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Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle

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A terrific quartet of beautifully realized stories exploring hidden loves and secret desires, set against backdrops of war and violence. And, as the blurb says, each told in unique voices.
Mark R. Probst's NOT TO REASON WHY is set in 1876, on the eve of the massacre at Little Big Horn. Corporal Brett Price and his best friend, Sergeant Dermot Kerrigan are both a part of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry as it rides to a fateful rendezvous with rebellious Sioux forces. Brett is in love with the happily married Dermot, but the hardships of their journey bring them even closer together, until finally Brett confesses his love and is rewarded with a single kiss before they engage in one of the most grisly battles in American history. There's not much suspense, since we all know where this is headed, but Probst compensates with vivid descriptions and apt dialogue: "Haven't you ever noticed," Brett muses, "how these things are reported in the newspapers? When we win they say it`s a victory, but when they win they say it`s a massacre?" The battle scenes are horrific indeed, but even more painful is the picture the author paints of Brett's not altogether requited love. Yes, he and Dermot are best friends. Yes, Brett gets a kiss, just one. And, yes, Dermot loves Brett too, but not in the same way. A loving friendship may be harder to endure than the absence of love altogether. A little love is like an arrow to the heart of one who pines.
The two men in Jordan Taylor's NO DARKNESS don't even progress to the kiss, though their awareness of the possibility, and ours, is palpable. The setting here is 1915, during World War I, on the Western Front. In a tale worthy of Poe, an enemy shelling leaves Lieutenant Darnell and Private Fisher trapped and injured in the root cellar of a farmhouse. Injured and struggling to survive their stygian tomb, they two men pass the time exchanging stories of their upbringing and trying, with almost certain futility, to find some means of escape. Here the theme of love is poignant and muted. A growing closeness suggests the possibility of physical sharing, but their backgrounds and their injuries - and ultimately the military conflict - conspire against it. The possibility of their love is smothered in darkness. Excellent characterizations.
E. N. Holland's OUR ONE AND ONLY begins in 1944, with World War II, but spans forty years and is told in decade long segments. Here it is not only the love between Eddie Fiske and Philip Cormier that is hidden, but more tellingly, the pain that Philip must endure alone when Eddie is killed in battle. Philip carries his memories of Eddie in his heart until at length he finds the one person with whom he can share it. Despite the tone of gravity throughout, the story ends on a surprisingly upbeat and very satisfying note. Here, plot triumphs over character, but the result is a beautifully encapsulated story of one man's lonely life and a loss that informs it decade after decade. How difficult it is to shut everyone, even those closest to us, out of our hearts. And how little those in our lives really know us, though they may believe that they know us well. The author clearly understands the burden of pain long borne.
I finished Alex Beecroft's BLESSED ISLE (set in 1790, the British Age of Sail) convinced that she is some kind of sea witch, who had kept me in thrall from the first word onward. Although hers is the first story chronologically in the book, I've saved it till last because, notwithstanding the uniformly excellent work from the other contributors, I personally feel this one is the jewel in a very splendid crown.
I don't want to spoil a convoluted story by giving away too many of the details, but as just one example, a storm at sea is evoked with such splendid terror I felt as lashed by the wind and the rain and as sour with fear as the hapless sailors. Scarcely less stormy is the love that gradually develops between. Harry Thompson, Captain of The Banshee, and his Lieutenant, Garnet Littleton, both of them brilliantly evoked. The author uses the conceit of alternating entries in a journal, thus allowing herself the intimacy of a first person point of view, and the elbow room of a second POV as well.
Let it be said her story is not without its faults. A penchant for historical accuracy veers dangerously close a time or two to pedantry. And I feel downright churlish in mentioning the sometimes less than seaworthy plot. Like an old tub set adrift, it bobbles and weaves and leaks, and threatens a time or two to sink under the weight of its own contrivance. I should also add, however, that this is not unlike those 18th and 19th century novels of which the author is obviously a fan. Happily, her splendid prose is an ocean wind that blows everything before it, in the end bringing our vessel to the safety of the harbor. There are simply very few writers in any genre who can write this well.
I recommend this anthology heartily, and Blessed Isle with special enthusiasm, if only so that readers can see with what power words can be wielded.

Dedication to one's country may not overcome a dedication to one's love. "Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle" is a collection of four short novellas focusing on gay men in the military throughout history. A British sea captain faces mutiny with his lover, a corporal of Colonel Custer is torn between doubting his unit's cause, and love he can't have. Two strangers become stuck in the trenches in the Western Front, and find love comes in strange places, and a World War II veteran is faced with a loss he cannot properly grieve. "Hidden Conflict" is an intriguing exploration of homosexuality and the military, highly recommended.

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.

At last, these soldiers stories will be honored! What beautiful stories, too! Hidden Conflict: Tales from Lost Voices in Battle,is a brilliant collection of four stories of love--of noble love. Yet, in each story, the soldiers battle to keep their noble love hidden within themselves more than they fought any invading enemy. These stories will bring a tear to your eye and a sigh to your heart.

Blessed 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.

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. 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.

Three and a half stars.

I found this book captivating and moving. I blazed through all four stories in a matter of hours drawn in by the characters, varied settings and all to familiar emotions portrayed. Although I enjoyed each of the stories for different reasons I would like to make special note of the story "No Darkness." When I reached this story a storm had just knocked out my power and I sat in silence reading it by candle light with the wind and rain drowning out every other sound. It was the perfect setting for this dark and tense story. Prepare yourself for an intense feeling of isolation, fear and waning hope but hang in there though, it is also a beautiful testament to the capacity of the human heart.