Customer Reviews

HMS Submission (Idol)

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I'm not going to pretend that I was reading HMS SUBMISSION solely for the plot, but plot (and character development) is what separates homoerotic literature from porn. This had all the elements of being great homoerotic entertainment: a frail, bookish boy is forced to sea by his father who hopes it will make a man of him. The boy falls for a lusty sailor lad and adventures ensue. Unfortunately this isn't really the story, which doesn't get cracking until about page 164 when young Christopher actually boards ship. I had a number of problems with Gordon's work--it may be well researched, but frankly historical accuracy is my LAST concern. The story could have taken place on the good ship lollypop--it sort of did. There are no real villains in the story. Even those who seem like bad guys turn out to be just misguided or suffering from miscommunication. That's a little boring; we want to fear and dread the bad guys (and see justice done). This crew is too easy-going to believe. Men rape each other left and right and everyone is okay with it--no, er--hard feelings. Now, I understand about fantasy and I understand about being politically correct, but if you are going to throw rape in, it should have some point, some emotional impact. Otherwise, don't bother. And unless the main characters (the lovers) are raping each other, I don't think it should be a pleasurable thing, with our hero quivering, "Yes, do it to me," or the like. This is not only incredible, it's not very interesting--call me an old-fashioned girl. In fact there is so much mechanical, emotionless sex in this, I began to suspect it was written by a heterosexual male. More plot and less sex (but better sex) would have made all the difference. (However this is a flaw in all Idol Books, and it's probably not even in Gordon's control.) The other problem was the switching back in forth from gentle Christopher's POV (the more unusual and so the more interesting of the two) and randy Mick's. It didn't work in this context. Better to have viewed the entire tale from either one or the other's eyes. Better luck next voyage!

As expected from this series there is plenty of sex. Jack Gorden introduces some novel ideas (straight sex, watching rutting deer, hermaphrodites) but ultimately I was diasappointed. The bookish Christopher and his Irish bit of rough didn't ring true and some of the scenes were unintentionally comic. Readers should note that less than half the novel is set aboard the ship...the rest in London and rural England. But I don't want to sound too harsh. I wasn't expecting great literature and the fact that I didn't get turned on may be a purely personal reaction. I still think "Conquistador" is the best of this series.

This was kinda fun - despite the picture on the front cover which is a bit odd-looking. Lots of strangely erotic sex and, unlike a lot of porn these days, I found myself grinning in places.I don't usually like historical porn, but this worked. I read it on a flight from London to NYC, in one sitting - if you don't count the four visits to the loo. Worth a shot..