The Inside Reader: Lynn Flewelling

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends - Silas Weir Mitchell

I "met" Lynn Flewelling for real once, in September 2008 at YaoiCon. I was in the audience of the panel she had on gay characters, and the discussion shifted on why women read gay themed novel. Truth be told the audience was a little shy, and when Lynn asked our opinion, few of us had the courage to lift the hand. At first I didn't want, my spoken English is way worst than my written, but in the end I did (maybe surprising Z.A. Maxfield (abstractrx) and Clare London (clarelondon) who were sitting near me ;-) Hi Ladies!). Anyway I remember that Lynn told me (and she confirmed it some days ago) that my theory can have some points. Personal remembrances aside, I'm really happy to have Lynn as Inside Reader this week. Enjoy her wonderful list!

1) Fire From Heaven & The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. As I recall, Renault's work was my first experience of queer content literature. I discovered her books in high school because I love Greek history and mythology, and here if I first found gay characters in the mainstream of the plots, often as the heroes, in the process. In Fire From Heaven, Alexander the Great comes of age, and falls in love with his best friend, Hephaestion, just like Achilles and Patrocles. It was all so beautiful and heroic and exciting. I believe that comes out in my own work and I thank Renault for that early influence. As for the Persian Boy? Well, who doesn't love a sexy slave boy story? I know this one shows up on a lot of people's list of favorites. Seriously, though, the history is well done. That's right; the history.

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Vintage (June 11, 2002)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375726828
ISBN-10: 0375726829
ISBN-13: 978-0375726828
Amazon: Fire From Heaven

“Written with her usual vigor and imagination...Mary Renault has a great talent.”–The New York Times Book Review. Alexander’s beauty, strength, and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father, King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son’s loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust, while Aristotle’s tutoring provoked his mind and Homer’s Iliad fueled his aspirations. Killing his first man in battle at the age of twelve, he became regent at sixteen and commander of Macedon’s cavalry at eighteen, so that by the time his father was murdered, Alexander’s skills had grown to match his fiery ambition.

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Vintage (February 12, 1988)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780394751016
ISBN-10: 0394751019
ISBN-13: 978-0394751016
Amazon: The Persian Boy

“It takes skill to depict, as Miss Renault has done, this half-man, half Courtesan who is so deeply in love with the warrior.”–The Atlantic Monthly. The Persian Boy traces the last years of Alexander’s life through the eyes of his lover, Bagoas. Abducted and gelded as a boy, Bagoas was sold as a courtesan to King Darius of Persia, but found freedom with Alexander after the Macedon army conquered his homeland. Their relationship sustains Alexander as he weathers assassination plots, the demands of two foreign wives, a sometimes-mutinous army, and his own ferocious temper. After Alexander’s mysterious death, we are left wondering if this Persian boy understood the great warrior and his ambitions better than anyone.

( books from 2 to 10 )

About Lynn Flewelling: Aside from pondering otters, Lynn Beaulieu was born on October 20, 1958, in Presque Isle, Maine, which--contrary to common assumption--is not an island, or anywhere near the ocean but deep in the North Maine Woods with lots of lakes, mountains, and potato farms. Her mother's people were from the coast, however, and she spent a great deal of time on Frenchman's Bay. She has travelled the world and found no more beautiful or inspiring place.

She received her undergraduate from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, where she majored in English, minored in History, and received a teaching certificate she had no intention of ever using. She married Douglas Flewelling in 1981. Since then, she has studied literature, veterinary medicine, ancient Greek among other things, and worked as a necropsy technician, a house painter, an office worker, a freelance editor, a freelance journalist (Other Writings), and yes, even as a teacher now and then, an instructor of workshops--on creativity and fiction writing. Her article "the Complete Nobody's Guide to Query Letters" has recently been reprinted as a chapter in Moira Allen's excellent book, Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches & Proposals.

She is available for lectures and workshops. Contact her at: http://www.sff.net/people/Lynn.Flewelling/

Her fantasy novels have received worldwide acclaim and currently appear in twelve languages.

The White Road by Lynn Flewelling
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Spectra (May 25, 2010)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780553590098
ISBN-10: 055359009X
ISBN-13: 978-0553590098
Amazon: The White Road

The White Road is the fifth book in The Nightrunner Series. It will be published by Bantam Spectra on May 25th, 2010.

