Customer Reviews

Esprit de Corps

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I believe that most readers of gay literature will agree that Josh Lanyon is one of the best writers in that genre, but in this collection of 4 novellas I have to give a slight edge to George Seaton, whose piece is the last of the four. The weakest of the quartet is the work of Victor Banis which reads like a clip from a longer piece that was sliced up by some editor who needed to conserve space (read: a question of money). Seaton's "Big Diehl" is compelling because I felt that the author "had been there" and the writing reflected that reality. I think it is likely that I gave a slight edge to Seaton because the locus is contemporary, and none of us today can feel the reality depicted in Lanyon's "Out of the Blue" from WWI. This is a good collection although, once again, I think the publishers are telling the writers to hype up the sex because it sells. So there has to be graphic depiction of sex where everyone has a very big cock or at least a very long one, and anal sex requires the top to pound away and the bottom has to yell for "harder", "more please." Well, we are in the realm of preferences, I suppose, but I am no innocent in these matters, nor do I think the male writers are either. I guess I'm a wuss who thinks romance requires some thoughtfulness for one's partner that precludes "rough". So, I'm expressing a view that is one sided, since many gay men love to be banged around and are not involved with "love" but "play" and simple sexual release. And the opposing view can rightly kiss me off as narrow minded, but for those share my view be aware of what you will find in this collection. [By the way, I happen to like the occasional graphic scenes; I object to being drowned in it--no pun intended.]

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

"Out of the Blue" by Josh Lanyon - 8/10

PROS:
- Some excellent writing. Here's an example: "A crust of frost sparkled on the ground like broken stars and a hint of cordite drifted on the breeze." I just discovered Lanyon pretty recently, and I'm impressed.
- Well-formed and interesting characters.
- Intricate and all-encompassing WWI details. The historical setting is depicted very well. I found the air battles particularly intriguing.
CON:
- Kind of sad. Lots of secondary characters get killed in the course of the story (but I wasn't terribly attached to any of them), and the ending is very open. WWI wasn't really a Happily Ever After kind of time, though.

"Islands" by Samantha Kane - 9/10

PROS:
- The sweetest, most romantic of the 4 stories. It's the only one with an ending that I think qualifies as an unequivocal HEA (although when I squint and hold my tongue just right, I can imagine the others as HEAs also).
- More detailed sex scenes than the other stories. I didn't DISLIKE the sex scenes in the others, but these ones are the most emotional in the book.
- Fairy taleish setting. Even though the story takes place during WWII, the action is set on an island where sexual orientation is not an issue.
CONS:
- I found the ending a little abrupt. There's a long span of time between the end of the novella and the beginning of the epilogue, yet the characters behave as though almost no time has passed. (The island has a timeless quality, though, so I was able to forgive this rather easily.)

"Coming Home" by Victor J. Banis - 8/10

PROS:
- Easy, conversational tone. I wondered for the first few pages whether I was reading fiction or something more along the lines of a memoir.
- Some really funny exposition. This is an early favorite of mine: "Insects start doing it too, when they think the end is near, but I don't do bugs. Ever try to give a bedbug a [bj]? Marines are way better." This is the first story I've read from Banis, but I think I'll read more.
CON:
- Again, I found the story kind of sad overall. There's a turn in the relationship that's pretty disappointing for the narrator, and when the other guy returns from Vietnam, he's changed in a fundamental way, as were most men who fought in `Nam.

"Big Diehl" by George Seaton - 7/10

PROS:
- Good examination of the changes that military service can bring about in a person. There's also quite a bit of ambiguity in Diehl's mind as to what his overall attitude is toward the military--a trait I've seen before in real life.
- Covers a time span of about 6 years really well in a (relatively) small amount of space. I often find large skips in time awkward in writing, but Seaton does well here, especially for a novella-length story.
CONS:
- Some descriptions of Diehl's beginnings are rather horrifying. He rises above his origins, of course, but I didn't enjoy reading the scenes that take place in his hometown. (They are well-written, though.)
- The most depressing of the 4 stories. This one provides a good look at the modern "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the horrors exercised upon servicemen whose sexuality is discovered. I was pretty down for several days after reading this, but it's not Seaton's fault; he simply portrays the military life as it really is for gay men.

Overall comments: I thought all 4 of these stories were good. I found a couple of them too depressing to really LIKE all that much, but the writing throughout is top-notch. This is one of the best overall anthologies I've ever read because it really says something; although the stories are connected by little other than their military/war subject matter, they complement one another beautifully. And the dedication, written by a man in the United States Navy, is breathtaking and perfectly encompasses the emotion behind the book's content.

Out of the Blue by Josh Lanyon

For once there is no mystery, at least not a mystery unknown to the reader and for which he has to gather proofs. Audrey, nickname Bat, is an English Air Force officer during the WWI; he was in love with Gene, one of his fellow pilots, but this is not their story. Gene is dead, shot down during a flight, and Bat has not even the time to mourn him, his mechanic is blackmailing him, treating to reveal the clandestine and illegal relationship, and Bat can't allow it. Not only Bat is the son of an earl, and so to preserve the name of his family is essential, he is also worried for the memory of Gene, that can't be soiled. He probably didn't plan to kill the blackmailer, but it happens and Cowboy, an American pilot who is fighting side by side with Bat, witnesses the event. Now it's Cowboy who has a proposition, more than a blackmailing, for Bat: they will be lovers and he will help Bat to hide what happened. Bat is both attracted then repulsed but the offer: attracted since with Gene he has never had a real sexual relationship, and what he feels and does with Cowboy is enticing and addictive; repulsed since it's against everything he was taught to believe, even the old texts he read with Gene to justify their love: sex was not something that was considered or promoted. In the end, probably Bat thinks that he has nothing to loose, he doesn't believe that he will see the end of the war and so there is nothing to preserve. This is also the attitude of the author for this novella, it's all open to possibilities; Bat and Cowboy have two different perspective, Bat refuses to think at the future since he doesn't believe that he will see it, so he doesn't even think to what will be, he doesn't worry of the consequences of what they are doing since he doesn't believe there will be a consequence; Cowboy instead is resolute to be alive at the end of the war, to go back home, and well, why not?, maybe to bring back Bat with him; what will be is not essential now, to consider the consequences it's not their main issue. There is quite a clash of culture in here, Bat all old England conventions, reserved and sharp with words, Cowboy all new world America open and friendly, even a bit opportunist, but never false.

Islands by Samantha Kane

During the WWII two men that probably wouldn't have had any chance otherwise meet: René is a Frenchman and adventurer living in a Polynesian island almost like a small king, and Gabriel is a Navy officer and engineer who comes to ask René's access to the island for military purpose. Even before Gabriel's arrival, René was keener of America and Australia than Japan, and he would have probably given his consensus anyway, but when he sees the handsome American officer he decides to play a bit. René, openly gay and quite wanton, at first seduces Gabriel more for fulfil a physical abstinence than for any real love interest, but he ends up in love for the man. Gabe is reserved and cautious, but not against the idea to be seduced; he already knows to have a preferences for men, but till that moment he satisfied his needs with anonymous encounters in dark alleys, he has never had a relationship in the open. True, it's not that suddenly René and Gabe can have a fairy tale love, even if in an isolated island in the Pacific, there are still some conventions to be respected, but all in all, this is more a nice and simple love story than an historic drama. In the relaxed atmosphere of the island, Gabe will learn to loose a bit his strict behaviour. Among patriotic words and declaration of love, both men manage to retain their masculinity, mixing the French carelessness with the American stoicism and creating a safe haven years before the exotic gay resorts will become so popular.

Coming Home by Victor J. Banis

Just before the war in Vietnam, another revolution was happening in California, the hippies movement, the new flowers sons, the sex freedom. A lot of Marines from the nearby base came to Los Angeles and the Sunset Strip for sex, drugs and rock and roll, but mostly for sex, and Mike considered them his personal hunting reserve. Gays in the closet or curious Straight guys, all of them were good for a one night stand without strings attached. And it was not a decision of the Marines; it was Mike's decision, probably the output of one more heartbroken. But even if feigning disinterest, Mike is a good guy in the end. One Sunday afternoon he picks up Doug, a very marine of few words but intensive eyes. At first Mike doesn't understand him, Doug seems willing, even eager, but he is totally inexperienced, and even if he is ready to learn, he has always that detached behaviour, like he was not really interested. Mike is fascinated, and maybe for this reason allows to Doug to come back again the week after, but to his surprise, Doug comes along with a buddy friend, Ryan. They are grown together, in the same little town, and it's clear that Doug is in love with Ryan; and Ryan maybe is interested, but I don't think he really loves Doug, at least not as much as Doug loves him back. From lover Mike becomes a best friend and paramour, allowing the two to have a place to stay before being sent in Vietnam. They are happy, at least for a brief moment, but what remains to Mike? As usual Victor J. Banis' characters are deep and involving, with a layer of fragility over a strong core that allows them to always survive, maybe with a crack, but not totally broken. And it's not only Mike that has that fragility, also Doug, with his deep brown spaniel's eyes that supplies the lack of words of a man who is not used to talk of feeling, also Doug is someone who needs a safe shelter; Ryan is the first love, probably the passion, but Mike is that safe shelter.

Big Diehl by George Seaton

Big Diehl is probably the story of many soldiers who searched a family in the Army since they didn't feel to have one at home. They are so focused in their search that sometime they don't realize that there could be a family even out of the Army. The problem with Diehl is that he is not at peace with himself and so he is not able to find only a place, and only a man, to love. Diehl loves them all, he is able to find the lonely souls like himself, and for a little bit, they share the loneliness, but the loneliness never leaves them. Joe, Tony, Denman, Michael, all of them are soul mates, all of the could have been the right man, but there is always something, when Diehl is there in the moment when he has to grab the life at full hand, he goes away, always thinking that it's not time, always having the previous man in mind, and believing that the present one is not the right one. Diehl has to loose all of them to understand that he has beforehand to forgive himself and the man who made him like that to maybe have a chance at happiness. Big Diehl is not a love story, it's a self-discovery journey, but the love story, and the end of the journey, can be in the future of Diehl, only now it's not yet the moment.

"Out of the Blue" by Josh Lanyon

World War I flying ace Captain "Bat" Bryant is furious enough to lash out when a sneaky mechanic attempts to blackmail him following his lover's death in combat. Unfortunately, his angry reaction leaves his would-be blackmailer dead. American pilot "Cowboy" Cooper witnesses the incident and says he'll help Bat out--for a price. Unable to think of anything else to do, Bat is forced to agree to Cowboy's scheme.

"Out of the Blue" was without a doubt my favorite story in Esprit De Corps. Josh Lanyon has a knack for writing heroes that aren't quite what I expect, yet I end up liking them. That's especially true of Cowboy, who seems so self-interested but turns out to be something more than he seems. The historical atmosphere is well done, and the aerial battle scenes are exciting. If you like gay historical stories, you will like "Out of the Blue." Guaranteed.

"Islands" by Samantha Kane

Frenchman René Dubois loves his island home, Īle Dorée, and its people. He's determined to protect them no matter what. Then Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Conlan of the United States Navy Seabees arrives, wanting to build an Allied hospital and airfield on the island. René doesn't really want to agree, but he does want Gabe, and Gabe feels the same way. Will they be able to be together, or will the war destroy everything they hope to build together?

"Islands" is a quick, hot story. Gabe and René come together almost immediately, but there's no magic wand solution for their issues: Gabe's career, the times they live in, and the war. While the ending felt a bit too happy given the times, I liked "Islands" quite a bit.

"Coming Home" by Victor J. Banis

Mike lives in San Diego during the Sixties, and his favorite weekend pastime is picking up Marines from nearby Camp Pendleton. In his mind, variety is the spice of life, and one night stands are great. Then he picks up Doug, a Marine who's different from the others somehow.

"Coming Home" is a bit difficult to describe. The narrator, Mike, isn't the type of character I usually like. He's all about sex and variety, which is fine but not usually not so good for a romance. The story is quick, and very graphic. Some readers might not care for the language or descriptions of sex. At one point, Victor J. Banis throws a major curveball that seems to derail the whole story. The sweet, hopeful ending served to cheer me up a bit, however, despite the dark turn.

"Big Diehl" by George Seaton

After graduation, Big Diehl (who goes by Diehl for obvious reasons) is determined to get away from his hometown, and his father. He drives to Casper and enlists in the Army. He also meets some kind lesbians at a bar, who take him in and give him work until he's called for boot camp. Will the Army give Diehl what he needs?

"Big Diehl" isn't really a romance. If I'd been reading a gay historical anthology rather than a romance anthology, I wouldn't have been bothered by this. Unfortunately, the story ends up seeming out of place. That said, "Big Diehl" is an interesting story of finding yourself and coming to terms with the past. Diehl's a country boy at heart, with simple tastes and simple needs, but he knows if he stays in his hometown his life will go nowhere. He meets several potential love interests in the story, but it's never quite right. While I was disappointed with the ambiguous ending and lack of romance, "Big Diehl" isn't a bad story. I just felt it belonged in another anthology rather than this one.


On the whole, Esprit de Corps is a varied anthology featuring servicemen from World War I all the way to the present day. Readers who like military stories will find a lot to like here. Not all the stories were my cup of tea, but I think there's something for just about everyone in Esprit de Corps.

Cassie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Reading this anthology about experiences of gay soldiers in the military during the war time and peace time was a delight, even if I wanted to cry more than once while reading and shake the makers of the Do not ask do not tell stupidity, which destroys souls of brave people who fight for us.

I wanted happy endings for all of them, just as I want them in reality, but of course that is not happening yet. :(

So hard to pick a favorite, since I loved the writing in all four stories, but I will probably go with Islands by Samanta Kane as the most romantically satisfying one (but it does not take away from richness of the story and portrayal of WW2 horrors) and with Diezl's story as the most haunting one - what this stupid policy does to the soldiers.