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Islands: A Collection of Short Stories
Book by Rees, David
159 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1984
3 people want to read
About the author
David Rees
40 books24 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
David Rees was born in London in 1936, but lived most of his adult life in Devon, where for many years he taught English Literature at Exeter University and at California State University, San Jose. In 1984, he took early retirement in order to write full-time. Author of forty-two books, he is best known for his children's novel The Exeter Blitz, which in 1978 was awarded the Carnegie Medal (UK), and The Milkman's On His Way, which, having survived much absurd controversy in Parliament, is now regarded as something of a gay classic. He also won The Other Award (UK) for his historical novel The Green Bough of Liberty. David Rees died in 1993.
David Rees was born in London in 1936, but lived most of his adult life in Devon, where for many years he taught English Literature at Exeter University and at California State University, San Jose. In 1984, he took early retirement in order to write full-time. Author of forty-two books, he is best known for his children's novel The Exeter Blitz, which in 1978 was awarded the Carnegie Medal (UK), and The Milkman's On His Way, which, having survived much absurd controversy in Parliament, is now regarded as something of a gay classic. He also won The Other Award (UK) for his historical novel The Green Bough of Liberty. David Rees died in 1993.
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January 12, 2026
"Islands is a collection of short stories which chronicle the experiences and hopes, the pleasures and hurts, the regrets and challenges, of gay life. Rees' prose is rich in description, while his plots hold gentle surprises. His insights into the manners and thoughts which motivate his characters make each story a small gem, to be treasured and long-remembered." From the cover of the 1984 paperback edition from Knights Press, a USA publisher which is a fine reminder that Rees' reputation was, in his lifetime, not confined to the UK.
A really fine collection of stories from a writer who, while maybe not a absolutely great writer, was a very fine one and who wrote some first rate things, amongst them his novel 'The Milkman's on His Way' which is a really first rate coming out novel and despite elements that tell you it was written in the past is still a novel I would prefer a young gay boy read rather then almost read then most of the sentimental M&M YA romances that attempt to force gay experience into a 'heterosexual' straight jacket and are often pushing a no-sex agenda.
Back to this collection of stories - I enjoyed them immensely, I can't free my judgement from the fact that I was a young gay man when these stories were written (the collection was published in 1984) so its cultural milieu is my past. Things change but despite that so much stays the same. There was a time immediately after LGBT partnership/marriage was legalised when many thought the world that older queer men like myself grew up was not simply gone, but a world now impossibly distant and, but I don't think many would assert that now. In the same way the questions asked and situations explored by Rees are still relevant. Less has changed than we think.
I often think that the period when queer life that could be lived openly and honestly and written about in the same way has been so terribly short that there is a danger of only reading and considering what reflects the world as we see it immediately. There is a need to develop perspective and appreciation that knowing ourselves requires more then simply looking for reflections.
I could go on but I won't. One final comment I would make is that David Rees is one of a number of fine UK writers from the early days of gay liberation who are in danger of being forgotten. There is a library of forgotten writers, Peter Robins, Tom Wakefield and many, many more who were writing about gay life (although I don't like using the word gay in a universalist sense for current circumstances it does have a universal application when speaking of times pre millennium) in the UK in the late 1970's and 80's when it was really breaking out and claiming their right to be seen, heard and exist without apology. Certainly this happened more than 10 years after events in the USA and after a brief flowering was almost immediately overwhelmed by the AIDS crisis. Most of these writers were only published thanks to small independent publishers like GMP and Brilliance Books. Rarely if ever did they receive recognition or coverage in mainstream media. By the time gay/queer writing was acknowledged many of these writers were passed over and forgotten. They still haven't received the acknowledgement the deserve. I hope they do one day.
A really fine collection of stories from a writer who, while maybe not a absolutely great writer, was a very fine one and who wrote some first rate things, amongst them his novel 'The Milkman's on His Way' which is a really first rate coming out novel and despite elements that tell you it was written in the past is still a novel I would prefer a young gay boy read rather then almost read then most of the sentimental M&M YA romances that attempt to force gay experience into a 'heterosexual' straight jacket and are often pushing a no-sex agenda.
Back to this collection of stories - I enjoyed them immensely, I can't free my judgement from the fact that I was a young gay man when these stories were written (the collection was published in 1984) so its cultural milieu is my past. Things change but despite that so much stays the same. There was a time immediately after LGBT partnership/marriage was legalised when many thought the world that older queer men like myself grew up was not simply gone, but a world now impossibly distant and, but I don't think many would assert that now. In the same way the questions asked and situations explored by Rees are still relevant. Less has changed than we think.
I often think that the period when queer life that could be lived openly and honestly and written about in the same way has been so terribly short that there is a danger of only reading and considering what reflects the world as we see it immediately. There is a need to develop perspective and appreciation that knowing ourselves requires more then simply looking for reflections.
I could go on but I won't. One final comment I would make is that David Rees is one of a number of fine UK writers from the early days of gay liberation who are in danger of being forgotten. There is a library of forgotten writers, Peter Robins, Tom Wakefield and many, many more who were writing about gay life (although I don't like using the word gay in a universalist sense for current circumstances it does have a universal application when speaking of times pre millennium) in the UK in the late 1970's and 80's when it was really breaking out and claiming their right to be seen, heard and exist without apology. Certainly this happened more than 10 years after events in the USA and after a brief flowering was almost immediately overwhelmed by the AIDS crisis. Most of these writers were only published thanks to small independent publishers like GMP and Brilliance Books. Rarely if ever did they receive recognition or coverage in mainstream media. By the time gay/queer writing was acknowledged many of these writers were passed over and forgotten. They still haven't received the acknowledgement the deserve. I hope they do one day.
Displaying 1 of 1 review