The official summary given at the end of Shadows Return implies that the plot will deal with the Hâzadriëlfaie, a group of Aurënfaie who have cut themselves off from everyone else. They are Alec's ancestors, from his mother's side. In Shadows Return, there is foreshadowing that the Hâzadriëlfaie will attempt to seek out and kill Sebrahn, a child born from Alec through alchemy, and what they call a white child.

The Inside Reader: Lynn Flewelling

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man far better than through mortal friends - Silas Weir Mitchell

I "met" Lynn Flewelling for real once, in September 2008 at YaoiCon. I was in the audience of the panel she had on gay characters, and the discussion shifted on why women read gay themed novel. Truth be told the audience was a little shy, and when Lynn asked our opinion, few of us had the courage to lift the hand. At first I didn't want, my spoken English is way worst than my written, but in the end I did (maybe surprising Z.A. Maxfield (abstractrx) and Clare London (clarelondon) who were sitting near me ;-) Hi Ladies!). Anyway I remember that Lynn told me (and she confirmed it some days ago) that my theory can have some points. Personal remembrances aside, I'm really happy to have Lynn as Inside Reader this week. Enjoy her wonderful list!

1) Fire From Heaven & The Persian Boy by Mary Renault. As I recall, Renault's work was my first experience of queer content literature. I discovered her books in high school because I love Greek history and mythology, and here if I first found gay characters in the mainstream of the plots, often as the heroes, in the process. In Fire From Heaven, Alexander the Great comes of age, and falls in love with his best friend, Hephaestion, just like Achilles and Patrocles. It was all so beautiful and heroic and exciting. I believe that comes out in my own work and I thank Renault for that early influence. As for the Persian Boy? Well, who doesn't love a sexy slave boy story? I know this one shows up on a lot of people's list of favorites. Seriously, though, the history is well done. That's right; the history.

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Vintage (June 11, 2002)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375726828
ISBN-10: 0375726829
ISBN-13: 978-0375726828
Amazon: Fire From Heaven

“Written with her usual vigor and imagination...Mary Renault has a great talent.”–The New York Times Book Review. Alexander’s beauty, strength, and defiance were apparent from birth, but his boyhood honed those gifts into the makings of a king. His mother, Olympias, and his father, King Philip of Macedon, fought each other for their son’s loyalty, teaching Alexander politics and vengeance from the cradle. His love for the youth Hephaistion taught him trust, while Aristotle’s tutoring provoked his mind and Homer’s Iliad fueled his aspirations. Killing his first man in battle at the age of twelve, he became regent at sixteen and commander of Macedon’s cavalry at eighteen, so that by the time his father was murdered, Alexander’s skills had grown to match his fiery ambition.

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Vintage (February 12, 1988)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780394751016
ISBN-10: 0394751019
ISBN-13: 978-0394751016
Amazon: The Persian Boy

“It takes skill to depict, as Miss Renault has done, this half-man, half Courtesan who is so deeply in love with the warrior.”–The Atlantic Monthly. The Persian Boy traces the last years of Alexander’s life through the eyes of his lover, Bagoas. Abducted and gelded as a boy, Bagoas was sold as a courtesan to King Darius of Persia, but found freedom with Alexander after the Macedon army conquered his homeland. Their relationship sustains Alexander as he weathers assassination plots, the demands of two foreign wives, a sometimes-mutinous army, and his own ferocious temper. After Alexander’s mysterious death, we are left wondering if this Persian boy understood the great warrior and his ambitions better than anyone.

( books from 2 to 10 )

About Lynn Flewelling: Aside from pondering otters, Lynn Beaulieu was born on October 20, 1958, in Presque Isle, Maine, which--contrary to common assumption--is not an island, or anywhere near the ocean but deep in the North Maine Woods with lots of lakes, mountains, and potato farms. Her mother's people were from the coast, however, and she spent a great deal of time on Frenchman's Bay. She has travelled the world and found no more beautiful or inspiring place.

She received her undergraduate from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, where she majored in English, minored in History, and received a teaching certificate she had no intention of ever using. She married Douglas Flewelling in 1981. Since then, she has studied literature, veterinary medicine, ancient Greek among other things, and worked as a necropsy technician, a house painter, an office worker, a freelance editor, a freelance journalist (Other Writings), and yes, even as a teacher now and then, an instructor of workshops--on creativity and fiction writing. Her article "the Complete Nobody's Guide to Query Letters" has recently been reprinted as a chapter in Moira Allen's excellent book, Writer's Guide to Queries, Pitches & Proposals.

