Customer Reviews

Lord John and the Hand of Devils

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The good news is that we didn't have to wait long after Gabaldon's fine work Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade: the bad news is that we are going to have to wait a while for Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner [Jamie Fraser, I presume]. Hand of Devils is 3 independent tales of John Grey from 1756 to 1758: two novellas and a long short story. All three tales have very different flavors: I'd give the first two a solid 4 stars, and the third 5 stars. Those who enjoyed Brotherhood of the Blade should enjoy this book as well, those who found parts of Brotherhood offensive will not find as much to offend here.

Hellfire Club is the first story, the shortest (less than half the length of the other two) and the most conventional. Succubus, set in Prussia, has, by and large, a similar feel to the part of Brotherhood that also take place in Prussia, but Succubus certainly takes some strange turns, and there are some very funny scenes centering on how the soldiers try to ward off the succubus. Haunted Soldier is the most satisfying of the three tales: it has the best historical flavor and interest of the stories. You learn about the making of gunpowder, some of the politics, military life, and morality of the time. There's a wonderful line here--when Lord John goes before a 3-man investigatory commission: "All three of them looked suddenly at him as one, like a phalanx of owls eyeing a mouse". Great writing!

Brotherhood of the Blade is a fine historical novel: Gabaldon had the leisure to develop an excellent sense of time and place--manservant Tom was always busy cleaning the ubiquitous grime of London off Lord John's clothes. The stories in Hand of Devils do not have quite the same leisure to achieve a similar depth. There is a fine historical flavor to the stories, but it's not as rich as that in Brotherhood. It's still a very worthwhile book: I put aside the other two books I was reading in order to finish it, and it was with considerable reluctance that I left for work and left the book unfinished. When I got home, supper had to wait until the book was done. Entertaining and enjoyable!

The book contains 3 short stories about Lord John, two of which were published previously. The first, "Lord John and the Hellfire Club," previously appeared under the title, "Hellfire," in the anthology "Past Poisons" (Headline, 1998). It's the shortest at about 37 pages. In the chronology of Lord John books, it comes first (before "Lord John and the Private Matter").

"Hellfire" takes place in 1756, shortly after Lord John's return from Ardsmuir (the prison that held Jamie Fraser in "Voyager"). It deals with the murder of a young man invited to meet with the secretive Hellfire Club. No one knows much about it. But John receives a sobbering induction, is framed for murder, and saved by Harry Quarry (his predecessor at Ardsmuir) all in the space of about 8 pages - a major feat for Gabaldon.

The second story, "Lord John and the Succubus," is clever. It previously appeared under the same title in the anthology, "Legends II: New Short Novels by the Modern Masters of Fantasy." In the chronology of Lord John titles, it falls between "Private Matter" and "Brotherhood of the Blade."

The story takes place during 1756 and 1757, when England was at war against France and Austria. While serving as a major in the English army, Lord John investigates rumors and deaths attributed to succubi.

I can't speak to the story's cleverness without giving it away, but suffice it to say that the "devils" in this story are quite human and the hand controlling them quite present today and since the beginning of time.

The third, "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier," is an original publication. In the chronology, it comes after "Brotherhood of the Blade." It takes place in 1758.

Lord John has recently returned from the battlefield to respond to an inquest about a cannon that blew up under his command, killing several soldiers. The intrigue involves investigating the cause of the explosion. Lord John struggles with feelings of guilt and memory lapses (In the midst of a crisis, who can say what really happened?).

Consequently, a request that he investigate the disappearance of a local young woman comes as a welcome distraction. Little does he know how the two - the disappearance and the explosion - relate.

Of the 3 stories, I enjoyed Succubus the most. I like Gabaldon's writing style and her imagination, so I'll read anything she writes. But Succubus is a cut above the other 2 stories. If you haven't read it, it alone is worth the price of the book.

For Jamie Fraser fans, you'll find references to him in all the stories. But he is most apparent in the "Haunted Soldier."

For others, you might find this collection easier to follow, if you read the other 2 Lord John novels as well as the first 3 Outlander books. Gabaldon is truly a gifted storyteller in that she can retell episodes from earlier works from the viewpoint of another character. It's quite well done and I'm amazed that she does this without planning for it.

Unfortunately, while Diana Gabaldon as a writer is possessed of many talents, short stories are not among them. And the shorter the story is, the worse it is. Thus the three stories in "Hand of Devils" progress from baffling and banal, to vaguely interesting but ultimately unfulfilling, to something that at least approaches the genius and intrigue of "Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade."

All the crybabies who were scarred for life after being forced to read a gay sex scene in BotB can calm their fluttering hetero hearts, as there is nary so much as a stray embrace here. Which is a shame, really, as the absence of physical passion makes for remarkably dry and dull relationships overall. It also highlights an issue that is slowly driving me barking mad: Gabaldon's tendency to drop mysterious and ominous hints about various men in Grey's life, with the apparent expectation that we'll know exactly who she's talking about, regardless of the fact that the last time they were mentioned was three novels ago. No, we don't need a recap of every single thing that's happened. But the first time you introduce a character in a particular work - whether it's a novel or a short story - how about at least reminding us who he is and where we've met him before?

