cover image Dog Tags

Dog Tags

Alexis Jude. New Victoria Publishers, $9.95 (238pp) ISBN 978-0-934678-50-6

Set on an American army base in South Korea, this first novel offers action, romance and some graphic erotic detail as it tells the story of Specialist 7th Class Myra Sturdivan, a lesbian who is terrorized by Craft, a male subordinate who is infatuated with her. One night, Myra witnesses Craft committing a rape in a prostitution district off base. Craft threatens to expose her as a lesbian, which would likely result in her dishonorable discharge. When Myra and Sergeant 1st Class Tory Barrett become lovers, Craft's rage is heightened, and he lashes out in acts of violence and renewed threats against Myra. But as long as Myra insists on keeping her plight a secret, nobody can help her. Fortunately, secrets are not easily kept in the close confines of a military base. Unfortunately, this amateurishly written novel does not do justice to its premise: although gays in the military have legitimately feared exposure, Myra's deep reluctance to reveal her serious problem with Craft baffles the reader. And even readers who are eager for positive images of gays and lesbians will squirm at such statements as ``She looked like the proud, beautiful dyke that she was.'' (Oct.)