| Title: |
Fortunes of War |
| Author: |
Mel Keegan |
| Published by: |
Gay Men's Press, 1995 |
| ISBN: |
0-85449-211-9 [trade paperback] |
Seven years prior, in the spring of 1588,
two young men fell in love: an Irish mercenary serving the Spanish ambassador
in London, and the son of an English earl. After Dermot had to leave England,
Robin eventually despaired of hearing from him again. But when Sir Francis
Drake leads a fleet bound for Panama, Robin sails with him to ransom a
kidnapped brother. His ship is attacked by privateers, commanded by Dermot
Channon. The couple’s adventures together on the Spanish Main make
a swashbuckling romance in the best gay pirate tradition.
Although I would typically not choose to read historical
novels in general and ‘pirate’ novels in particular, I acquired
this book because of the author, Mel Keegan, as I am particularly pleased
with his science fiction novels. Having read this book, I will not change
my general interest in historical novels, but would recommend this particular
title as a very entertaining one. As is Mr. Keegan’s usual style,
the story focuses very intently upon a central gay male couple. Also consistent
with his other novels I have read, he manages to contrive a series of events
which place the central characters into peril, often separating the characters
so that the suspense and action hinge upon the characters’ abilities
to overcome the peril and become re-united. The sexual relationship between
the main characters in this story is almost exclusively monogamous; the
sex scenes numerous, believable, and well-done. The story held my interest
from the first page through the last. - Jay Moseley