In the intro to "Lord John and the Succubus," Gabaldon informs us (rather long-windedly) that this story was originally written for a fantasy anthology. She self-deprecatingly admits that she had never written a fantasy story before. Well, I hate to break it to her, but she still hasn't. Despite it's promising premise, "Succubus" fails to deliver on every count. "Lord John and the Haunted Soldier" also brings up a supernatural subplot, only to drop it with no explanation. Gabaldon has done this before - remember the Highland ghost all the way back in "Outlander"? - but it's not getting any better.

"Haunted Soldier" is the longest and the best of the three stories in this collection, more of a novella. It follows immediately upon BotB, and again, I wished for more continuity with that book. Still, it is much more what we've come to expect from Gabaldon, and I found myself enjoying it. I can't promise that it justifies having to plow through the first two stories, but in my mind, at least, it was a redeeming feature.

I don't know how much more can be wrung out of Lord John. If anything, these stories highlight the limitations of both character and author, while at the same time hinting at the still unplumbed possibilities that might await us.

The three stories that make up this book are a nice mix of settings and mysteries,(though the device of having the villian explain all at the end is a little repetitive- and the only reason I refrained from giving this book a full five stars). There are many lovely historical details and nice turns of phrase, but the real highlight of the book is simply the character of Lord John Grey. He is wonderful to spend time with and to root for through the murders, hauntings and political machinations. Aside from possessing the requisite bravery and intelligence of a hero, he also has a dry sense of humor and a deep, often unspoken, compassion for his fellow human beings.

I can only hope he'll have more adventures and perhaps a romance of his own.

The middle novella, "LJ and the Succubus," is delightful. A riveting premise, entertaining characters, smooth and witty narration, vivid setting. Lord John really emerges here as a protagonist who deserves some novels of his own, which he subsequently got. It's the strongest piece in the book, and as a novella, I'd be delighted to give it four stars, perhaps even five. I'd also have been pleased to see it developed into a novel.

However, the other two novellas get a much more equivocal reaction from me.

The third novella, "LJ and the Haunted Soldier," is a good story, and it's pretty well written. But it refers to and relies on various events and characters in the novel LJ AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE, without sufficient backstory, simply assuming the reader has read the novel (which I have) AND remembers everything that happened in it (which I don't). An author can't =count on= a reader having read a previous book and, more importantly, REALLY can't count on a reader having perfect recall of a book he may have read a while ago. Better-conveyed backstory would have made this novella a better read.

Finally, the first novella, "LJ and the Hellfire Club," is weak and sketchy-- and the first few scenes make no sense if you haven't read VOYAGER (I did, but years ago, didn't like it, and don't remember many details).

So, overall, one excellent novella, one okay one, and one pretty weak one. Fun for LORD JOHN fans, but uneven as a collection.

One short story and two novellas make up the third installment of the life of an intriguing character, Lord John Grey from the Outlander series. An avid reader of Diana Gabaldon, it was no trouble to fit the story time into the context of previous works. Her ability to create the proper atmosphere within the period of her stories continues to fascinate.
"Lord John and the Haunted Soldier" is the most fully developed of the trio and the most thought provoking. Lord John's conclusion that a thief may be superior in moral character to the skulduggery of politicians and branches of the military who dismiss the lives of individuals lost because of their manipulations for prestige or protocol is enlightening, no matter what period of history.
"Lord John and the Hell Fire Club" is exactly what Ms. Gabaldon states, an initial effort at writing a short story. It is spotty and wobbles on its own if the reader has not read others in her series.
"Lord John and the Succubus" is a pure fun mystery with clever solutions to age old problems of not only pagan beliefs, but the arrogant superiority of faith in one's own culture.
Don't miss LORD JOHN AND THE HAND OF DEVILS, it is well worth your time.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

I am so glad Gabaldon decided to let us truly get to know this remarkable man, beyond his experience with Jamie Fraser. His adventures are a delightful romp that lend themselves to second and third readings, especially when compared with portions of the Fraser books in which he appears. Gabaldon does a great job of providing education about the details of a time and place most of us are unaware of. John has earned a place as one of fiction's most memorable and interesting characters. It is important for us to remember that people are products of their era...and Gabaldon never loses sight of the need to present John as an educated,sophisticated, sensitive man of his time. I hope Gabaldon continues his adventures. I count Lord John as one of my dear friends.

I loved the whole "Outlander" series and also this branch of it that she explores with the character Lord John Grey. He is a likable gay, english lord, with a keen sense of adventure that never fails to entertain and surprise. This novel was only a slight disappointment in that I thought it would be the 3rd Lord John novel and it was a somewhat disordered (in the sense of time frame of events) collection of short stories/novellas. The stories themselves were as sharp as always though from Gabaldon.

This is not a novel at all, but a collection of three long short stories. (Or perhaps a short story and two novellas). The three are `The Hellfire Club', `The Succubus', and `The Haunted Soldier'. The Hellfire Club is set before `Lord John and the Private Matter' and sees John investigating the murder of a young relative of Harry Quarry's. This leads him to the infamous Hellfire Club, a botched initiation ritual, a rescue by Harry and a final scene in which the villain explains all.

The Succubus is set after `Lord John and the Private Matter', but before `Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade'. Lord John is in Prussia, acting as liaison between the English and German forces, when two soldiers are murdered in circumstances which make it seem that there is a supernatural female demon abroad, sexually preying on men. Naturally this makes the armed forces rather nervous. Evading the marital clutches of a local princess, John investigates and eventually all is revealed in the final scene when the villainess explains all.

The Haunted Soldier is set after `Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade'. John, haunted by the explosion of the cannon he was working in `Brotherhood', finds himself in front of a court martial who seem to think the explosion was no accident. Is John's half-brother, dim Edgar, really a saboteur, producing unstable gunpowder for government use? Is something dodgy going on at the cannon foundry? Can John discover the whereabouts of the young woman who eloped with the lieutenant who was killed in the explosion before she is utterly ruined? If not, can he at least restore her child to its grandparents? Fortunately, despite the complexity of the plot, everything is revealed in the final scene where the villain explains it all.

As you can see from the short summaries, Lord John is still consistently solving his cases by conveniently having the villain reveal all at the end. However, it's to Gabaldon's credit that this device doesn't get so tedious that it undoes the enjoyment of the stories. And there are many things to enjoy in each story. For a start, I appreciated the way the stories fitted into the time-scheme of the books, filling out the characterization of each. It was particularly nice in the last to have John restored to health, since `Brotherhood' left him so battered.

Given the notoriety and fascination of the real-life Hellfire Club, I found the first story a little short. By Lord John standards it was very skimpy on details and rather simplistic. Which is not to say that it wasn't good to read. Gabaldon is very good at drawing beautiful young men (and then killing them off) and the victim of this story is no exception.

The Succubus, I found an amusing romp through some dark superstition, and the love triangle between John, Stefan and the princess provided some wonderful irony. As in Scooby Doo, I felt a little cheated when the ghost was revealed not to be a ghost at all, but I can't say I wasn't expecting it.

The Haunted Soldier was most like a short Lord John novel; complicated, beautifully detailed, full of interesting people and everything you wanted to know about gunpowder manufacture in the 18th Century. It was also very satisfying to watch John recover from his shell-shocked depression at the end of `Brotherhood' back to his normal self.

The poor man is still fancying just about everything male that breathes, and having a complete lack of success at getting into anyone's breeches. And I admit that his complete celibacy throughout was a little tedious. Surely it's about time he had a love interest who didn't despise or betray him? His continual lack of romantic success is getting me down.

Apparently the next book in the series is called `Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner', so I hope fervently that that will be the book in which John finally puts the whole Jamie Fraser thing behind him. He has outgrown his status of being a minor offshoot character of the Outlander series, in my opinion. Until that happens, Fraser continues to cast a certain blight over the stories. His presence, and the obligingness of John's villains, are the reason why I've marked this as a 4.5 rather than a 5. But still, there's no way I won't be reading the next one.

Alex Beecroft author of Captain's Surrender

"Lord John and the Hellfire Club". Lord John Grey is asked by Robert Gerald, the junior setetary of the prime minister, for help with a problem. He agrees seeing how upset Gerald is but later that day Robert is killed. The last word he spoke is Dashwood. That night he attends a Hellfire club invitation, not knowing that he is to be the murderer's second victim.

"Lord John and the Succubus". Rumors move swiftly through the troops that a succubus is on the loose. Lord John is persuaded to use his white horse to find the grave where the succubus inhabits a dead body. The horse moves to the grave of the man's mother who made the accusation. They also find the body of a dead English solder in the cemetery. The allies are nervous about the rumors, but John believes that someone secular has spread them and he plans to expose them before the upcoming battle in the long drawn out world war (1756-1763).

"Lord John and the Haunted Soldier". After being injured by a cannon that blew up during battle, Lord John answers his superior's inquiry re the incident. John later learns eight more guns blew up that the military wants kept quiet and he would make a good scapegoat. He needs evidence to prove he wasn't negligent; help comes from an unexpected source.

These three novella give insight into the character of Lord John Grey, an honorable man who has to hide his homosexual preference from the world since it is a crime punishable by death. He always chooses the most ethical cause of action even when silence would better serve him. Diana Gabaldon has written an exciting anthology of an eighteenth century solder at war in which don't tell means avoiding "friendly" fire.

Harriet Klausner