social class structures. The erotica and romance complement these themes.
Now before I dive in, I am going to put a disclaimer. One of my pet peeves when I see reviews is people who were warned what the book was about (for example, in this case erotica), read it anyway. Then they write a bad review because, “I don’t like erotica.” If the following statements apply to you:
- Erotica is disgusting
- Monte Python makes no sense
- Blazing Saddles highly offended me
- I think “dirty” books should be censored
- I worship EL James and anyone who parodies her work should burn in hell
There are plenty of other entertaining novels by talented authors out there. This one just is not for you; on the other hand (or hoof), if you want to read something on the wild side that will at times make you spit your beverage across the room, by all means proceed.
Setting And Characters
Stephen sets his story during WWI. Princess Clopia, heir to the Mercenary Free State, witnesses the senseless and devastating carnage of the initial battles of what would become “The War to End All Wars.” Sensing impending doom for her kind, she travels with her guardian Sussex, to the United States. She seeks a peaceful solution that will keep her kind out of the war. She meets up with Susan Hartel, a charming Creole woman working in New York City. Susan has used her intelligence and charm to rise above the racism and classism prevalent in the early 20th Century America, and has become a personal assistant to the powerful business man, Mr. Barns.
Susan brings the Princess to the prosperous farm of Buck, an American Centaur who has developed new methods of farming and food production. Stephen does an excellent job of creating tension between the commoner farmer, Buck and the Warrior Princess Clopia. He presents the classic clash of old-world class and social structure vs new-world ideals. On a romance and erotica scale, he definitely hits home on that fetishization of the old west American Cowboy. I easily pictured Buck as Brad Pitt from Legends of the Fall.
The romance between Centaur Sussex and human Susan was tender and sweet. I have to admit though, I found the sex scenes a little hard to picture at times (wait…they’re going to what?????? WHOA…). And Sussex definitely plays on the female fantasy of the European Gentleman, a sexy mix of Sean Connery and Liam Neesen with some horse thrown in.
There’s a hefty does of intrigue, action, passion and adventure as these four come to grips with their place in a world at war.
50 Shades of Neigh is definitely a departure from Stephen’s usual writing. While he plays with parody and satire, he includes a lot of tenderness and romance. This is something that I feel both comedy and erotica sometimes miss the mark at times. While not a master of the genre yet, Stephen’s first foray into this arena is highly entertaining. If you like satire with a splash of romance, intrigue, and some interspecies erotica thrown in, 50 Shades of Neigh is a fun ride.