Yaoi

Yaoi presents a purely fantasized and highly romanticized take on m/m fiction...Traditionally, one lover will assume a dominant role in the relationship, becoming the “seme” (seh-meh), while the partner receiving the amourous ‘attentions’ is the “uke” (oo-keh). Yaoi is in a word: intense. The relationships might have complicated, angst-filled story-lines, but the action is graphic and designed to get the reader’s pulse pounding...The action doesn't necessarily have to be as gritty and realistic as possible---it's just done to entertain in a attractive and very erotically stirring way.

Keeping with the tradition of Japanese yaoi, English writers are trying to capture the gripping erotic action in book format. Visually descriptive and fast-paced, yaoi-themed novels strive to maintain the flavor of their counterparts across the Pacific.

--- excerpt from "Yaoi: A New Genre in Erotic Literature" by Anne Cain, used with permission. [1]