Third theme (The)

Third theme (The)

The third sex syndrome

Sharon's affair with Leda allows her to work out her childhood traumas

This title was repackaged by Dollar Books titles under the title Third Sex Syndrome in 1962.

192 pages

18 cm

Sharon and Leda meet outside the washroom during a party at Leda's home.

Contested in the U.S.A and Canada by the National Organization for Decent Literature. The Third Theme was listed in the NODL Newsletter under its reprinted title of Third Sex Syndrome from 9-11-1962 until June 1963. A note was made that The Third Sex Syndrome was a reissue of The Third Theme.

Sleep meant dreams of passion beyond her control.

"Her fingers found the edge of his jacket. She tugged at one button, trying to pull him down besider her. 'Is that all you care about?' His icy words cut their way down to her. Giddy bubbles of futility floated in her head. The sleeping pills, the despair, combined in a soft, careless laugh. Slowly she stood up, rubbing herself along him as she moved. Her hands searched inside his jacket, caressing the muscles of his chest. 'Don't be an old sauerkraut,' she heard her own lips say. She flattened her bust against the muscles of his ribs. Then in a single movement she opened her housecoat, enfolding him within its yards of flowery material. What difference could it make that she despised herself? 'You bitch.' Roughly his arms slid around her waist. She heard the flimsy material tear and felt it slither away. If only her body could be destroyed as easily, with so little pain." -Back cover "It wasn't Jay who had ruined her life. No, Jay had nothing to do with it, except as the unwitting accomplice. She had ruined her own life. And all by herself. Ruined it with desire. Consumed her chance for happiness in the flames of her craving." -Back cover "Sharon grasped Leda's waist and drew the woman's body in close to her own. Her lips grazed along the soft neck and up behind Leda's ear. 'I want this one moment in time,' Sharon whispered, 'before the world falls in on us.' But she did not try to force Leda's response. Instead she poised her fingertips lightly on Leda's back, waiting for the first hint of accession. 'Will you?' Sharon said. Without answeing, Leda moved out of the circle of her arms and went to snap off the lamp." -Back cover

Three figures occupy most of the image below the top quarter of the cover. One, centered at the bottom, is a brunette with wavy hair down to her shoulders, seen from her chest up. Her chest faces the reader squarely, and is partially exposed, showing her cleavage above an off-shoulders, strapless dress represented by white brushstrokes on the background yellow. Her head and eyes are turned to her left, eyes half-closed and mouth open, as if saying something, whilst frowning. Behind her in the background stand two figures in profile, their bodies facing right of the reader and at either side of the brunette's head. To the right stands a blonde with short hair, clad in a greenish-gray pantsuit and a pink blouse. Her head is fully turned to her right, looking at the brunette with sunglasses on her face and her right hand in her pocket. Behind her, and left of the image, stands a man in a gray suit and a black tie who also looks at the brunette with arms crossed. His hair is short and black. The image is lit from the right.