I've read all the stories and I think you should read Coming Home to understand where some people are having issues with D/s and how Xanthe portrays it. To me, her series is about romance with a capital r first and foremost. I think the notion that Helen's story is about how women were treated (and some could argue still are in certain political viewpoints) throws me. To me, Helen's story is how no matter how much we want equality in relationships, it takes work and usually hard work in real terms. It also takes both parties in a relationship willing to work at it. The fact John and Rodney in Helen's story can't talk about it says more about men than about women.