She is available for lectures and workshops. Contact her at: http://www.sff.net/people/Lynn.Flewelling/

Her fantasy novels have received worldwide acclaim and currently appear in twelve languages.

The White Road by Lynn Flewelling
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Spectra (May 25, 2010)
Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780553590098
ISBN-10: 055359009X
ISBN-13: 978-0553590098
Amazon: The White Road

The White Road is the fifth book in The Nightrunner Series. It will be published by Bantam Spectra on May 25th, 2010.

The official summary given at the end of Shadows Return implies that the plot will deal with the Hâzadriëlfaie, a group of Aurënfaie who have cut themselves off from everyone else. They are Alec's ancestors, from his mother's side. In Shadows Return, there is foreshadowing that the Hâzadriëlfaie will attempt to seek out and kill Sebrahn, a child born from Alec through alchemy, and what they call a white child.

Loving Nate by S. Wales

Loving Nate is an example of “inspirational” romance. Usually this type of romances are worthy more for their messages than their story, but I think that Nate and Tate’s story, even if maybe a bit too naïve, it’s a nice one.

Nate is the spoiled son of a very wealthy family; only son and a bit neglected, he is used to take care of himself: don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about money, Nate has plenty of money, but he has no love in his life, and so, he is growing up with the idea that he doesn’t need it, that he can be good alone. Then his parents decide to send him on a summer labor camp, not since they particularly care for the volunteering nature of the initiative, but since it will look good among the parishioners of their church.

Nate is suddenly sent living with the Nelson’s family in New Orleans, the purpose of his presence to help the Nelson’s son, Tate, to build their new prefabricated house. The Nelsons have not much, but they are plenty rich: of love, friends and warm. Nate falls in love with the family through Tate; probably Nate is not even gay, he has not particularly forbidden feelings for boys, but he for sure, even if unconsciously, envies to Tate his family, and probably he believes that, loving Tate he will gain also the family that Tate has behind. Probably Tate instead is gay, and he loves Nate as a boy, not for what Nate represents; Tate is not interested in Nate’s money, he has never seen Nate in his habitat, he falls in love for him since he is a boy and Tate likes boy. From this perspective, Tate’s love is truer, but I believe that also Nate will be faithful to his own way of loving.

There is a point that it’s not developed and that I would have not minded to better understand: to whose Church Nate and Tate belong? It seems that their innocent love will no be reason of trouble, but it sounded strange to me, and truth be told, no one of the adults is aware of what is blossomed between the boys, so maybe the author simply decided not to venture in this field, that is a very delicate one.

The final chapter, almost an essay on how the New Orleans’s tragedy had not the same footage of 9/11 is maybe a bit too strong if put in the mouth of a teenager like Nate, but nevertheless it’s probably a message that the author, rightly, wanted to convey.

Buy Here

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Dvorak Designs

Loving Nate by S. Wales

Loving Nate is an example of “inspirational” romance. Usually this type of romances are worthy more for their messages than their story, but I think that Nate and Tate’s story, even if maybe a bit too naïve, it’s a nice one.

Nate is the spoiled son of a very wealthy family; only son and a bit neglected, he is used to take care of himself: don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about money, Nate has plenty of money, but he has no love in his life, and so, he is growing up with the idea that he doesn’t need it, that he can be good alone. Then his parents decide to send him on a summer labor camp, not since they particularly care for the volunteering nature of the initiative, but since it will look good among the parishioners of their church.

Nate is suddenly sent living with the Nelson’s family in New Orleans, the purpose of his presence to help the Nelson’s son, Tate, to build their new prefabricated house. The Nelsons have not much, but they are plenty rich: of love, friends and warm. Nate falls in love with the family through Tate; probably Nate is not even gay, he has not particularly forbidden feelings for boys, but he for sure, even if unconsciously, envies to Tate his family, and probably he believes that, loving Tate he will gain also the family that Tate has behind. Probably Tate instead is gay, and he loves Nate as a boy, not for what Nate represents; Tate is not interested in Nate’s money, he has never seen Nate in his habitat, he falls in love for him since he is a boy and Tate likes boy. From this perspective, Tate’s love is truer, but I believe that also Nate will be faithful to his own way of loving.

There is a point that it’s not developed and that I would have not minded to better understand: to whose Church Nate and Tate belong? It seems that their innocent love will no be reason of trouble, but it sounded strange to me, and truth be told, no one of the adults is aware of what is blossomed between the boys, so maybe the author simply decided not to venture in this field, that is a very delicate one.

