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Thunder of War, Lightning of Desire: Lesbian Historical Military Erotica
More than six hundred women-most likely many more-passed as men to fight in the American Civil War, and that's not counting the nurses and spies. In WWI women served as nurses and ambulance drivers, and in Russia Maria Boskareva's Women's Battalion of Death was not the only group of female fighters. In WWII women were snipers in Russia as well as WACs in the South Pacific. For the nurses and WACs in the Korean and Vietnam Wars the front lines were everywhere. None of these stories glorify war, but all of them recognize the strength and vulnerability, the passion and the courage, of women who did what they believed had to be done, in their own very personal ways.
156 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this collection. The chronological arrangement guaranteed that each setting would be different and interesting. The stories don't glorify war, and they often raise interesting questions about queer history or women's history.
Quick thoughts on the stories:
"War of the Rebellion" by Pascal Scott (1862: The War Between the States: Tennessee)
A satisfying way to begin, covering some tropes I definitely wanted to see. This story about a woman dressing as a man in order to serve in the military raises some deep questions about conflict.
"Found" by Victoria Janssen (1863: The War Between the States: Virginia)
Where have you been all my life, Victoria Janssen? I love that this story centers queer women of color, a perspective I (incredibly and unfortunately) don't often see in stories about the Civil War.
"Forbidden Love" by J.B. Hickock (1900: The Boxer Rebellion: China)
My least favorite story. As a person of Chinese heritage, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the portrayal of the Chinese heroine. I thought she played into some stereotypes and that the story exoticized her and the setting.
"Delivery" by Victoria Janssen (1916: WWI: France)
I didn't know you before, Victoria Janssen, but I'll remember your name from here on out. This story was a page turner for me. I couldn't wait to see what else these characters had to say to each other.
"Eagle of Death, Raven of War" by Jessica Taylor (1917: WWI: Russia)
I really loved this setting. The mentor relationship turned lovers worked well for me.
"The Battle of Blair Mountain" by Dena Hankins (1921: The Battle of Blair Mountain: West Virginia)
Another standout. I didn't expect this setting, which is about a union-related conflict, and I really liked the perspective that added to the book.
"The Girl at the Window" by Cara Patterson (1942: WWII: Russia)
An amazing meditation on femininity. I love how the story explores how a person's femininity can be used as a weapon, underestimated, vilified, and ultimately claimed as one's own.
"Moment of Peace" by Jove Belle (1945: WWII: South Pacific)
A personal favorite. I really wanted the two characters to get together, and I enjoyed their dialogue along the way.
"Watching" by CB Potts (1952: Korean War: South Korea)
I've always thought skill was hot. The writer of this story knows how to work that.
"Danger" by Sacchi Green (1969: Vietnam War: Greenwich Village, New York)
It's fitting that this book ends with a story that explores PTSD and ongoing conflicts, abroad and at home. There's a poignant relationship here between broken characters who learn together how to become whole.
I definitely recommend picking up this collection if it's relevant to your interests, historic, military, Sapphic, or all of the above.
Quick thoughts on the stories:
"War of the Rebellion" by Pascal Scott (1862: The War Between the States: Tennessee)
A satisfying way to begin, covering some tropes I definitely wanted to see. This story about a woman dressing as a man in order to serve in the military raises some deep questions about conflict.
"Found" by Victoria Janssen (1863: The War Between the States: Virginia)
Where have you been all my life, Victoria Janssen? I love that this story centers queer women of color, a perspective I (incredibly and unfortunately) don't often see in stories about the Civil War.
"Forbidden Love" by J.B. Hickock (1900: The Boxer Rebellion: China)
My least favorite story. As a person of Chinese heritage, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the portrayal of the Chinese heroine. I thought she played into some stereotypes and that the story exoticized her and the setting.
"Delivery" by Victoria Janssen (1916: WWI: France)
I didn't know you before, Victoria Janssen, but I'll remember your name from here on out. This story was a page turner for me. I couldn't wait to see what else these characters had to say to each other.
"Eagle of Death, Raven of War" by Jessica Taylor (1917: WWI: Russia)
I really loved this setting. The mentor relationship turned lovers worked well for me.
"The Battle of Blair Mountain" by Dena Hankins (1921: The Battle of Blair Mountain: West Virginia)
Another standout. I didn't expect this setting, which is about a union-related conflict, and I really liked the perspective that added to the book.
"The Girl at the Window" by Cara Patterson (1942: WWII: Russia)
An amazing meditation on femininity. I love how the story explores how a person's femininity can be used as a weapon, underestimated, vilified, and ultimately claimed as one's own.
"Moment of Peace" by Jove Belle (1945: WWII: South Pacific)
A personal favorite. I really wanted the two characters to get together, and I enjoyed their dialogue along the way.
"Watching" by CB Potts (1952: Korean War: South Korea)
I've always thought skill was hot. The writer of this story knows how to work that.
"Danger" by Sacchi Green (1969: Vietnam War: Greenwich Village, New York)
It's fitting that this book ends with a story that explores PTSD and ongoing conflicts, abroad and at home. There's a poignant relationship here between broken characters who learn together how to become whole.
I definitely recommend picking up this collection if it's relevant to your interests, historic, military, Sapphic, or all of the above.
May 10, 2016
I'm not a big fan of history stories, but this books suprised me. The stories are well written and gave me a little insight, to what it might have been in these wars. The struggles, the fears and the need of some sort of comfort and relief are understandable. The stories are well developed and have a wide span of war history, from the early World War I till the Vietnam War. Trough the eyes of the authors, I could imagine the feelings of these strong women. The story I loved most was «Danger» from Sacchi Green.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews