The Center of the Universe: Volume 22, Chapters 89-92 / The Center of the Universe (ePub)

When Douglas begins an affair with his dazzling yet prim colleague, Nguyet, neither of them suspects how turbulent their liaison will become. Over the years, not only their intimacy and audacity grow, but also their susceptibility to temptation. On their journey of unbridled lust, they also meet others who are equally liable to sin, so that even an orgy circle forms in their sleepy little town in Central Vietnam.

Douglas' liaison with Nguyet, the center of his universe, is followed by others, as many respectable middle-class women are curious about him, as pretty much the only foreigner in town. This time, he is meeting the 21-year-old student Thanh again, who suggests spending time together at an Onsen-like public bath, where they can indulge in each other, outdoors.

When the two of them chat about sensual topics between their extended loin twirls and Douglas mentions his muse, Nguyet, Thanh becomes curious and wants to meet her. Which, naturally, leads to a refreshing threesome in the second episode, even though Thanh is wearing the Red Badge of Courage.

Before Thanh and Douglas will take Nguyet to the hot springs in the fourth novella, though, his muse wants him to trim her impressive bush; partly, because her own efforts had been unsuccessful. After the unavoidable copulation that ensued, the two are now ready to let themselves completely go with their young friend Thanh at the hot springs, where she even bumps into an old flame, who works there as a waiter. But what are the two ladies going to do now?!

All chapters here are intended to entertain, amuse, and - in the best case - stimulate in a taboo-free way, without slipping into crudeness. As varied as all the stories are, they have one theme in common: Ultimately, they are emancipatory efforts on the part of the young Vietnamese ladies to liberate themselves from the rigid moral norms of their society.

All light-hearted novellas are told in a very revealing, tongue-in-cheek manner and, in passing, offer glimpses into Vietnamese culture. Without taboos, all episodes explore the sources and dynamic of erotic desire and lure the reader under the spell of an exotic world.

The author of this extensive series of erotic stories has been enjoying Southeast Asia for ten years now. After living in Germany and the U.S. for most of his life, Douglas ventured in the opposite direction in 2010: first, he taught at a community college in the South Seas for three years, before settling in Vietnam. Naturally, all novellas reflect his undying love for young Southeast Asian women.