Talons of the Condor by John Simpson
Talons of the Condor is the sequel of Condor One, the fantapolitical novel by John Simpson about the first gay president of United States of America. I remember with pleasure that book, and I, above all, remember with pleasure David Windsor, Mr. President. As you know if you read the previous book, or can understand from the surname, David is not exactly some Mr. Smith throws in the chaos of the White House in Washington. He, even before being a president, was from a very wealthy family, with connection with the royal family in England, and I believe he was, as he is still, quite a spoiled man. He is not that spoiling that makes a character unlikable, but more a general attitude, o way to face all the situation, from the simple "domestic" dealing as to buy a dog-bed for his favorite Scottish Terrier, to decide if declare the WWII or not. David is a man of power, he can listen to advice, but in the end he will take his own decision. And he is used, and expects to, that every single order is taking in immediate consideration, without further postponement. He is also a man of great passions, and he can be mislead by his easily inflaming temperament. All in all, someone would almost think that David in the end is not a so nice man, but then you see the "other" David, the one who can easily get caught ogling to the bottom of some military staff, or who is content to simple lay in bed and cuddle with his young lover, special agent Shane Thompson.
The story is not so much different from the previous one, there is as before a treating to David's life, but maybe this time, the things got further and bigger. The author indeed plays a bit to fantapolitic, and imagines a various range of dangerous situation, with also some nasty consequences. And I have the feeling that he realized well over the half of the novel, that he didn't put enough danger in that first part, since the events rush one after the other, and then all together, toward an end that, from the political side will remain still "open", while instead will arrive to a nice, a very romantic conclusion on the love side. I think that the author has not yet put the end point on the story of this couple, and I have an idea to who will play the first lady role on the official visit of King William II, David's cousin, to the White House.
Another thing that I notice is that David is somewhat more "domestic" in this sequel. As I said, David is a spoiled man, quite aware to be a nice catch for every single gay man. And so in the first book, I had an impression of him like a friendly and open man, not at all scared by his sexuality. I think he was quite happy to be single and among so many handsome man. Now instead David is almost calm, satisfied, but not since he is aware of his position as president, but since he is content with his relationship with Shane. And so we also see the "daddy" David, behaving like a overprotective father for his little girl, the Scottish Terrier Mary, but also for every single gay teenager he has the chance to meet. It's almost like David's fatherly instinct were aroused at the same moment he met the man who is a good candidate to be the real deal... quite the attitude of those old-fashioned women of the good society that were raised to be good wives and mothers, and who, soon after the marriage, lose the careless of youth to suddenly became the symbol of a perfect woman.
In all of this, I lost Shane... well, poor Shane is quite the supporting character in there. He is still a good man, he is devoted and unselfish, and sometime he looses the mask of composure to let us see the real man, but all in all, it's David who shines, and Shane lives of reflected light. Where it's David who suddenly becomes "domestic" and tamed, truth be told, it's Shane who plays the perfect role of the wife of a very important man: silent and always present, ready to satisfy every single wish of his man.
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/currenttitles/talons/talonsofthecondorbuynow.htm
Amazon Kindle: Talons of the Condor
Series:
1) Condor One: http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/333103.html
2) Talons of the Condor
Reading List:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle
Cover Art by Dan Skinner