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Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle
HIDDEN CONFLICT presents four novellas that tell the experiences of gay military men, their families and friends, during times of conflict and war. Each story presents a unique voice at a distinct time in history. BLESSED ISLE by Alex Beecroft (1790 British Age of Sail) Blessed Isle is the long-lost diary of Captain Harry Thompson, recently discovered in a dusty safe deposit box and faithfully reproduced in Hidden Conflict. Thompson wrote his diary entries at night and in the morning, his lover and former lieutenant, Garnet Littleton, would add his thoughts and commentary. Thus, Blessed Isle is a dialog between the two men, telling the story of the ill-fated voyage of the HMS Banshee, its mutiny, their escape, and ultimately, how they overcame all odds to build a life together in Rio de Janeiro. NOT TO REASON WHY by Mark R. Probst (1876 US Cavalry) Corporal Brett Price is tired of being a soldier, tired of endless expeditions against the Lakota and Sioux, and tired of hiding his deep love for his friend and sergeant, Dermot Kerrigan. Unfortunately, as a member of the 7th Cavalry stationed at Fort Lincoln, North Dakota, there is little he can do to change his present situation; his love for Dermot is particularly distressing because Dermot is married and devoted to his wife, Sarah. Their commanding officer, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer, has been relentless in rounding up the various Native American tribes of the western plains and forcing them off their lands to designated reservations. These battles between love and loyalty, duty and honor, with one of the most horrific battles ever fought on American soil as its backdrop, is the story that is told in Not to Reason Why. NO DARKNESS by Jordan Taylor (1915 World War I Britain and France) When Lieutenant Darnell and Private Fisher are trapped in a root cellar after being shelled behind the trenches on the Western Front, they struggle to survive and escape their black tomb. Strangers to one another, the days and nights underground in pitch darkness bring them together as they share stories of their upbringing. While their lives hang in the balance, they find refuge through the growing bond between them that neither expected. OUR ONE AND ONLY by E.N. Holland (1944 US World War II and aftermath) What happens when one must grieve in private? That is what Philip Cormier is forced to do when his closest friend and lover, Eddie Fiske, is killed in France during the second round of D-Day in September 1944. The story covers a forty year arc, told in decade-long intervals, that chronicle Philip's loss, his life without Eddie, and ultimately, the acceptance and resolution of his grief. Most importantly, it demonstrates the healing power of love that can be found in unexpected places and ways.
344 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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October 14, 2012If I have to choose a favourite, the vote is clearly on “Blessed Isle” by Alex Beecroft. I read her “False Colours” and it blew me away, and she did I t again, with less words. Minor craft issues I had with “False Colours” (focusing on viewpoint, voice, and pacing) are gone in “Blessed Isle”. Beecroft continues to astound and amaze, and this story went down like very old, accomplished Bordeaux wine, served just exactly right. It’s not a story that you can “just read”, you have to savour it. The language was pitch-perfect, and I recommend taking your time to work out the nuances and let them resonate. Sometimes, prose is so well-made that it becomes a rush and a pleasure all by itself. The story Beecroft tells and the exploration of the characters just heighten the pleasure, but it’s always her prose that gets me first. Were “Blessed Isle” on it’s own, it would be a rare five stars.
“No Darkness” by Jordan Taylor sets out on a very difficult task—to tell a story with two men in a cellar, fearing impending death, and growing close by telling their stories. The story is heavy on dialogue, and attempts to draw the characters by dialogue, a task that it didn’t quite accomplish for me. While I can believe that hysteria and stress (one is wounded) can make people sound more cheerful than I would expect them to sound under such circumstances, there were moments in the dialogue where I thought that the characters were on the verge of being self-indulgent, telling all those anecdotes while quite literally fighting for their lives. I’d expect more of the raw stress and fear to come out, so I would have tightened up the dialogue quite a bit more than was done. The strongest parts of the story, I felt, were those where the characters don’t talk.
“No Darkness” by Jordan Taylor sets out on a very difficult task—to tell a story with two men in a cellar, fearing impending death, and growing close by telling their stories. The story is heavy on dialogue, and attempts to draw the characters by dialogue, a task that it didn’t quite accomplish for me. While I can believe that hysteria and stress (one is wounded) can make people sound more cheerful than I would expect them to sound under such circumstances, there were moments in the dialogue where I thought that the characters were on the verge of being self-indulgent, telling all those anecdotes while quite literally fighting for their lives. I’d expect more of the raw stress and fear to come out, so I would have tightened up the dialogue quite a bit more than was done. The strongest parts of the story, I felt, were those where the characters don’t talk.
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February 25, 2010Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft
There is a mix of all the best novels by Alex Beecroft in this novella. Of course there is, the setting is the same she loves so much, a military ship sailing in stranger seas, and there are two men, two officers, who fall in love. Where is the difference? Well maybe in the way the story starts, they are safe and in love in Rio de Janeiro, retired from the Army and enjoying an almost “marriage” bliss. So here is the main difference, we can read of their story, and fear for them, but we know that, in the end, they will find a way to stay together.
And at the beginning I also thought that Alex Beecroft had become more daring, the first scene, with one of them sleepless at night looking at his naked lover in bed was quite erotic, was it the prelude to a sexier story? But no, as usual, there is a lot of hidden eroticism, desires and forbidden thirsts, but all happens behind a closed door.
The very nice thing of this novella is the narration path. First Harry, the captain, and then Garnet, his lieutenant, tell their own story from the different perspective they saw it. And from their narration you can understand the men. Harry is conservative and almost shy, despite his rank, he is not arrogant, and maybe he is also a bit naive; when he realizes his feelings for Garnet he is both tempted than troubled, and above all he thinks to be alone in his desires, that he could almost corrupt the lesser officer. And then we read Garnet’s point of view, how he almost seduced Harry, how he was always aware of the forbidden desire of the man, that were the same as his. Garnet in a way fill the voids Harry’s narration left and he is also the spirited one, who probably gives a bit of spice to the entire story.
