If you've read the fourth book in my current series of novels, it will not shock you to discover that I am a sexual being. I am married, and have been for many years. I am father to four children. So here again, you can see: I enjoy, or at the very least have had, sex. But I am also 46 years old, and the fruits of my literary success, though hard-won, have introduced many pressures and stresses into my private life. Sex doesn't always thrive under such conditions. With this in mind, I reluctantly visited my doctor, who recommended I try Refractin, a suggestion that filled my heart with sorrow. He wrote a prescription that appeared practically illegible, though I could not be certain whether that was due to his handwriting or to my dispirited mood. I took the prescription to a pharmacy in the center of town. The shelves were stocked with multicolored boxes of pharmaceutical products, lit from above by blinding fluorescence. I waited for a short time, then the pharmacist took the small paper and asked me if I would like to wait while he filled the order or to come back later. I opted to wait. At length, he put 10 small green pills in the orange bottle and called my name over the small public-address system mounted in the pharmacy's ceiling, even though I was standing right there. I paid him and left. That night, I took one of the pills and waited approximately 45 minutes, during which time I attempted to catch up on neglected correspondence with my colleagues. While typing what seemed like an endless e-mail on the subject of the appropriate Norwegian response to the PEN American Center controversy, I became aware of a stirring in my loins. Long story short: I soon had a robust erection and enjoyed several rounds of sexual intercourse that very night. I can't guarantee the same results for you. I can only speak for myself. But speaking for myself, I can say this with no equivocation: Thank you, Refractin.

Do not take Refractin if you have also been prescribed heart medication including nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate, or if you use recreational drugs such as poppers. Combining Refractin with nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure, as well as severe headaches, blurred vision, temporary blindness, or permanent blindness. In the event of priapism (a painful erection that lasts longer than four hours, risking permanent penile trauma), discontinue the use of Refractin immediately and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.