Coming to Power: Writings and Graphics on Lesbian S/M is a 1981 book edited by members of the lesbian feminist S/M organisation Samois. It is an anthology of lesbian S/M writings. It was a founding work of the lesbian BDSM movement.

It was quickly out-of-print and reached a worldwide audience the following year when it was reprinted by Alyson Publications. The book alternates short stories with advice on techniques, a model that has been used by various other BDSM books since then.

Coming to Power

A sequel The Second Coming: A Leatherdyke Reader was published in 1996, edited by Pat Califia and Robin Sweeney.

Coming to Power

Many of the authors in Coming to Power characterise sadomasochism as the epitome of eroticism.

Coming to Power

It is described in Coming on Strong: Gay Politics and Culture as containing lesbian erotica.

References

BDSM literature

Queer theory

1981 books

Gender studies books

Feminist books

Lesbian erotica

Lesbian BDSM

1980s LGBT literature

LGBT literature in the United States