The nudity in The Honorable Barbarian is not described in any detail. Like real-life Polynesians of the past, the Salimorese eschew most garments; their climate makes most clothing uncomfortable, perhaps even unhealthful, and the effect of their nudity is not titillation. Part of de Camp's point is that different customs are not necessarily better or worse customs; sometimes they are just different. In the case of the Salimorese, climate has affected their customs of dress.

One might reasonably wish de Camp had handled the issue of rape with greater sensitivity. Nogiri has been raped by pirates. This might quite reasonably make her dislike the company of men, but she recovers with seeming ease. This shows her to be tough and determined, but it makes the rape seem like just a minor misstep in an adventure. Gang rape can kill a woman, and it may be worth...