Volume Two, Edition Three

December 2006

The Reviews Page

On this page you will find reviews of both stories and poetry published at GA and elsewhere on the Internet.  Links are provided both to the stories being reviewed and the forums in which you can discuss them.

Page 3

Poets' Corner

 

In this month's Poets' Corner, resident poetry reviewer Birdsofafeather looks at the work of talented GA author and poet Nickolas James.  Nick joined GA at the tender age of fourteen and in his sixteen months at the site he has produced four excellent feature-length stories amounting to an astounding 69 chapters, four short stories and nearly a dozen moving poems.  He was, of course, a natural choice for this month's poetry review.

 

You can discuss Nick's stories and poetry in his GA Forum.  To discuss the works of other GA poets, please go to the Poetry Discussion Forum.  To read more by this author, please click on his banner below.

 

 

Poetry Review

 

There is an eminent paradox that most poets at GA have confronted, but few have conquered as triumphantly as Nickolas James. Is there a way of reaching out to people with our truest thoughts and feelings without being destructive? This is the precise intention behind his poetry - to provide an outlet for our sentiment and give introspection from his own experiences. Nick’s poetry is drawn from life itself; a series of recollections turned eloquent.

“His Hand”, a poem reflective of the adolescent perception of a father-son relationship, is an ode dedicated to his father - the universality of the message, however, helps his poem transcend to an ever greater scale. During our ‘conversation’, Nick told me, “I wrote it after I had a pretty nasty argument with my dad… and then I sat around and I thought about how insignificant it was in the grand scheme of things.”

For this gifted poet, regret seems to be an inspiration. How can such a muse provide a drive to write poems? “I Understand”, a poem portraying his latent understanding of uncontrollable circumstances, answers the question superbly - it is only through years of questioning and remorse that he finally commiserates with and comprehends the true benefits of his father’s decision. His repentance, in turn, is the reason why we can all enjoy this author’s poems.

During the interview, Nick mentioned that writing poetry was a “very sporadic process” for him. “Sometimes I feel like I have something to say, something I want to release… and when it hits me like that I find that I can’t concentrate on my chapter stories until I get it off my chest.” Lastly, I asked Nick why he posted his poetry at GA. He said that “I like to share my thoughts and feelings with people, and maybe by posting my poetry I have a way of reaching out to people with my truest thoughts and feelings without being destructive.”

It seems like Nickolas James luxuriates in a full understanding of his writing inspiration, something that many older authors still search for.

Birdsofafeather

His Hand

by Nickolas James

 

I used to reach for your hand when I was smaller

Now sometimes I push it away.

But I’ll never forget how you still loved me

the day I told you I was gay.

We fight a lot and you still yell at me

Every time I act like I don’t care

But the truth is I still idolize you

From the way that you walk

To the clothes that you wear.

God blessed me with you

But you say that I’m wrong

You call me the blessing

Somehow you stay strong.

You’re the man in my life

and you’ve taught me so much.

How to be my own man

How to always stay tough.

I know you panic whenever I’m sick

But then I get better and act like a prick

Still you know I love you

Even if I act out

I hope in your heart there’s never a doubt

Just because I’m not little

I hope you understand.

I’ll always be willing to hold my dad’s hand.

© 2006 Nickolas James

Domes & Teapots
http://jackscribe.gayauthors.org/domes/index.php

by Jack Scribe

A reserve of oil under the "Teapot Dome" rock formation in Wyoming lent its name to the USA's first nationwide political brouhaha of the twentieth century. As of Chapter 13, Jack Scribe is dangling, from a pole extending several chapters in front of us, a suggestion of similar scandal.

Politics and corruption bring together four guys in their 20's and 30's: two congressional staffers, one administration staffer, and one FBI agent. This gay action yarn has no time for dithering or excess introspection. Backgrounds, descriptions, and character development exist to advance several fast-moving plot threads. First in order of appearance is the deepening relationships of our four main characters, who quickly paired off.

Second is a tale of corruption and scandal in Washington DC. The two congressional staffers feed us an inside political story, playfully resembling events in the news several months back. We can guess that TexOil is involved, but not how. Third, a nonpartisan, elite, politically powerful group of gay people (all men so far) promote gay causes within the system. To date, three of four main characters have been recruited, and we only begin to see where that goes. Fourth is international crime and perhaps terrorism amid further gay relationships. Again, we don't know what's going on yet.

