The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion
Science Fiction Discussions
>
My Fair Captain - J L Langley
date
newest »
newest »
PaperMoon wrote: "This could easily fall into the romance genre thread ... but as there are already many titles listed there .. I'm putting this hybrid sci-regency-romance here.On the recommendation by AE member B..."
Of course this is a subject on which @Chris O and I love to differ, but I really found myself enjoying this novel.
I have to admit, though, that I think a little of the SciRegency genre may go a long way. Given that, though, this was a well thought-out and well-conceived world and the characters were muy caliente.
OK - so does that mean we're on the same ship regarding this series then?? If so - we should link arms, and take a turn around the room to confer on the dashing Mr Hawkins LOL!
PaperMoon wrote: "OK - so does that mean we're on the same ship regarding this series then?? If so - we should link arms, and take a turn around the room to confer on the dashing Mr Hawkins LOL!"I'll be Lizzy to your Caroline any day. (You know our figures show off to such good advantage when we take a "room turn.")
On the recommendation by AE member Bladerunner last year, I bought the first book in Langley’s sci-regency series for my 2012 Christmas readings. Lo and behold … I get a very strange world where Austen meets Deep Space Nine.The settings is definitely AU – sci-fi in the sense that humanity has reached throughout the universe and have settled/colonised many planets, some adopting cultural norms and societal standards taken from select periods from human history e.g. the regency period.
It took me a few chapters to get my mind around the fact that men wore skin tight breeches, cravats and waistcoats … where expected social mores place high value and demand on youthful male virginity/innocence and propriety demands chaperones to ensure no compromise to one’s reputation … and marry these with intergalactic naval fleet battleships, fragger guns, automated vehicles that respond to voice commands, all-seeing almost sentient computers that guard and secure homes and respond vocally to owner’s needs and requests! All that is lacking is the vernacular speech patterns of that day.
Aiden is the middle son of the monarch of the Regelence planetary system … he has two brothers on either side of his sibling tribe (which kinda makes him the sister Mary in Pride and Prejudice); in this case – he’s the ‘artistic’ son. The expected stable norm adhered by the ruling nobility and classes of their planetary society is two mated males (argument for such being based on the warriors of Thebes). Desirability and suitability of a marriage partner depends on family name, wealth, naval/military honour and reputation and age deferential. On Regelence, off-spring are produced by the many wonders of 25th century bio-technology and DNA innovation … and get this – genetically predisposed towards same-sex attraction!
It really did take me a good third of the book to ‘get settled’ all the above in my mind.
Nate Hawkins is your classic dashing physically commanding uniformed hero, captain of his own naval ship with a fearsome reputation of command and an equally impressive armed-service record. Intergalactic naval intelligence requires him to ‘go undercover’ into Regelence high society to discover who is behind armed-shipment theft and smuggling. Nate comes from titled gentry-folk himself (from the planet Englor) but has some troubled past/background which is first alluded to in the book’s prologue and to which he tries not to dwell on emotionally. His fair and just approach and sound judgement commands him the respect and obedience of his fleet-crew.
By midway through the book reading, I was hooked and devoured the rest of the tale with greedy abandon. On the romance front, there’s the deep longings and insta-attraction between the MCs, the gradual build-up to the several hot sex action passages (not too many and written integrally to plot thank God). A warning to some readers – mild S/M involved … with hints that this segue into ‘heavier’ dom-sub action in later books in the series. Like many good regency titles, there’s a good fifteen year or more age difference between the MCs as well.
Langley’s protagonist characters are believable – they stand out individually and most have distinct voices and characteristics. I gleaned much fun and pleasure from the interactions between Aiden’s parents and his siblings. One complaint could be that the antagonists however are largely two-dimensional with little to no exposition/nuance as to their motives and emotional mindset. Despite this, the plotted espionage drama and combat action was sufficiently gripping and moved in rapid sequence – chapters / passages are taken either from Aiden’s or Nate’s POV. The angst and dramatics were not too over the top and I didn’t feel compelled to slap either MC for their internal conflict or misunderstandings, but neither was relational barriers too easily overcome.
Another quibble I would have would the dearth of strong female characters – the three provided in this book were minor secondary ones and none that left me with any strong impression. I acknowledge the particular male-dominance of the Regelence societal setting may have something to do with this imbalance and hope that there will be a better representation in the subsequent books of the series.
Well done Ms Langley for creating a wonderfully diverting world populated with likeable characters – almost but not quite as complex / fascinating as Manna Francis’ dystopian Administration series. I’m officially a new Langley fan and can’t wait to dive into her other two books in this series. In my mind’s eye, I do have Colin Firth and Matthew Goode fully ensconced as MCs LOL! And the book cover does feature a magnificent chest LOL!