SlaveCraft: Roadmaps for Erotic Servitude
Guy Baldwin
I highly recommend SlaveCraft for both Master and slave. As a slave, this book is the one I continually go back to when I find that my mindset needs to be re-focused, or when I am struggling with some aspects of my slave journey. After my Master also read the book it allowed us to begin to use a common language in many of the training aspects, and it provided lots of opportunities to discuss and talk about our understandings, our needs, our perspective and our reactions to some of the opinions and thoughts expressed in this book. Over the years I have found that my own journey has changed my experience and interpretation of these essays, and one year I might argue a point while the next I would concord with it. This is the beauty and depth of this book - it continually offers insight and opportunity for self-reflection.

The Master's Manual: A Handbook of Erotic Dominance
Jack Rinella
This is a general guideline to basic concepts of slave training, as well as "Master training" in the context of determining one's intentions and needs as a Master and then getting those needs met in a slave or slaves. At times, this book is rather one-dimensional, but then again, Jack Rinella wrote this many years ago when there were very few who were willing to put into writing what steps a person could take in becoming a Master to another. If you are wondering what the first steps are in becoming a Master, and what it might involve in terms of effort, ways and means, this is a good primer.

Manual Creation: Defining the Structure of an M/s Household
Machele Kindle & Master Fire
This is a GREAT book! Finally, a how-to for Masters (and slaves) in creating a household manual. Written in Master Fire's informal and entertaining voice, it is like sitting down to a morning coffee with a mentor and friend and sharing thoughts and ideas on power and Master/slave relationships and households. Machele Kindle takes the time to explain the personal growth process that each section of her household manual required of her, and provides examples of how the process of personal growth and life changes even affected certain portions (like the finances). The second portion of the book is the full manual as-it-was at time of publication. This is a great book for both Master and slave to consider as a series of discussions for clarifying core values, desires, visions and needs.


Becoming a Slave
Jack Rinella
This has to be another one of my favorite books. I really enjoy the change in format and content that Jack Rinella has put into his writing. The input and perspective that his slave offers also brings in added depth and perspective, and demonstrates that while Master/slave relationships have power exchange, it doesn't mean that slaves cannot disagree with the Master! I like that this book shares the very human aspects of being in relationship and strives to demonstrate and stress what constitutes a healthy power-exchange relationship. Each chapter is ended with a series of questions for the slaves (and Masters who choose to be active in their own development) to ponder upon and journal. This is an excellent book for a group to use as discussion topics for weekly or monthly meetings.

Philosophy In the Dungeon, The Magic of Sex & Spirit
Jack Rinella
Jack Rinella followed the same principles of the "Becoming a Slave" book, with excellent reflections provided at the end of each chapter. This book is for those seeking to engage in the spiritual aspects of relationships and to delve into the more energetic forms of power exchange through ritual. Jack does an exemplary job of providing introductory level information on the history of ritual and spiritual practices, and incorporating the universal truths of the many faith traditions from Eastern and Western cultures. If you are seeking to deepen your connection through body, mind and spirit and to practice methods for enriching your BDSM and power-exchange experiences, this book offers you a roadmap. In the course of your journey you will explore your beliefs and your assumptions, and be offered the opportunity to grow individually and in relationship.

Protocols: Handbook for the female slave
Robert J Rubel
This is another book that has only just recently become available in the past year. I have not read it, and would enjoy others' reviews and opinions. From the "Art of Slavery" listserve the opinions are favorable and the book is recommended as a good resource. The female slave aspect seems to be limiting its audience - and from others' opinions offers up a lot of advice and suggestions that can be applied to any gendered slave.

The Complete Slave: creating/living an erotic D/s lifestyle
Jack Rinella
A companion to Jack Rinella's "Master's Manual", this would be my third choice in recommending a book on slavery. Whenever I see a book with the word "compleat" in it, I get leary about it's content and format, and am immediately suspicious of any advice or guidelines it espouses. However, I think that Jack's opinions in this book do offer realistic and well-seasoned advice for those who are seeking to engage in Mastery/slavery and he provides good material for examining one's readiness and ability to commit to the journey.

Miss Abernathy's Concise Slave Training Manual
Christina Abernathy
This book offers a starting point for the "how-to" in techniques of behavior modification and establishing a clear delineation of power. The "concise" in the title is very accurate, in that this book is relatively small, but does cover the essentials for behavior and mindset techniques in beginning a Master/slave relationship. Miss Abernathy's approach to Mastery is a no-nonsense and strict methodology (similar to that of boot-camp training in my mind) that tends to emphasize the polarity of power and follows the traditional patriarchal one-way, top-down system of power-over. If you seek ways to implement an absolute or total power exchange that requires little to none of the frontal lobe in a slave's mind, Miss Abernathy's methods will prove very useful. That being said, I do think this book provides a good "basic" training in the concepts of obedience and mindfulness, and respect of authority, which are viewed by many as fundamental skills important to develop in a slave.

Training With Miss Abernathy: A Workbook for Erotic Slaves and Their Owners
Christina Abernathy
While I might not agree with all that Miss Abernathy espouses in her Training Manual, I do find that the workbook is very useful as a tool for exploring where one's beliefs, desires and thoughts on slavery and ownership fall on the vast continuum of power-exchange relationships. I often use this as a starting point for discussion groups and for my journal entries when I am seeking to explore an aspect of slavery, whether it deals with surrender, trust, fantasies, wants, etc.

Erotic Slavehood: A Miss Abernathy Omnibus
Christina Abernathy
Another one I haven't read....so I can't offer any comments on it.


The Path of Service: Guideposts for Excellence (S/M Tech Educational)
Christina Parker (AKA slavette)
This is a book I have not purchased because I did not see it as useful for myself based on the fact that I continually do a lot of self-reflection and exploration of my path. HOWEVER, I do see this as a highly useful book for those who are new to Mastery/slavery, or for those who are new to each other in relationship. The book is basically a workbook that has a question on each page, along with an appropriate thought-provoking quote, and then a whole bunch of blank lines for you to write your own thoughts.... this could be useful for slave journals as well. While I have not invested in purchasing this book I would still recommend it.