Magazine review: Filament #4

Filament Issue 4 is out now. I've reviewed previous issues in the past and I now want to say that I am genuinely in awe. This is a magazine that has forged itself a unique identity and truly found its feet. It's an acheivement for all the creators - and particularly editor Suraya Singh - to be proud of.

The line on the cover now reads "For women who like hot men and intelligent thought," and there's plenty of both inside. In fact the amount of nudity - predominantly male, but female too - has climbed steeply over four issues since its inception. Yet it's the fact that it's a magazine with sexual content that doesn't assume sexy = mindless that I really appreciate. My personal favourite articles in this issue are:

• Nick Ord on the foundations and limits of tolerance in society - yet again a new slant on a familiar issue (I always turn to the philosophy article first, after flicking through the eyecandy!)
• Borderline Personality Disorder - what's that and what's it like to suffer from it?
• Prehistoric porn: ancient archaeology and sexual depiction
• An enticing look at alternative erotic photography website Shot With Desire, and an interview with its creator.

There are also articles on the practicalities of setting up threesomes, how to get started with Japanese rope bondage, an interview with Annie Sprinkle (porn star, director, artist, political activist), women in computer gaming, vegetable gardening and a slew of pictorial articles with men getting their kit off to various extents. And I am green with envy at the superb set of photos illustrating Heidi Champna's erotic short story about a m/f/m threesome - she must be SO pleased! 

It's an eclectic mix. Did I mention the recipe for tea cake? As it says in the editorial: "The single most controversial thing about Filament isn't the cocks; it's that we have some content that isn't about sex. Our critics have honed in on that fact obsessively ... confused by the idea that women can be interested in perving on hot men as well as the big questions of society, like tolerance, or even the little questions like How do I bake a tea cake? The rest of us call this being human." 

Honestly; if you're female, heterosexual and have more than two brain cells to rub together, you should be reading this magazine. Even if you don't fall into all three of those categories, it would be worth your while taking a look. 

Filament is out quarterly, priced £4.99 + P&P

Buy at their website - back issues and subscriptions are discounted