Not to Reason Why by Mark R. Probst
When you are telling a story set in the middle of the war between Army and Native Americans, 1876, and you are aware of how tragic it was, it’s quite difficult to have an happily ever after romance. Plus, if you add to that that one of the main character is married and apparently content of his life, the quest for romance is even harder.
Brett and Dermot are fellow officers, but Dermot has also the sacred fire for his mission and instead Brett was forced into it. Dermot has all settled in front of him, a long and satisfying career in the Army, a wife who is willing to wait for him, and a good friend in Brett. On the other hand, Brett has nothing sure, the only thing he certainly knows, since it is eating him alive, is that he is in love with Dermot and that love it’s not only forbidden, it’s also impossible.
From the first pages the reader knows that the story is heaving on angst, the only thing that console him is that, in the end, Brett finds the courage to express his feelings for Dermot, and Dermot proves to be the good man Brett thought he was and the reader had the chance to see. And maybe, there is even a little possibility that a romance for Brett is at hand.
I like that, for once, it wasn’t the “gay” character the perfect one; if you compare Dermot and Brett, probably Dermot is a better man, he is not only a good officer and a good husband, but he is also able to accept Brett for who he is, a good friend, and not for who he loves, another man. On the other hand, I think Brett is a very troubled man, and not so strong: he is not a bad man, but he is for sure not perfect like Dermot. And in the end, if I have to choose, I probably prefer him to Dermot, not since he is gay, but since I have always preferred the imperfect one; but some of Brett’s actions are not exactly what I would expect from a novel’s hero.
No Darkness by Jordan Taylor
Again I had the feeling from the beginning of the story that I wouldn’t find an happily ever after here. I don’t know, but every story I read involving the WWI has never had an happily ever after. I remember my history professor told us that the WWI marked a passage in the way men did was, they lost their quality of men to become meat to slaughter. And the men in command lost their quality of knights to become even more detached from the simple soldiers.
Darnell is a lieutenant, and Fisher a simple soldier. There is no reason for them to be together if not for the war and a bomb that traps them in a cellar of an abandoned farm. In the hours they are forced to be together, Darnell and Fisher learn that they have more in common of what they thought; it’s not a clear discovery, more a play of unsaid words and uncompleted motions. Fisher is more open than Darnell, even in his childish memories the reader seems to find some sign of what Fisher is trying to communicate to Darnell, and instead for Darnell it’s more a play to understand what he is not saying: he is married but doesn’t want children. He has a good wife but he doesn’t seem to miss her so much other than missing the simple life they had together. There is a lot of possibilities for these two men, and they come out from the “darkness” in a strong way to the reader, but still, in the end, the darkness is stronger than them.
The reader is aware that Darnell and Fisher can be something more for each other. And this is the reason why, sorry, I don’t understand why the story has to be so tragic, to be faithful to the history? Since the war was so cruel that it couldn’t have been different? I can understand that, but still, I prefer to have at least a smallest chance to a better future, for how much unbelievable it could be.
Our One and Only by E.N. Holland
This is probably a very unexpected pleasure to read. Unexpected since ab absurdo, this was the most sad of all the story above, one of the two lovers of the story is already dead at the beginning of it, and from that moment on, all we read is how the remaining one has to cope with his pain, a pain he can share with only few people, the one who were aware that Philip was not only a dear friend of Eddie.
This story had me almost in tear, above all since I was not seeing any chance of happiness for Philip. Every chapter is 10 years in his life and chapter after chapter I was finding him always alone, 10 years older and with that pain still strong, so strong to blind him to any other possibility. And to make thing worse, Eddie, even if dead, chapter after chapter was coming out like a wonderful man, someone who Philip was right to mourn. How was it possible for him to forget and going on with his life?
So no, in the end I was not expecting an happily ever after for Philip, but I didn’t feel cheated by it; the author was plainly clear from the first page, Eddie was dead and there wouldn’t have been no coming back of the good soldier for relieving Philip of his grief. The only thing I was expecting was for Philip to find a way to be at peace with his pain, to find a way to stop to believe in an happily ever after. Oh guys, I’m in tear right now, writing this sentence, since I can still feel Philip’s pain and it’s so strong, but I can also feel Eddie’s love for him and also it’s stronger, so stronger that even 40 years after, he is still able to give an hope to Philip, the hope that also him can have an happily ever after. In a way, to be happy again, Philip had to finally being angry with Eddie, for being an hero, being angry with him for the exact reason why he loved and still loves him so much.
So in the end, if the purpose of this anthology was to make me cry, well it reached it. I didn’t cry for Alex Beecroft’s story, in a way it’s a sweet and light story with little angst; I didn’t cry for Mark Probst’s story, I enjoyed the setting, but not so much the characters; I maybe almost cried for Jordan Taylor’s story, but as I said, there was an oppressive atmosphere, and truth be told, the love between the two men was only hinted (the scene in the darkness when Fisher tries with all his remaining strength to reach for Darnell, that was the scene that almost brought me in tears)… but boys, how I cried and still am crying for E.N. Holland’s story! If you want a reason to read the anthology, well this story is your reason.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979777380/?...
There is a mix of all the best novels by Alex Beecroft in this novella. Of course there is, the setting is the same she loves so much, a military ship sailing in stranger seas, and there are two men, two officers, who fall in love. Where is the difference? Well maybe in the way the story starts, they are safe and in love in Rio de Janeiro, retired from the Army and enjoying an almost “marriage” bliss. So here is the main difference, we can read of their story, and fear for them, but we know that, in the end, they will find a way to stay together.
