books

DEATH SCENE

by Jeremy Beadle

GAY MEN'S PRESS (UK)

ISBN 0-85449-088-4

IR£5.50 /PB.

I was not impressed by the first chapter of this gay detective novel. Far too pleased with itself. Far too naive and irritatingly so.

Well the moral of this story is never judge a book by its first chapter. I am quite happy to admit that by the end of the second chapter I was enjoying it to the extent that I did care "who killed cock robin" or in this case Guy Latimer (what a name).

It is a classic whodunnit set in the London Gay scene. The main characters are a bunch of average gay guys who are friends of the victim. All of them, in the eyes of the police, could have had some motive to kill Guy, and knowing this they decide to find the protagonist. No nancy boys here.

I would regard this as a better than average trash novel. I now know that it irritated me because of its shaky use of adjectives and adverbs which are the signs of an inexperienced novelist who is testing his talents. In this case they are also the sign of a potentially good fiction writer who it is hoped will be able to improve the goods put out by this publishing house.

It is also hoped that the next novel put out by this writer will not be so timid in its sex scenes - they could easily have been left out such was their coyness.

This is the kind of reading for sleepless nights or drowsy days on the beach.

Cíarán Coleman

QUINCE

by David Rees

Third House (London)

ISBN 1-870188-071

Once again Mr. Rees has come up with a captivating romantic novel about first love. This time it's set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War and concerns a young English University boy who is studying Spanish. He is sent to Spain by his father for the Summer, to teach English to the son of a town mayor. While there he falls in love with the mayor's elder son (and also manages to hit it off with the younger son!). This is at the start of the War. He returns to England for college in October and goes back to Spain the next Summer, gets caught in a siege, has to flee the town and finally ends up in Jail. He eventually, and surprisingly, manages to get out and return to England.

The novel is enthralling from start to finish. Although it is set in wartime we are thankfully spared the "rambo" mentality, where every bullet fired must have a paragraph devoted to it, and the eventual mess. This novel is mainly concerned with romance, but beware the sting in the tail all you die-hard romantics (like myself) who believe in a happy ending.

I can recommend this book - even if you consider love and such things as nonsense - as a good night's read. To pass away a cold winter's night, here are a few suggestions to go with this book: some slow Motown records; a log fire and a hunky man’s (or woman's as the case may be) arms wrapped around you.

Tony Murphy

SURVIVORS

by Peter Robins

Third House, London

ISBN 1-870188-05-5 pb. IR£5

Survivors, by Peter Robins, is a book which should not be instantly boxed-off as purely gay fiction: to do that would be to impose unfair limitations on the writer himself. As 'City Limits' magazine commented: '...Robins appeals to both gay and straight.' It is preferable and necessary not to classify any book according to the readers' sexuality, particularly in the case of 'Survivors'.

The book has an appeal which reaches into two facets of one's character. One is the taste of adventure we (hopefully) retain from childhood. The other is the taste for romance that revolves around fantasy and impetuosity.

Robins speaks a language of fantasy, creating a pursuit for perfect love applicable to any love affair, depending upon your capacity for idealism and romance.

The story revolves around two men, two 'Princes' (Sven and Guy), who, unknown to each other, seek each other with a view to perfect love. Bored with life and old loves, each sets out upon a worldwide trek to find one another. Each leaves behind a lover, each of whom set out upon their own trek, partly out of rejection, partly out of mimicking devotion. These provide a sort of anti-hero, subplot ingredient. The travels of all four provide the substance of the story - their individual thoughts and adventures keep it moving, while particular attention is paid to those of the 'Princes'.

The story's heroes and antiheroes are reserved for each other and do not belong to the reader, that is to say a little distance is created. However, any man reading this will find himself in all four characters, perhaps principally with the 'Princes'/Heroes.

The journeys are interspersed with other characters who play connecting roles for the leading men. These come in the form of aspiring lovers and sources of wisdom: the former hinder the trek while the latter inspire progress.

Robins has beautiful control of language which draws the reader into the story. One does not become a character so much as a present overseer - a willing and enthusiastic one at that. This effective control creates the dream-like quality of the novel. Countries and cities are vast and nameless - and journeys of great distance are executed with great ease, and all surroundings have appropriate colour according to their mood and purpose.

Robins has qualities as a writer unfortunately absent among many of his contemporaries - simplicity and sensuality. He fulfils the tasks the Ian McKewans of this world neglect; a little escapism. Robins, thankfully, has left the task of exploring the blackness of life to others.

Survivors is a book for survivors everywhere; those who hold on to dreams, fantasies, and love in an arena where darker recesses are favoured. The overall result is a very pleasant, succumbing 'trip', of sorts.

Incidentally, the book is published by 'Third House' - a new company (with whom David Rees is involved), which if this book is anything to go by, has a lot of good things going for it.

David Matched

Two new books recently launched by Attic Press:

Feminism in Ireland

Women's Studies International Forum - Special Issue

Attic Press, Dublin IR£9.95 (incl. p&p)

Ailbhe Smyth has edited a selection of the most stimulating contributions from the Women's World Festival and Congress which was held in Dublin during July 1987.

A vast number of contributors have covered issues like poverty, emigration, lesbianism, divorce, the legal system, the role of the Church in the construction of ideology, the effects of partition and British Imperialism.

Attic Press have also published the 10th edition of the Irish Women's Guide Book and Diary 1989. This neat, little A6 diary contains very practical information for women as well as a menstrual calendar and of course the diary itself. Costs IR£3.95 (ISBN 0-946211-57-4)

Both books available by mail order from Attic Press, 44 Essex Street, Dublin 2.