Shaved Pussy . . . and Other Cliches

She was due, past due, really.
That cat was getting fuzzy beyond control.
She’s nicely trimmed now, a nice, short summer buzz.
And I’m still wincing at the vet bill.

Boy, is your mind in the gutter. Yeah, the shaved pussy is probably the most cliché of the double entendres, but it got you here. Since you’re here, you might as well see some before and after pics:

You might gasp in horror at the site of a shaved pussy, but as strange as it sounds, my kitty loves the cut. She hates being long-haired, she hates being brushed—and she struts around like a kitten whenever she gets the lion cut. Go figure.

Since you stopped by and you've been a good sport, I’m going to share with you my double-entendre confession: I like clichés. I am a vintage sci-fi/horror fan through and through, and I don’t think there’s one overdone concept out there that can’t still be reintroduced in an original and thoughtful way. They take everything that fans love about the space opera genre, but take it all in unexpected or previously unexplored directions. My husband lovingly calls them “fun with clichés.” Strangely, I think that explains my space operas well.

I like to play with words, though. I’m a big reader-response buff, and I will always, no matter what I write, be guilty of either some kind of reminiscent tribute or hiding multiple literary “Easter eggs” for a little more dimension and flavor. I love good literature, and I love just about all genres of sci-fi, but it’s the deep, speculative sci-fi that I enjoy the most—because reading a truly great speculative science fiction novel is a double entendre all its own. The story, or the straightforward and direct storyline, has depth, but the real fun is in reading the story between the lines, the “hidden” story. An author creates this alternate story through symbols, which can come through words with multiple meanings, items of interest, or tone, among numerous other platforms. Word structure, names used, and the tone of a theme can become clues in themselves, when piecing together the messages left by pulp fiction greats, their speculations on the evils of our world and the potential effects humanity has upon itself.

What do you think? What are some of your very favorite science fiction or horror novels? What makes them your favorite?