And at the beginning I also thought that Alex Beecroft had become more daring, the first scene, with one of them sleepless at night looking at his naked lover in bed was quite erotic, was it the prelude to a sexier story? But no, as usual, there is a lot of hidden eroticism, desires and forbidden thirsts, but all happens behind a closed door.
The very nice thing of this novella is the narration path. First Harry, the captain, and then Garnet, his lieutenant, tell their own story from the different perspective they saw it. And from their narration you can understand the men. Harry is conservative and almost shy, despite his rank, he is not arrogant, and maybe he is also a bit naive; when he realizes his feelings for Garnet he is both tempted than troubled, and above all he thinks to be alone in his desires, that he could almost corrupt the lesser officer. And then we read Garnet’s point of view, how he almost seduced Harry, how he was always aware of the forbidden desire of the man, that were the same as his. Garnet in a way fill the voids Harry’s narration left and he is also the spirited one, who probably gives a bit of spice to the entire story.
Not to Reason Why by Mark R. Probst
When you are telling a story set in the middle of the war between Army and Native Americans, 1876, and you are aware of how tragic it was, it’s quite difficult to have an happily ever after romance. Plus, if you add to that that one of the main character is married and apparently content of his life, the quest for romance is even harder.
Brett and Dermot are fellow officers, but Dermot has also the sacred fire for his mission and instead Brett was forced into it. Dermot has all settled in front of him, a long and satisfying career in the Army, a wife who is willing to wait for him, and a good friend in Brett. On the other hand, Brett has nothing sure, the only thing he certainly knows, since it is eating him alive, is that he is in love with Dermot and that love it’s not only forbidden, it’s also impossible.
From the first pages the reader knows that the story is heaving on angst, the only thing that console him is that, in the end, Brett finds the courage to express his feelings for Dermot, and Dermot proves to be the good man Brett thought he was and the reader had the chance to see. And maybe, there is even a little possibility that a romance for Brett is at hand.
I like that, for once, it wasn’t the “gay” character the perfect one; if you compare Dermot and Brett, probably Dermot is a better man, he is not only a good officer and a good husband, but he is also able to accept Brett for who he is, a good friend, and not for who he loves, another man. On the other hand, I think Brett is a very troubled man, and not so strong: he is not a bad man, but he is for sure not perfect like Dermot. And in the end, if I have to choose, I probably prefer him to Dermot, not since he is gay, but since I have always preferred the imperfect one; but some of Brett’s actions are not exactly what I would expect from a novel’s hero.
No Darkness by Jordan Taylor
Again I had the feeling from the beginning of the story that I wouldn’t find an happily ever after here. I don’t know, but every story I read involving the WWI has never had an happily ever after. I remember my history professor told us that the WWI marked a passage in the way men did was, they lost their quality of men to become meat to slaughter. And the men in command lost their quality of knights to become even more detached from the simple soldiers.
Darnell is a lieutenant, and Fisher a simple soldier. There is no reason for them to be together if not for the war and a bomb that traps them in a cellar of an abandoned farm. In the hours they are forced to be together, Darnell and Fisher learn that they have more in common of what they thought; it’s not a clear discovery, more a play of unsaid words and uncompleted motions. Fisher is more open than Darnell, even in his childish memories the reader seems to find some sign of what Fisher is trying to communicate to Darnell, and instead for Darnell it’s more a play to understand what he is not saying: he is married but doesn’t want children. He has a good wife but he doesn’t seem to miss her so much other than missing the simple life they had together. There is a lot of possibilities for these two men, and they come out from the “darkness” in a strong way to the reader, but still, in the end, the darkness is stronger than them.
The reader is aware that Darnell and Fisher can be something more for each other. And this is the reason why, sorry, I don’t understand why the story has to be so tragic, to be faithful to the history? Since the war was so cruel that it couldn’t have been different? I can understand that, but still, I prefer to have at least a smallest chance to a better future, for how much unbelievable it could be.
Our One and Only by E.N. Holland
This is probably a very unexpected pleasure to read. Unexpected since ab absurdo, this was the most sad of all the story above, one of the two lovers of the story is already dead at the beginning of it, and from that moment on, all we read is how the remaining one has to cope with his pain, a pain he can share with only few people, the one who were aware that Philip was not only a dear friend of Eddie.
This story had me almost in tear, above all since I was not seeing any chance of happiness for Philip. Every chapter is 10 years in his life and chapter after chapter I was finding him always alone, 10 years older and with that pain still strong, so strong to blind him to any other possibility. And to make thing worse, Eddie, even if dead, chapter after chapter was coming out like a wonderful man, someone who Philip was right to mourn. How was it possible for him to forget and going on with his life?
So no, in the end I was not expecting an happily ever after for Philip, but I didn’t feel cheated by it; the author was plainly clear from the first page, Eddie was dead and there wouldn’t have been no coming back of the good soldier for relieving Philip of his grief. The only thing I was expecting was for Philip to find a way to be at peace with his pain, to find a way to stop to believe in an happily ever after. Oh guys, I’m in tear right now, writing this sentence, since I can still feel Philip’s pain and it’s so strong, but I can also feel Eddie’s love for him and also it’s stronger, so stronger that even 40 years after, he is still able to give an hope to Philip, the hope that also him can have an happily ever after. In a way, to be happy again, Philip had to finally being angry with Eddie, for being an hero, being angry with him for the exact reason why he loved and still loves him so much.
