I agree with fiamaya's take on this; I can see this as nearly the same uni as Xanthe's stories, but maybe set in a different time--Xanthe's story referenced the bad old days, when it was more difficult to be a sub--or from a different perspective--Radek didn't find Xanthe's universe all that comfortable or accomodating. Is everyone in Xanthe's uni necessarily as happy to be who and how they are as John and Rodney end up being? I see Xanthe's as the rose-colored glasses version, eyes of love, etc., and Helen's as the more black and white version. They are different, but I don't see them as being as different as some do.