Don't know whether things are just improving

[erastes]

Or what.

I've been reading a LOT for Speak Its Name recently and I'm finding some pretty decent stuff. I know that I talk about Gay Historical Fiction a lot, but everyone has to be obsessed with something, and from where I'm sitting, there aren't very many of us shouting out the message when it's actually a popular genre. When someone releases a new one, it's POUNCED on by the readers, and the word of mouth is passed around which means that a decent book can stay selling for a long while.

I'm currently reading:

Gaderene by cbpotts and Tina Anderson and I'm pretty impressed with it, I have to say. Nice writing, great immersive (if not quite as immersive as I'd really like) feel to it, ("Gangs of New York" era, which is unusual enough as it is - and dealing with Transgendered people too, which makes it very interesting

Slaves to Love by J P Bowie - Roman Patrician/Gladiator lurve in the first novella, not sure what's in the 2nd. If it's anything as good as the first one, I won't complain.

No Apologies by J M Snyder - Pearl Harbor sailor romance. So far I'm loving it, warm winds, sailors in cute little hats and impressive arses in white bell bottoms. I'm hooked.

But seriously, I'm hoping that this bodes well for Gay Historical Fiction, whether it is erotica, romance, adventure, whatever. From what I'm reading right now I'm seeing good things.

Here's a list of reviews we've done so far over there, if you haven't been paying attention. I bet you haven't heard of all of them - some of my reviewers take great pleasure in seeking out the rare, and we will continue to do that, too.

Honor Bound by Wheeler Scott
The Journeyer by J P Bowie
Longhorns by Victor J Banis
Cinammon Gardens by Shyam Selvadurai
The Confession of Piers Gaveston by Brandy Purdy
Doctor Reynard's Experiment by Robert Black
Lieutenant Samuel Blackwood (deceased) by Emma Collingwood
The Master of Seacliff by Max Pierce
Lord John & the Hand of Devils by Diana Gabaldon
The Filly by Mark Probst
My Dear Boy: Gay Love Letters through the Centuries, ed. by Rictor Norton
Captain's Surrender by Alex Beecroft
Hot Valley by James Lear
The Stallion and the Rabbit by Mike Shade
The Hill by Horace Annesley Vachelle
A Different Sin by Rochelle Hollander Schwab
Teleny: attributed to Oscar Wilde et.al
While England Sleeps by David Leavitt
Silk and Poison by Barbara Sheridan and Anne Cain
Mother Clap's Molly House by Rictor Norton
Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory
Wicked Game by Jade Falconer
A Summer Place by Ariel Tachna
Angel's Evolution by T A Chase
A Good Man is Hard to Find by Jeanne Laws
Death of a Monk by Anon Hilu
Virginian Bedfellows by Gavin Morris
David Blaize by E F Benson
Indiscretions by Elayne S Venton
Time & Place by Alan Sheridan
The House on the Strand by Daphne du Maurier
Lord John & The Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
Discreet Young Gentleman by M J Pearson
Brethren Raised by Wolves Vol1 by W A Hoffman
Christianity, Social Tolerance & Homosexuality by John Boswell
Song of the Loon by Richard Amory
Living Upstairs by Joseph Hansen
Street Lavender by Chris Hunt
Dangerous Moonlight by Mel Keegan
Gaywyck by Vincent Virga
The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Standish by Erastes
Historical Obsessions – A romantic quartet by Julia Talbot
Peridot by Parhelion
Smokescreen by Stevie Woods
Sound and Fury by B A Tortuga
An East Wind Blowing by Mel Keegan
As Meat Loves Salt by Maria McCann
The Boy I Love by Marion Husband
Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
Winds of Change by Lee Rowan
Ransom by Lee Rowan
The Back Passage by James Lear
The Phoenix by Ruth Sims

Comments

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

I'm still digging around for historical gay YA titles (or books with predominantly adolescent characters) because, damnit, even queer kids deserve their time in period costume! I've got about four of those waiting in the sidelines for me to read and review. Unfortunately three out of four are out-of-print, but used copies are still available - I think. The copies I have are old, as in they're going to dissolve in my hands the moment I open them to the first page.

>.>

And, Jeebus, is that how many reviews there are posted on SiN?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm always open to out of print - because copies are nearly always available (have you read 84 Charing Cross Road)? and hopefully demand will make them back in print. Apparently Swordspoint was out of print, if you can believe it.

and YA would be wonderful, really wonderful. I guess in a way Transgression might be YA as the protags are young, but in those days they were decided adults.

Yes! a nice haul, not as many as some sites, but seeing as how limited the genre is as a whole, i'm pleased. I need to add the star value to the reviews done page i think.

Gay Historicals - A genre that won't be ignored!

[markprobst.livejournal.com]

I've been delving into a bit of historical gay fiction myself recently. Just about to finish reading "The Charioteer." Not an easy read, but man is it RICH. I'll post a blog about it in a couple of days. So many titles on that list I'm dying to read if I only had the time.

Re: Gay Historicals - A genre that won't be ignored!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

The Charioteer: that book is on my "you want to write gay historical? well read this" list. It's no, not easy, but OMG multi layered. What stunned me was that I read it and thought, "and?" until someone pointed out what was going on BEHIND the words. In the gaps. "You see, Spud? It wouldn't have done at all."

Argh! Such sparse genius.

I'll look forward to reading your thoughts, although I'll read your post-second reading thoughts (and third) too...

[haydenthorne.livejournal.com]

have you read 84 Charing Cross Road

Hehehehe...are you tempting me, you siren? Nope, but it sounds vaguely familiar. Recommended reading, I assume?

and YA would be wonderful, really wonderful. I guess in a way Transgression might be YA as the protags are young, but in those days they were decided adults.

Yeah, that's the tricky thing about finding historical YA titles. Unless you're looking at boarding school fiction, where you see the painful transition between adolescence and young adulthood completely encapsulated, what I've seen so far (as side characters, especially) pretty much shows teenagers being shrunken adults.

If you have time, I highly, highly recommend Bruce Alexander's Sir John Fielding mysteries for a great representation of adolescence in the 18th century. Especially since Jeremy (the narrator) begins the series at thirteen, and Bruce Alexander allows the boy to grow up throughout. :)

I need to add the star value to the reviews done page i think.

If we could only resurrect the likes of Renault and Wilde and Beckford for interviews...

[ermyne.livejournal.com]

Oooh goodie goodie, more reccs! The JM Bowie sounds excellent, must buy immediately! And Pearl Habour with sailors not without interest either - recalls the excellent "Wingmen" (Ensan Case, almost unobtainable but worth the hunt). If you like the setting of Gaderene you might like "Hold Tight" by Christopher Bram (author of the novel on which Gods & Monsters was based) about a Nazi spy ring and a gay brothel in WWII New York ...

Always in favour of reckless book-buying!

[fiona-glass.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me, I need to do some more reviews for you. I just don't seem to have been reading gay historicals lately. Sorry!

I hope it's a good sign for the genre as well. There are some good signs from elsewhere (the popularity of Torchwood, the fact that Brokeback won a national award for Best Movie Kiss) lately that suggest m/m in general is coming out of the closet. :)