So in the end, if the purpose of this anthology was to make me cry, well it reached it. I didn’t cry for Alex Beecroft’s story, in a way it’s a sweet and light story with little angst; I didn’t cry for Mark Probst’s story, I enjoyed the setting, but not so much the characters; I maybe almost cried for Jordan Taylor’s story, but as I said, there was an oppressive atmosphere, and truth be told, the love between the two men was only hinted (the scene in the darkness when Fisher tries with all his remaining strength to reach for Darnell, that was the scene that almost brought me in tears)… but boys, how I cried and still am crying for E.N. Holland’s story! If you want a reason to read the anthology, well this story is your reason.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0979777380/?...
February 4, 2010
This is a well-written anthology detailing the lives of military men as they experience love, loss, pain and hope. Each story depicts a point in time, sometimes days or decades, in the life of a gay man set in a historical setting. Some of the stories have a strong thread of romance and others are not romantic at all. There is only one strong happy ending to the collection of stories so this anthology may not appeal to all romance fans. Historical fans will enjoy the tight descriptions and accuracy of the time periods, even if some of these descriptions are graphic and gory. The writing for most of the anthology is solid with few mistakes and good pacing, yet the tone of the stories is dark and intense. This is not light reading and I had to space the stories out as some are almost depressing in their intensity.
The anthology begins with "Blessed Isle" by Alex Beecroft. This is a very classic Age of Sail period piece where the story is told in journal style with heavy talking to the reader. The writing alternates between the two men’s point of views as they recall the events that happened from their ill fated first meeting to finding happiness together in Brazil. The story starts in first person present tense from Harry’s point of view and is awkward and difficult to get into. The descriptions are overblown with so many color analogies that they blend together and lose the richness of the prose. The formal diction and use of numerous similes stalls the beginning of the story.
However once the point of view switches to the more engaging voice of Garnet, the story picks up significantly. Here the use of first person past tense moves the story quickly while injecting humor and flavor into the writing. The contrasting personalities of the two men become more evident as the superfluous details lessen to focus on the story itself and the men. Even when the story switches back to Harry’s point of view, the focus on telling a past story helps keep the pace moving swiftly. The characters are fully drawn and developed, showing the flaws to their person as much as their qualities. Their journey is interesting while staying within the bounds of historical accuracy. The strong thread of romance, love, and equally strong happy ending should satisfy romance fans and especially historical romance fans. Once past the initial chapter, this story was fun to read and engaging with two dynamic men.
The next offering is Mark Probst’s "Not to Reason Why." This historical is set against the backdrop of Custer’s Last Stand or the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Brett and Dermot are both in the 7th Cavalry and march under Custer’s orders to fight the Sioux refusing to stay on reservations. The story sets up the characters and carries them through the last few fateful months before and after the life changing battle. The characters beyond Brett are less developed though each is given life and texture, even Dermot’s wife and young solider Daniel. Brett is the main character and his actions are the focus from his affection to Dermot to the battle itself. The secret love and affection Brett holds for the married Dermot is sad, especially considering that emotion is not reciprocated.
The battle scene included in the story is the most graphic and gory of the anthology. While perhaps historically accurate, the tight descriptions, vivid prose, and enthralling voice all create a gripping story amid the bloody violence taking place. The character of Brett in all his charms and flaws shines through in both frustrating and sympathetic ways. The depth of his emotions, pain, loss, and choices are evident and surprising given the shorter length of the story. The novella is not romantic though and has an ambiguous ending. While I enjoyed reading this story and even more so the writing and prose chosen, the tone is very dark. This should appeal easily to history and literature fans.
However the darkest of the anthology is the story from Jordan Taylor called "No Darkness." Here two British soldiers are trapped in a moldy, decaying basement when unexpected shelling drops on the abandoned farmhouse they stopped at. Although the two expect to die in the basement, they comfort each other by sharing stories of their past while working to dig themselves out of the caved in basement. With one of the men gravely injured and the other becoming injured, their story is dark and depressing but is somewhat saved in the strong and evocative writing with crisp prose and descriptions. The characters are well drawn and breathe with life and intensity through their very depressing situation.
The only drawback is that the emotional connection and bond between the men fell flat. While no doubt these men bonded over their shared situation, the personalities of the two men clashed to the point their attempted romance fell short. There is very little romance to the story but there are awkward and clumsy attempts to show the two developing deeper feelings for each other which felt artificial and unreal. The deepest emotion came at the end but even the ending is unsatisfying. The story is engaging and kept me guessing about the fate of the two men but ultimately this is the one story of the anthology I wouldn’t read again. The unsatisfying ending combined with the stiff attempts at an absent emotional connection had this well written story falling short for me unfortunately.
Last, but certainly not least, is E.N. Holland’s lovely story "Our One and Only." This story chronicles one man’s life in the forty years that passes after the death of his young lover in the second round of D-Day. Here Phillip spends his life mostly alone and mourning his dead friend and lover. He maintains a close relationship with the dead Eddie’s family and even becomes pen pals with a woman Eddie met in France. The story shows the depths of love and loss and the painful recovery process. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the writing elicits a great deal of emotion from scene to scene. The moving story and lovely descriptions create a sweet melancholy romance.
The ending of Holland’s story is not a strong happy ending even though the story is thick with romance and emotion. The ending is one of hope and promise and fitting given the characters and story. The writing is strong and tight with few errors but there is an overuse of italics that jars the reading experience and flow. Other than that, while being the longest story, it read the fastest and was one of the most enjoyable to read even though it is very sad and dark.
Overall this is a great anthology that highlights historical men in the military in realistic and moving ways. Since the collection of stories is so dark and intense, I’d suggest reading them individually rather than the entire anthology at once. Their depth and emotion will not overwhelm then. Either way, this well written collection will appeal to literature fans easily.