Juggling several balls and, I suspect, ready to toss up more, Jack releases new chapters each week, keeping the multiple threads fresh. Appealing characters, lots of action, and a teasing similarity to US national politics make for great fun.

knotme

Jumping Over My Mountain
http://members.gayauthors.org/tiffanichin/mountain.php

by Tiffani Chin

You struggle to stay vertical on your first black-diamond run. Whoosh! That damn hot dog made you fall! Not really: an irritatingly perfect run by a spoiled brat who lives on the slopes.

Wrong. Meet Crew Jamison, an ace student holding down two jobs, with a hole in his life that snowboarding can only paper over. Crew's best friend from high school, Zeke, is away at college, so Crew needs Skyler Chin to cheer him up. Skyler seems closer to the "brat" you had in mind, but he lacks the necessary mean streak. Twin brother Storm keeps Skyler in check or covers for him. The Chins took Crew in after he lost his family and therefore could not be shut out. Otherwise, Crew shuts everyone out. Helaku McAdams wants in.

You like Hela, the emotional opposite of Skyler and Zeke, but watch Hela for a bit: he seems on track to become a jealous, abusive lover, the kind that already burned Zeke.

Zeke strikes you as a Skyler without Storm, drinking, smoking pot, skirting trouble by luck only. On the other hand, while Hela wants to protect Crew, Zeke and Storm actually do it. Another premature character judgment bites the dust.

Hela falls head over heels for and overwhelms Crew. Skyler, who plans to settle down when he's 80, flirts with Zeke. Neither relationship looks good to you. As Chapter 5 ends, Zeke frets about Skyler and keeps Crew diverted and out of trouble for the summer, while Hela gets a dose of his own medicine when a jerk barges into his life. These appealing characters have grown on you! Maybe there's hope for Crew and Hela.

knotme

Author Picks of the Month

We all have our favourite stories, tales we just can't stop reading, but which stories keep our authors entertained?  This month we asked GA Hosted Author Vance Lista to tell us about the stories he is currently reading...

You Meet Your Soulmate in the Strangest Places
http://thezot.gayauthors.org/soulmate.html

by TheZot

With high recommendations from many people I recently checked out this short story written by hosted author TheZot.  To say it made me smile would be a grave understatement.  Love at first sight, a concept I truly believe in, is explored in this beautiful short story.

 

A sleepy main character meets a forward stranger on a train and from that first encounter he can’t seem to get the handsome stranger out of his mind.  After a few run-ins with each other they both are a bit nervous but both know deep down there’s more than a fleeting crush or a lot of just plain lust there.  What ensues is a tale that will warm your heart, make you laugh, make you smile, and definitely say a few ‘awwws.’

 

The writing is flawless and keeps you scrolling, needing to find out what happens.  You grow attached to the main character and can easily feel what he feels for his mysterious train companion.  This story, if even for a moment, can make the world’s biggest pessimist think ‘love at first sight’ can happen!

 

So if want a good story that won’t take days to read, my recommendation would definitely be TheZot’s ‘You meet Your Soulmate in the Strangest Places.’

 

The Bully
http://dkstories.gayauthors.org/bully/index.php

by Dan Kirk

Who would have thought that I, the author of 'Shane' and 'Tyler', could ever sympathize with a bully?  You may laugh, you may say ‘yeah right!’ but Dan Kirk has created such an incredible character in Eddie Hathaway, the school bully in a rural farming community, that I am definitely doing some sympathizing!

The story opens on Sunday morning, with Eddie getting ready for church, church being different that day with the arrival of a new pastor and his family.  Sparks don’t exactly fly when Eddie meets the preacher’s son, Daniel.  Daniel seems the polar opposite of Eddie, charming, outgoing, friendly!  Despite Eddie’s longing to keep as much space between them as possible he quickly finds himself working with the preacher’s son every day.

What results is a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, putting yourself into the story and rooting for the characters.  It has a little of everything, drama, comedy, suspense and of course romance.  I love so much about this story, the characters, the setting, the storyline, everything!

If anyone is looking for a great read, this serial story is definitely it.  At chapter 7, the most recent chapter to have been posted, I can see the story going in so many different possible directions.

Vance Lista