The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

The time: mid-1960s.
The place: Aden (now Yemen).
The context: a small British war which I’d not heard of before! Wikipedia (I know, I know…) outlines the Aden Emergency as “…an insurgency against the British Crown forces in the British controlled territories of South Arabia which now form part of the Yemen. [Beginning] on 10 December 1963 with the throwing of a grenade at a gathering of British officials at Aden Airport …the emergency escalated in 1967 and hastened the end of British rule in the territory which had begun in 1839. On 30 November 1967, British forces withdrew and the independent People's Republic of South Yemen was proclaimed.”

The hero/protagonist: Lt ‘Harry’ Deacon stoically tries to keep morale up for his band of men, whether guarding checkpoints, unloading supplies, patrolling city streets or taking part in covert military action. Deacon has run away from scandal back in UK by joining the armed forces. The army, his men, his superiors and his duty to crown and country has become his entire world – and it has become a confining, lonely existence for him indeed.

Deacon is constantly put into his place by bully-boy superiors who never let him forget his Croydon sociological roots and his lack of higher education. Local population insurgents (the Adoo) have taken their battle for independence into the British troop barely-controlled city precincts and Deacon tries hard not to let the daily mortar bombings, grenade attacks grind him down. The ‘enemy’ has become harder to spot amongst the civilian population and danger lurks everywhere. The author does an incredible job with providing the war atmosphere and for giving amazing scenic descriptions of local places, buildings, businesses, watering holes etc.

The secondary characters: Two characters are introduced into Deacon’s regimented and stark world – lovely Clemmie Ross (brigadier’s daughter) and dashing dare-devil Captain Villiers (who possess charm, physical allure and charismatic magnetism by the bucketload). Deacon is attracted to both in different ways and their friendship, influence and relational demands crack open Deacon’s tightly controlled emotional prison and thrusts him onto a social and career pathway from which he will not be able to return. Will his trust and friendship be betrayed? Can he trust anyone with his darkest secrets from his former life – remember this is the British armed forces in the mid-1960’s (around the same time setting as Elliott Mackle's Captain Joe Harding books).

Aiding Deacon in his troop management, Corporal David Lockett is Deacon’s resourceful, ebullient, long-suffering and terminally cheerful aide-de-camp. I LOVE Lockett’s character – he ranks as my current favorite character for my 2014 readings. Lockett’s quips, insights, army grape-vine gossip, witty asides, know-how for social graces and fashion tips … all add much needed levity, humour and serve as foil against the increasingly darker backdrop of mounting violence and senseless killings.

The author does not pull back from the brutality of war – torture, revenge killings and retaliations, disregard for civilian casualties. Deacon becomes increasingly unsettled by the British Army’s methods for ‘keeping the peace’, and especially once he’s been recruited to join an ‘elite’ strike-force group within the regular army troops for ‘guerrilla warfare’. Will his sense of personal integrity and human decency survive all that he’s required to do and to turn a blind eye toward?

For those who love the Captain Harding books or Marquesate & Vashtan’s magnificent Afghanistan war-romance saga – this book will suit you down to a tee. A suitably thrilling sequence of dangerous events lead toward an explosive and totally unexpected ending (one which can be interpreted differently by individual readers). Not everyone will be pleased but I found it courageous, inspiring and satisfying, and would very much love a sequel (like many other fans of the book). I’m still thinking about Deacon and Lockett and Clemmie and Chi a day after finishing the book. Bravo to Dorgan for a superb book which captured my attention and imagination.

Oh and the title comes from the lyrics of the Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody – one of my more favourite tunes!

This is a very good book! Thanks for recommending it. Clever, quietly understated writing that nevertheless packs a powerful punch.

The ending's ambiguous; it's hard to talk about it, without giving away too much. But yes, a sequel would help greatly. :)

Aussie54 wrote: "This is a very good book! Thanks for recommending it. Clever, quietly understated writing that nevertheless packs a powerful punch.

The ending's ambiguous; it's hard to talk about it, without givi..."

So glad you liked it. The characters stayed in my mind for days afterward.

PaperMoon wrote: "Aussie54 wrote: "This is a very good book! Thanks for recommending it. Clever, quietly understated writing that nevertheless packs a powerful punch.

The ending's ambiguous; it's hard to talk about..."

PaperMoon wrote: "Aussie54 wrote: "This is a very good book! Thanks for recommending it. Clever, quietly understated writing that nevertheless packs a powerful punch.

The ending's ambiguous; it's hard to talk about..."

What a shame that that negative review's at the top of the page here on Goodreads. It's a real pity.

I know!! Such a pain that the ranking system highlights those reviewers who has a lot of friends who 'like' their comments (whether they've read the book for themselves or not).