The anthology begins with "Blessed Isle" by Alex Beecroft. This is a very classic Age of Sail period piece where the story is told in journal style with heavy talking to the reader. The writing alternates between the two men’s point of views as they recall the events that happened from their ill fated first meeting to finding happiness together in Brazil. The story starts in first person present tense from Harry’s point of view and is awkward and difficult to get into. The descriptions are overblown with so many color analogies that they blend together and lose the richness of the prose. The formal diction and use of numerous similes stalls the beginning of the story.
However once the point of view switches to the more engaging voice of Garnet, the story picks up significantly. Here the use of first person past tense moves the story quickly while injecting humor and flavor into the writing. The contrasting personalities of the two men become more evident as the superfluous details lessen to focus on the story itself and the men. Even when the story switches back to Harry’s point of view, the focus on telling a past story helps keep the pace moving swiftly. The characters are fully drawn and developed, showing the flaws to their person as much as their qualities. Their journey is interesting while staying within the bounds of historical accuracy. The strong thread of romance, love, and equally strong happy ending should satisfy romance fans and especially historical romance fans. Once past the initial chapter, this story was fun to read and engaging with two dynamic men.
The next offering is Mark Probst’s "Not to Reason Why." This historical is set against the backdrop of Custer’s Last Stand or the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Brett and Dermot are both in the 7th Cavalry and march under Custer’s orders to fight the Sioux refusing to stay on reservations. The story sets up the characters and carries them through the last few fateful months before and after the life changing battle. The characters beyond Brett are less developed though each is given life and texture, even Dermot’s wife and young solider Daniel. Brett is the main character and his actions are the focus from his affection to Dermot to the battle itself. The secret love and affection Brett holds for the married Dermot is sad, especially considering that emotion is not reciprocated.
The battle scene included in the story is the most graphic and gory of the anthology. While perhaps historically accurate, the tight descriptions, vivid prose, and enthralling voice all create a gripping story amid the bloody violence taking place. The character of Brett in all his charms and flaws shines through in both frustrating and sympathetic ways. The depth of his emotions, pain, loss, and choices are evident and surprising given the shorter length of the story. The novella is not romantic though and has an ambiguous ending. While I enjoyed reading this story and even more so the writing and prose chosen, the tone is very dark. This should appeal easily to history and literature fans.
However the darkest of the anthology is the story from Jordan Taylor called "No Darkness." Here two British soldiers are trapped in a moldy, decaying basement when unexpected shelling drops on the abandoned farmhouse they stopped at. Although the two expect to die in the basement, they comfort each other by sharing stories of their past while working to dig themselves out of the caved in basement. With one of the men gravely injured and the other becoming injured, their story is dark and depressing but is somewhat saved in the strong and evocative writing with crisp prose and descriptions. The characters are well drawn and breathe with life and intensity through their very depressing situation.
The only drawback is that the emotional connection and bond between the men fell flat. While no doubt these men bonded over their shared situation, the personalities of the two men clashed to the point their attempted romance fell short. There is very little romance to the story but there are awkward and clumsy attempts to show the two developing deeper feelings for each other which felt artificial and unreal. The deepest emotion came at the end but even the ending is unsatisfying. The story is engaging and kept me guessing about the fate of the two men but ultimately this is the one story of the anthology I wouldn’t read again. The unsatisfying ending combined with the stiff attempts at an absent emotional connection had this well written story falling short for me unfortunately.
Last, but certainly not least, is E.N. Holland’s lovely story "Our One and Only." This story chronicles one man’s life in the forty years that passes after the death of his young lover in the second round of D-Day. Here Phillip spends his life mostly alone and mourning his dead friend and lover. He maintains a close relationship with the dead Eddie’s family and even becomes pen pals with a woman Eddie met in France. The story shows the depths of love and loss and the painful recovery process. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the writing elicits a great deal of emotion from scene to scene. The moving story and lovely descriptions create a sweet melancholy romance.
The ending of Holland’s story is not a strong happy ending even though the story is thick with romance and emotion. The ending is one of hope and promise and fitting given the characters and story. The writing is strong and tight with few errors but there is an overuse of italics that jars the reading experience and flow. Other than that, while being the longest story, it read the fastest and was one of the most enjoyable to read even though it is very sad and dark.
Overall this is a great anthology that highlights historical men in the military in realistic and moving ways. Since the collection of stories is so dark and intense, I’d suggest reading them individually rather than the entire anthology at once. Their depth and emotion will not overwhelm then. Either way, this well written collection will appeal to literature fans easily.
September 9, 2011
Hidden Conflict is a collection of four historical novellas chronicling the lives of closeted gay military men. Timewise, they run from the late 18th Century to WWII, but in tone and mood they seem to cover even more ground. Approach this one with an open mind because while the first and last stories are traditional romances, the middle two (literally and figuratively the "meat" of the book) are fairly unsentimental and downright gritty.
Mainstream gay romance writer Alex Beecroft has a lovely way with words and her research here is evident. Her 18th Century seafaring epic, "The Blessed Isle" is overflowing with lush imagery and historical detail. But occasionally both went into overkill, distracting from the action, rather than enhancing it. Sometimes less is more. But overall a fun piece. A love story told in successive diary entries by two British sailors, it’s peppered with the tropes of the m/m romance genre - the jocular teasing/flirting, the compulsory injured pride and the petulant lovers’ quarrels. This one is more of a guilty pleasure than any reflection of real-life. If you’re looking to read about what things may have been like for homosexual sailors in Jane Austen’s England, you aren’t going to find it here. This is a sensual and deeply romantic love story. Escapist? No doubt. Enjoyable? Sure. Historical? Not so much.
The last novella, "Our One and Only" is the story of Philip Cormier who is left a "war widow" after his lover, Eddie Fiske, is killed in WWII. Author E.N. Holland re-visits him every decade, showing us a stifled, lonely man unable to move on with his life. An endearing character, Cormier ages into the stereotypical bachelor uncle to Eddie’s nieces and nephews, but Holland spoils any potential pathos by amping up his bitterness over not being allowed to grieve publicly. While I agree with the politics, from a literary standpoint the story would have been much more powerful if her protagonist was merely sorrowful, rather than angry. Better to leave the outrage to her readers. But putting the overly obvious politicking aside, it makes for an engaging character study.
Mark Probst’s "Not to Reason Why" offers an harrowing account of Custer’s last stand. An obvious fan of tales of the old West, this is a meticulously researched version of the famous battle that one is not likely to find in your standard high school history text. I think romance readers might have a hard time here. This story is bloody and unsettling, with a youthful narrator who [inwardly] questions the morality of the unwinnable battle he’s being forced to fight as well as the motives of the vainglorious leader who is marching them to their deaths. Oh yeah, did I mention? In case you don’t know your history - there isn’t any happy ending here. It should also be noted that the gay aspect of the story is almost completely incidental to the plot and, personally, I found the ending to be a bit of a head scratcher. But nonetheless, a truly suspenseful and chilling read.
My favorite piece is "No Darkness" by Jordan Taylor. It takes place during the First World War, an era for which I have a particular fondness. After an explosion, two men - an officer and an enlisted man - get trapped alone together under the rubble of a house. Taylor does a wonderful job capturing those Chariots of Fire/Brideshead Revisited types - all crisp English reserve masking emotions and desires seething just below the surface. This is an intimate story, in its setting and tone, and it’s romantic without being obvious. And all the more poignant because it doesn’t deliver the expected ending all neatly tied up with a bow.
I recommend this collection to any gay fiction lover. It offers a romantic escape for readers who tend to gravitate toward more realistic, contemporary themes and a dose of reality for those who choose romance novels to the exclusion of all else. Check your preconceptions at the door and give it a shot.
Mainstream gay romance writer Alex Beecroft has a lovely way with words and her research here is evident. Her 18th Century seafaring epic, "The Blessed Isle" is overflowing with lush imagery and historical detail. But occasionally both went into overkill, distracting from the action, rather than enhancing it. Sometimes less is more. But overall a fun piece. A love story told in successive diary entries by two British sailors, it’s peppered with the tropes of the m/m romance genre - the jocular teasing/flirting, the compulsory injured pride and the petulant lovers’ quarrels. This one is more of a guilty pleasure than any reflection of real-life. If you’re looking to read about what things may have been like for homosexual sailors in Jane Austen’s England, you aren’t going to find it here. This is a sensual and deeply romantic love story. Escapist? No doubt. Enjoyable? Sure. Historical? Not so much.
The last novella, "Our One and Only" is the story of Philip Cormier who is left a "war widow" after his lover, Eddie Fiske, is killed in WWII. Author E.N. Holland re-visits him every decade, showing us a stifled, lonely man unable to move on with his life. An endearing character, Cormier ages into the stereotypical bachelor uncle to Eddie’s nieces and nephews, but Holland spoils any potential pathos by amping up his bitterness over not being allowed to grieve publicly. While I agree with the politics, from a literary standpoint the story would have been much more powerful if her protagonist was merely sorrowful, rather than angry. Better to leave the outrage to her readers. But putting the overly obvious politicking aside, it makes for an engaging character study.
Mark Probst’s "Not to Reason Why" offers an harrowing account of Custer’s last stand. An obvious fan of tales of the old West, this is a meticulously researched version of the famous battle that one is not likely to find in your standard high school history text. I think romance readers might have a hard time here. This story is bloody and unsettling, with a youthful narrator who [inwardly] questions the morality of the unwinnable battle he’s being forced to fight as well as the motives of the vainglorious leader who is marching them to their deaths. Oh yeah, did I mention? In case you don’t know your history - there isn’t any happy ending here. It should also be noted that the gay aspect of the story is almost completely incidental to the plot and, personally, I found the ending to be a bit of a head scratcher. But nonetheless, a truly suspenseful and chilling read.
My favorite piece is "No Darkness" by Jordan Taylor. It takes place during the First World War, an era for which I have a particular fondness. After an explosion, two men - an officer and an enlisted man - get trapped alone together under the rubble of a house. Taylor does a wonderful job capturing those Chariots of Fire/Brideshead Revisited types - all crisp English reserve masking emotions and desires seething just below the surface. This is an intimate story, in its setting and tone, and it’s romantic without being obvious. And all the more poignant because it doesn’t deliver the expected ending all neatly tied up with a bow.
I recommend this collection to any gay fiction lover. It offers a romantic escape for readers who tend to gravitate toward more realistic, contemporary themes and a dose of reality for those who choose romance novels to the exclusion of all else. Check your preconceptions at the door and give it a shot.
November 14, 2009
This is a beautifully crafted book by four different authors. The stories are all very different but have an on going theme.... loss. It is not a romance at all but it is romantic. The title tell all. The hidden conflict is more about being gay and hidden than about any war. A throughly enjoyable, if not emotional read. I am writing this after reading the last short story which I think makes the book.
May 21, 2010
Beecroft's story is the strongest, but I also found myself thinking about No Darkness, the story set in WWI. That story has stuck with me.
I really appreciate that Beecroft story in part because of the clever method of telling the story. I was wary at first because I thought the double POV in a journal was a stunt, but now I can't imagine the story could be told as well any other way. I'd give that a five if I could.
I really appreciate that Beecroft story in part because of the clever method of telling the story. I was wary at first because I thought the double POV in a journal was a stunt, but now I can't imagine the story could be told as well any other way. I'd give that a five if I could.
June 2, 2023
"We don't have cemeteries for the dead people, you know. They exist for the loved ones left behind".
This one had been in my to-read shelf for almost five years but I have to say it was an easy read. The novellas really varied in quality but they all seem to come from the time where the only invariability regarding LGBTIQ+ stories was that they could not have a happy ending under any circumstances. The first novella is perhaps a respite but excessive drama binds the story collection together. The way some of the authors described the love was somewhat clumsy -and do not get me started with the ridiculous sex scenes. At times it really read like a fanfiction written for women by women (we have BL stories for that, thank you very much). The setting was, however, lush in the first two novellas, but the last one made me roll my eyes so many times, especially when in France. I kind of pity about the confidante by the way, what kind of role in life is that? And does anyone still find romantic or heroic being in love with a dead person over decades?
This one had been in my to-read shelf for almost five years but I have to say it was an easy read. The novellas really varied in quality but they all seem to come from the time where the only invariability regarding LGBTIQ+ stories was that they could not have a happy ending under any circumstances. The first novella is perhaps a respite but excessive drama binds the story collection together. The way some of the authors described the love was somewhat clumsy -and do not get me started with the ridiculous sex scenes. At times it really read like a fanfiction written for women by women (we have BL stories for that, thank you very much). The setting was, however, lush in the first two novellas, but the last one made me roll my eyes so many times, especially when in France. I kind of pity about the confidante by the way, what kind of role in life is that? And does anyone still find romantic or heroic being in love with a dead person over decades?
April 11, 2010
Book Review: Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle.
Reviewed by Alan Chin
Pubished by Bristlecone Pine Press
This quartet of novellas explores different perspectives of gay soldiers affected by war and violence. Four stories told by four different authors. Each story depicts a unique situation in a different historical setting, and each is told with a distinctive voice. These stories are not romances, although some have strong romantic threads. They are an interesting study of the issues gay soldiers and their loved ones face while serving in a military that blatantly discriminates against them.
My favorite of the four was Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft, only because I’m a sucker for well-told sea stories. And sea tales set in the Age of Sails, like this one, are a particular favorite of mine. This yarn chronicles the last voyage of the British ship Banshee, which goes horribly wrong and ends in a mutiny. The result lands Captain Harry Thompson and his Lieutenant Garnet Litteton on a deserted island where a romance blossoms. Not a small thing considering the penalty for such relations was hanging from a yardarm until dead.
Even though the author’s rich descriptions and concern for detail often slows the pacing, the author keeps the story interesting while staying within the bounds of historical accuracy. Beecroft uses a rather cleaver device to alternate between two men telling the story, both in first-person. The contrasting personalities vying to tell the story adds interest and humor. These two characters are brilliantly drawn and kept me turning pages.
Mark R. Probst’s Not To Reason Why is set within Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry on the eve of their fateful rendezvous at the Little Big Horn. Corporal Brett Price and Sergeant Dermot Kerrigan serve together in the same unit. Brett develops a crush on his married sergeant, and the hardship of trailing the Sioux renegades brings them closer together – close enough for Brett to confess his feelings to his friend. He is rewarded with a single kiss of loving friendship, but in return must promise to care for Dermot’s wife should something terrible happen during the upcoming battle.
From the first few pages of his tale, the reader knows where it is going and what will happen. But regardless of knowing the outcome, this extremely well-written story kept me engrossed. It is a tale of comradeship, of two men with different kinds of love for each other, of the camaraderie between men trapped in a desperate situation. It blends touching intimacy with soldiers’ horseplay and horrific battle scenes. And believe it or not, the ending is both surprising and uplifting. My one trivial complaint is that the minor characters could have been more fully developed. That aside, the tight descriptions and vivid prose make this a touching and gripping story.
Two British soldiers on the Western Front of WWI are trapped in a bombed out cellar in Jordan Taylor’s No Darkness. Lieutenant Darnell is straight as an arrow, while the injured Private Fisher is gay. While waiting for a rescue which never comes, the two men pass the time by swapping stories of their past. There is no trace of romance between these two, but the private’s sexuality is made clear and they come to an acceptance, and eventually even closeness. They form a tenuous bond while digging their way to freedom, but of course, for some there can be no freedom. This is a dark, and yet fascinating tale.
In many ways I thought this the most powerful story of the four. I was fascinated by their gripping situation. Yet, it had a particularly fatal flaw. With both men trapped in darkness for most of the story, there was little chance for the author to describe the surroundings, or for the characters to have much action. The result was mostly dialog. Because of that, I felt the tension between the characters often fell flat, and the emotional connection just didn’t ring true, or at least it was completely overshadowed by the desperateness of their situation. Still, I couldn’t put it down.
The fourth and final story is E.N. Holland’s Our One and Only. Phillip spends a long weekend at the seashore with his lover Eddie before Eddie is shipped off to England during WWII. On the second round of D-Day, Eddie is killed. This story chronicles forty years of Phillip’s life after Eddie’s death, alone, desperately clinging to the memory of Eddie, and yet not being able to talk about that love to anyone. This story reveals Phillip’s depth of love, pain of loss, and the hardship of recovery. It also demonstrates the torment of having to keep all the grief bottled up inside. It is a moving, rather melancholy story. And although the story is depressing, it ends on a note of hope.
Although this is a compelling and interesting read that I highly recommend, I had two issues with it. The first is the author’s taste for minute detail, which often slows the pacing to a crawl. I felt that the word count could have been cut in half, and the result would have been a much more powerful story. My second issues was that, although Phillip gained my total sympathy early on, as the story progressed, decade after decade, I slowly became annoyed with him for not moving on with his life. Mourning for five or even ten years, I heartily sympathize. Fifteen or twenty years is pure self-indulgence. Forty years? I’m sorry, I lost all sympathy for him. I felt the author stretched a great idea too far. Still, I found the characters richly realized, the feelings genuine. I enjoyed the upbeat ending, and indeed the entire story.
Hidden Conflict is an intriguing exploration of gay men in the military. It is a book I will read again and again. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Alan Chin
Pubished by Bristlecone Pine Press
This quartet of novellas explores different perspectives of gay soldiers affected by war and violence. Four stories told by four different authors. Each story depicts a unique situation in a different historical setting, and each is told with a distinctive voice. These stories are not romances, although some have strong romantic threads. They are an interesting study of the issues gay soldiers and their loved ones face while serving in a military that blatantly discriminates against them.
My favorite of the four was Blessed Isle by Alex Beecroft, only because I’m a sucker for well-told sea stories. And sea tales set in the Age of Sails, like this one, are a particular favorite of mine. This yarn chronicles the last voyage of the British ship Banshee, which goes horribly wrong and ends in a mutiny. The result lands Captain Harry Thompson and his Lieutenant Garnet Litteton on a deserted island where a romance blossoms. Not a small thing considering the penalty for such relations was hanging from a yardarm until dead.
Even though the author’s rich descriptions and concern for detail often slows the pacing, the author keeps the story interesting while staying within the bounds of historical accuracy. Beecroft uses a rather cleaver device to alternate between two men telling the story, both in first-person. The contrasting personalities vying to tell the story adds interest and humor. These two characters are brilliantly drawn and kept me turning pages.
Mark R. Probst’s Not To Reason Why is set within Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry on the eve of their fateful rendezvous at the Little Big Horn. Corporal Brett Price and Sergeant Dermot Kerrigan serve together in the same unit. Brett develops a crush on his married sergeant, and the hardship of trailing the Sioux renegades brings them closer together – close enough for Brett to confess his feelings to his friend. He is rewarded with a single kiss of loving friendship, but in return must promise to care for Dermot’s wife should something terrible happen during the upcoming battle.
From the first few pages of his tale, the reader knows where it is going and what will happen. But regardless of knowing the outcome, this extremely well-written story kept me engrossed. It is a tale of comradeship, of two men with different kinds of love for each other, of the camaraderie between men trapped in a desperate situation. It blends touching intimacy with soldiers’ horseplay and horrific battle scenes. And believe it or not, the ending is both surprising and uplifting. My one trivial complaint is that the minor characters could have been more fully developed. That aside, the tight descriptions and vivid prose make this a touching and gripping story.
Two British soldiers on the Western Front of WWI are trapped in a bombed out cellar in Jordan Taylor’s No Darkness. Lieutenant Darnell is straight as an arrow, while the injured Private Fisher is gay. While waiting for a rescue which never comes, the two men pass the time by swapping stories of their past. There is no trace of romance between these two, but the private’s sexuality is made clear and they come to an acceptance, and eventually even closeness. They form a tenuous bond while digging their way to freedom, but of course, for some there can be no freedom. This is a dark, and yet fascinating tale.
In many ways I thought this the most powerful story of the four. I was fascinated by their gripping situation. Yet, it had a particularly fatal flaw. With both men trapped in darkness for most of the story, there was little chance for the author to describe the surroundings, or for the characters to have much action. The result was mostly dialog. Because of that, I felt the tension between the characters often fell flat, and the emotional connection just didn’t ring true, or at least it was completely overshadowed by the desperateness of their situation. Still, I couldn’t put it down.
The fourth and final story is E.N. Holland’s Our One and Only. Phillip spends a long weekend at the seashore with his lover Eddie before Eddie is shipped off to England during WWII. On the second round of D-Day, Eddie is killed. This story chronicles forty years of Phillip’s life after Eddie’s death, alone, desperately clinging to the memory of Eddie, and yet not being able to talk about that love to anyone. This story reveals Phillip’s depth of love, pain of loss, and the hardship of recovery. It also demonstrates the torment of having to keep all the grief bottled up inside. It is a moving, rather melancholy story. And although the story is depressing, it ends on a note of hope.
Although this is a compelling and interesting read that I highly recommend, I had two issues with it. The first is the author’s taste for minute detail, which often slows the pacing to a crawl. I felt that the word count could have been cut in half, and the result would have been a much more powerful story. My second issues was that, although Phillip gained my total sympathy early on, as the story progressed, decade after decade, I slowly became annoyed with him for not moving on with his life. Mourning for five or even ten years, I heartily sympathize. Fifteen or twenty years is pure self-indulgence. Forty years? I’m sorry, I lost all sympathy for him. I felt the author stretched a great idea too far. Still, I found the characters richly realized, the feelings genuine. I enjoyed the upbeat ending, and indeed the entire story.
Hidden Conflict is an intriguing exploration of gay men in the military. It is a book I will read again and again. I highly recommend it.
June 29, 2011
War is hell, clearly. Lots of bad things happen in these four novellas depicting gay(?) men in times of war. Highly recommended, though not the sort of thing I'd rush to reread! No Darkness, by Jordan Taylor, while arguably my personal fav of the collection, also left me the most emotionally drained (and, really, could anything else have possibly gone wrong for those two guys?).
February 3, 2010
A terrific review of Hidden Conflict was posted yesterday. You can read it here:
http://blog.outinprint.net/2010/01/24...
Thanks, Wayne for the positive review!
http://blog.outinprint.net/2010/01/24...
Thanks, Wayne for the positive review!
June 13, 2010
Interesting mix of historical time frames. Each of the four stories was unique and enjoyable. I had expected a little bit more romance, but I was disappointed because the themes were interesting nevertheless.
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