Review: The William Neale Award for Best Gay Romance: To Touch the Stars by Jeremy Pack
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 27, 2014
The touching the stars achievement is not only the most obvious of Nick Sullivan, who is an astronaut in the run that US is having against URSS to have the first man in space and then on the moon, is also that of Tait William, a news reporter trying to do something good amidst an horrible scenario, on both sides of the Vietnam and Cambodia war. And maybe is also that of Nick and Tait together, living, hating and loving for more than 20 years trying to achieve their little paradise.This is not an “easy” gay romance, and, apparently, for the most part, romance is not even the main theme, Nick and Tait barely shares a kiss, for a good part of the story they are apart, even paired with different partners; more than once I had the feeling they weren’t destined to be together, they were cross-starred lovers, but the time always seemed wrong. Nick and Tait are both confused, sometime even disgusted by what they feel for each other; instead of listening to their hearts they are easily influenced by enemy words, words of people who have the agenda to set them apart.It was really difficult at time to believe in a future together for these two, moreover, there wasn’t apparently any pity for their beloved ones, people was dying, from war, from AIDS, from lack of love… how easy it was to let it go, to not being strong; but this is the only important characteristic of Nick, and yes, even Tait, they are strong, and able to overcome the time and years who put them apart.