All that shows is that that particular negative reviewer commands a lot of 'popular clout'. Sigh ...

Paper 'n Aussie
Thank you for your kind words and support but don't be too troubled on my behalf by the top listing negative review here. I take it as it comes and accept that I will not please all. I also have a faith that if its good enough it will win through, eventually. And with support from readers like you how can I be wrong! As a special favour to that faith I can let you know that Open Arms was conceived as part one of a trilogy and that Deacon, Lockett, Chi, Clemmie and Villiers would be followed to another book set ten years later in the 1970s. So in my authors eye Deacon survived, and did so by the power of love.

Jasper wrote: "As a special favour to that faith I can let you know that Open Arms was conceived as part one of a trilogy and that Deacon, Lockett, Chi, Clemmie and Villiers would be followed to another book set ten years later in the 1970s. So in my authors eye Deacon survived, and did so by the power of love. "

OMG - thank you soooo much for that news Jasper. I'm OVER THE MOON with joy and very much look forward to what the next decade brings for Deacon and Lockett. You're a champ!

Jasper wrote: "Paper 'n Aussie
Thank you for your kind words and support but don't be too troubled on my behalf by the top listing negative review here. I take it as it comes and accept that I will not please all..."

Ditto to what Paper said!! Thank you for letting us know, it's made my day. :D

Paper & Aussie
It would be great if your reviews could be posted up on the Open Arms of the Sea kindle page on Amazon. Your support much appreciated.
Jasper

Jasper wrote: "Paper & Aussie
It would be great if your reviews could be posted up on the Open Arms of the Sea kindle page on Amazon. Your support much appreciated.
Jasper"

Done. I use the name Sue Lemon there. :)

Jasper wrote: "Paper & Aussie
It would be great if your reviews could be posted up on the Open Arms of the Sea kindle page on Amazon. Your support much appreciated.
Jasper"

OK - done just for you Jasper.

Aussie54 wrote: "Jasper wrote: "Paper & Aussie
It would be great if your reviews could be posted up on the Open Arms of the Sea kindle page on Amazon. Your support much appreciated.
Jasper"

Done. I use the name S..."

Thanks so much Sue,

PaperMoon wrote: "Jasper wrote: "Paper & Aussie
It would be great if your reviews could be posted up on the Open Arms of the Sea kindle page on Amazon. Your support much appreciated.
Jasper"

OK - done just for you ..."

You're a star, thanks.

This novel is one of my favorite reads of recent months, nay years,. Thanks, Ste, so much for recommending it to me..

I would have sworn there were going to be no more novels with these characters if Mr. Dorgan hadn't firmly promised us an actual trilogy.

For me, "Open Arms" ranks with the all-time great military-situated reads including the archetypical "The Charioteer." Loved all the characters, especially Corporal Lockett. Talk about love not daring to declare itself until the last minute! Clemmie is the best, and a note must go out to the morally convoluted Captain\Major Villiers (whom one doesn't know whether to admire or despise.

This book ranks with a recent read: "False Colors" by Alex Beecroft, which also addresses m\m attraction and love in (in that case) the 18th century British Navy. If you like "Open Arms," give "False Colors" a try. And Ste: ONLY 3 stars for "Colors?" Shame! The novel deserves a full 5+, just for the first naval battle scene which is as exciting as Errol Flynn's "Captain Blood."

Mr. D: Any idea when the second novel of the trilogy is going to drop? Heavy drooling on this keypad in anticiipation.

The rest of you, just read this sucker; it's great whether you like military stories or not. An instant classic.

Chuck wrote: "This novel is one of my favorite reads of recent months, nay years,. Thanks, Ste, so much for recommending it to me..

I would have sworn there were going to be no more novels with these characters..."

I'm delighted you loved this read Chuck. And oh the anticipation of seeing our boys in the seventies!

Chuck wrote: "This novel is one of my favorite reads of recent months, nay years,. Thanks, Ste, so much for recommending it to me..

I would have sworn there were going to be no more novels with these characters..."

Thank you for your kind and generous comments Chuck, I'm glad you enjoyed the read. Feel free to share your thoughts on Amazon! Working on sequel, but like all good things, it'll take time.

To all readers and fans of the Open Arms of the Sea I am pleased to share the news that the novel has been short listed for the 2014 Dundee International Book Prize
.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

Jasper wrote: "To all readers and fans of the Open Arms of the Sea I am pleased to share the news that the novel has been short listed for the 2014 Dundee International Book Prize
.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-sc..."

Congratulations! Best of luck.

Oh wow - fantastic news. All the very best Jasper.