The final chapter, almost an essay on how the New Orleans’s tragedy had not the same footage of 9/11 is maybe a bit too strong if put in the mouth of a teenager like Nate, but nevertheless it’s probably a message that the author, rightly, wanted to convey.

Buy Here

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle


Cover Art by Dvorak Designs

A Good Knight by Sharon Maria Bidwell

I know that, speaking of vampires, best friends or fantasy lords, a book by Sharon Maria Bidwell never disappoint me. And so enjoy a perfect medieval breeches rippers romp! As usual, I have to classify this as a fantasy, since in real medieval time there were nothing comparable to the figure of the adamite-knave, the male prostitute impersonated by sweet Licinius. But the author is up-front with that, and in a preface of the novella she explains, more or less, that this is a work of love, the love she has for ancient things and for men loving men. So yes, in reality, Licinius and Crassius were not allowed not only to love each other, but probably neither to live. Above all, Crassius would not be a favourite knight of the king.

But this is fantasy, and this is a romance, and so it begins. Licinius is under contract halter as a prostitute. Until he works under the “law” he is not allowed to choose his customers, but he is at least allowed to live. He has to work other 4 years at least to pay his contract, and he is not thinking to the future (probably since he has few hopes to see that future). Licinius is not so unhappy with his works, but he still dreams of a knight in shining armour that will come for him. Better, more than shining armours he is hoping for clean skin and hair, and maybe a gentle touch. Again he is not thinking to the future, what will happen the morning after if that knight arrives, Licinius learned long ago to live for the moment.

And so when Crassius enters Licinius’ tent, the sweet guy thinks that maybe fate is kindly with him, granting the knight he wished for. And when Crassius states that “your pleasure is my pleasure” and go on with teaching Licinius a lessons or two on the art of pleasure that not even a male prostitute knows, for once Licinius is not forced to lie back and think of his country, but can really enjoy the experience.

This is obviously a romance, and such as, we will have our happy ending, another concession made thanks to the fantasy nature of this historical tale. But even if a romance, I quite liked the glimpse of reality of the story and also the sparks of wit I saw in Licinius. For example, when he thinks to his “job”, obviously he can’t say he loves it, but after all, he also thinks that it’s the only way to have any type of sex relationship, only as a whore he is allowed to share his bed with another man. Licinius doesn’t like to be a prostitute, but he likes sex. For being only a novella, A Good Knight is for sure well above the average.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1309

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

A Good Knight by Sharon Maria Bidwell

I know that, speaking of vampires, best friends or fantasy lords, a book by Sharon Maria Bidwell never disappoint me. And so enjoy a perfect medieval breeches rippers romp! As usual, I have to classify this as a fantasy, since in real medieval time there were nothing comparable to the figure of the adamite-knave, the male prostitute impersonated by sweet Licinius. But the author is up-front with that, and in a preface of the novella she explains, more or less, that this is a work of love, the love she has for ancient things and for men loving men. So yes, in reality, Licinius and Crassius were not allowed not only to love each other, but probably neither to live. Above all, Crassius would not be a favourite knight of the king.

But this is fantasy, and this is a romance, and so it begins. Licinius is under contract halter as a prostitute. Until he works under the “law” he is not allowed to choose his customers, but he is at least allowed to live. He has to work other 4 years at least to pay his contract, and he is not thinking to the future (probably since he has few hopes to see that future). Licinius is not so unhappy with his works, but he still dreams of a knight in shining armour that will come for him. Better, more than shining armours he is hoping for clean skin and hair, and maybe a gentle touch. Again he is not thinking to the future, what will happen the morning after if that knight arrives, Licinius learned long ago to live for the moment.

And so when Crassius enters Licinius’ tent, the sweet guy thinks that maybe fate is kindly with him, granting the knight he wished for. And when Crassius states that “your pleasure is my pleasure” and go on with teaching Licinius a lessons or two on the art of pleasure that not even a male prostitute knows, for once Licinius is not forced to lie back and think of his country, but can really enjoy the experience.

This is obviously a romance, and such as, we will have our happy ending, another concession made thanks to the fantasy nature of this historical tale. But even if a romance, I quite liked the glimpse of reality of the story and also the sparks of wit I saw in Licinius. For example, when he thinks to his “job”, obviously he can’t say he loves it, but after all, he also thinks that it’s the only way to have any type of sex relationship, only as a whore he is allowed to share his bed with another man. Licinius doesn’t like to be a prostitute, but he likes sex. For being only a novella, A Good Knight is for sure well above the average.

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1309

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle